大象传媒 - WW2 People's War - WRITTEN BEHIND THE LINE

WRITTEN BEHIND THE LINE

by elsabeattie

You are browsing in:

Contributed by听: elsabeattie
Location of story:听: NORTH WEST EUROPE
Background to story:听: Army
Article ID:听: A5749068
Contributed on:听: 14 September 2005

Lance Corporal Alexander Barr 193 Field Ambulance R.A.S.C.

WRITTEN BEHIND THE LINE

The day is peaceful, all seems calm
The sky a shimmering bluish haze
The summer air is sweet with balm
The cattle quietly loll and graze.

But not far off the fighting rages still
The gunfire seldom ever seems to cease
O鈥檈rhead the bombers hover for their kill
Men fight and strive to win a lasting peace.

The foe fights hard, but still our troops advance
Each pressing on although his best friend dies
Brave lads are falling, life seems just a chance
The path to peace is paved with sacrifice.

But soon the gallant effort must prevail
The foe will break, we鈥檒l have him on the run
鈥楾is then our statesmen must not halt or fail
There must be no more kindness to the Hun.

Complete surrender must be our demand
To spare our sons from further scenes so vile
Peace everlasting must reign o鈥檈r our land
And then we鈥檒l count our sacrifice worthwhile.

漏 L/Cpl. Alexander Barr. 193 Fld. Ambulance. R.A.S.C.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.

Forum Archive

This forum is now closed

These messages were added to this story by site members between June 2003 and January 2006. It is no longer possible to leave messages here. Find out more about the site contributors.

Message 1 - Writteen behind the line

Posted on: 15 September 2005 by Trooper Tom Canning - WW2 Site Helper

Elsie
All of these poems serve much more than "whileing away an hour" and preventing melancholy
They are most enjoyable, all of them and he makes it so obvious that he was Scottish - served with the 15th Scottish Div and so he saw more than many of the horrors which "whiled away many hours".
Sad that such a talent was taken away from us so early, and you are to be commended for adding them to this series as one day they will be recognised generally as being worthwhile.
We Scots are most fortunate in having poets and writers of such high standards as Burns- Scott - Buchan
- Barrie - and so many more, that possibly the name of Alexander Barr might be mentioned also.
Good Luck

听

Message 2 - Written behind the line

Posted on: 21 September 2005 by elsabeattie

Thank you Tom - I have produced a small (computer generated) booklet of my Dad's poetry entitled 'A SOLDIER'S WARTIME THOUGHTS' which I used to raise funds for Erskine Hospital for ex-servicemen. The booklet is also shortly to be used by SSAFA for the same purpose. Copies of the booklet are also in the Imperial War Museum and at Oosterbeek. The poems are also being used by Caledonian University in Glasgow for research purposes. I wanted as many people as possible to read these poems in memory of a brave soldier and loving father whose gift for writing poetry was shortened by his Parkinson's disease which prevented him from writing. Thank you for your thoughts and best wishes.
Elsa

听

Message 3 - Written behind the line

Posted on: 21 September 2005 by Trooper Tom Canning - WW2 Site Helper

Elsa -
that sounds like a good use of your Father's work - next time I am in the IWM I shall pick up a copy as I am overdue for a visit there - I shall probably be in the U.K. next spring - hopefully !
regards
tomcan

听

Message 4 - Written behind the line

Posted on: 21 September 2005 by elsabeattie

I could post a copy to you no problem - but there seems no way to get your address without it going on the www! If you know of a way I would be happy to post a copy to you.You would have to ask at the IWM library as they will have it archived.

听

Message 5 - Written behind the line

Posted on: 22 September 2005 by Trooper Tom Canning - WW2 Site Helper

Elsa - get on to Deborah at the BBc and she can give you my e-mail address from where we can take it further !

听

Message 6 - Written behind the line

Posted on: 22 September 2005 by elsabeattie

Hi again Tom,
Unsure how to contact Deborah at the 大象传媒 - I've clicked on Contact Us on the left side of this page and left a message there, so we'll see if I get a reply from that?!

听

Message 7 - Written behind the line

Posted on: 23 September 2005 by Trooper Tom Canning - WW2 Site Helper

Elsa - don't worry about Deborah - she be on in the a.m.

听

Message 8 - Written behind the line

Posted on: 26 September 2005 by elsabeattie

Hello again Tom - I've had no reply from Deborah! Can you contact her to look for my request for your e-mail address?
Elsa

听

Message 9 - Written behind the line

Posted on: 26 September 2005 by Trooper Tom Canning - WW2 Site Helper

Elsa -
Deborah is probably on Holidays at this time so -
tomcan AT shaw.ca should get to me if you replace the AT with an ampersand !

This story has been placed in the following categories.

Recommended story
What's this?

Story with photo

Most of the content on this site is created by our users, who are members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the 大象传媒. The 大象传媒 is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced. In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please click here. For any other comments, please Contact Us.

	大象传媒 Homepage 大象传媒 History
WW2 People's War Homepage Archive List Timeline About This Site

	Contact Us