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15 October 2014
WW2 - People's War

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Wonderful Poppies of Flanders

by inquiziter

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Contributed by听
inquiziter
People in story:听
William Kelly
Location of story:听
Ireland
Article ID:听
A4154988
Contributed on:听
05 June 2005

Wonderful Poppies of Flanders
Dublin born William Kelly was orphaned at the age of 2, Then as a young teenager he ran away to join the Irish army, later transferring to become the First radio operator in the Irish navy, and on to join the RAF, After his flying boat service he joined GCHQ until retiring.

Even though he passed away in 2001 I am still trying to achieve his dream ...

This song was sung in an Irish school just after the WW1, I do not know anyone who know of this other than my Late Grandad William Kelly
It is possible he/they wrote it in his class.
I have searched for it elsewhere in vein, for many years. so I can only Credit to him. I recorded him Reciting it in 1998. and it was his wish to have it sung/recited on Remembrance day once again, Ireland had deleted this and its heros from it's History and is now thankfully starting to recognise it's own heros that fought during both world wars,

Note; It is not John McCrae's 'In Flanders Fields'

Wonderful Poppies of Flanders
( a song of the First world war)

There鈥檚 a land across the ocean
where the scarlet poppies grow
and the bird鈥檚 sweet song is saddened,
as if they really know.

( Chorus repeated between each verse)
Wonderful poppies of flanders
Flowers of brilliant hue.
Flowers that the angels,
have washed with their tears
They bring me comfort,
thru, long lonely years.

Ti鈥檚 a place where countless heroes
for their country nobly died.
though I'm sad and lonely now,
I often think with pride.

I鈥檝e read a story of love divine
in your petals of brilliant red.
God, in his goodness has sent you to mark
The graves of our glorious dead.

There is a love devotion, honour,
in each little scarlet flower.
I鈥檇 kiss each one so fondly
If I had but the power.

May the angels always tend you
is my constant hope and prayer,
For I know that god remembers
all the heroes sleeping there.

William Gerald Kelly 1911-2001
(I can only Credit this to Him)

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