大象传媒

THAT NIGHT OF DEATH
My brother John (Jack) Rattigan was in the Army at the time of the November 14th 1940 air raid on Coventry. Shortly after that night he came home on leave and on returning to his unit he wrote the following poem. I submit it with his permission.

THAT NIGHT OF DEATH

Who can forget that night of death,
Wrought by the sky devil's fiery breath,
Who can forget that night of pain,
Dealt out by a madman's twisted brain.

We shall not forget as our homes we rebuild,
On bomb-scarred ground where innocent were killed,
We shall not forget as we look at the land,
Where once stood a building so stately and grand.

Even God's house is not safe from this Hun,
Who bombs and destroys at the setting of the sun.
So let him send over his cowardly hordes,
Who shatter the homes of paupers and Lords,

That night was severe, there is no doubt,
We had a hard blow, but they can't knock us out.
For our men are of steel, our women won't kneel,
Nor children for mercy plea.

A new hope will arise, when the world is free,
From the rubble and ashes of Coventry.

J.J.Rattigan

November 1940

(Jack said this was the only poem he ever wrote)
Submitted by Maurice Rattigan (Walsgrave Mo)

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