As an 18/19 year old, who landed in Normandy a day or so after D-day, I subsequently wrote some verses giving my impressions of that campaign. I would like to share a few of them with you.
JUNE 1944
There, in the fields of Normandy that June, the poppies grew,
A generation onwards from the one that Flanders knew.
So many young men also died, their blood spilt on the ground,
Some went out shrieking hoarsely, some died without a sound.
But one thing had remained unchanged, one thing came loud and clear,
That as they fell they too had asked鈥 鈥淲hat was I doing here?鈥
KILLED IN ACTION 1944 (WITH APOLOGIES TO A. E. HOUSEMAN)
So come and tell me now my girl, as I lie in the ground,
How many other lovers, what sweethearts have you found?
I fell a long way from you, not where I chose to be,
So come and tell me dearest one 鈥 are you still missing me?
NORMANDY, AUTUMN 1944
In Devon鈥檚 lanes the hazelnuts are swelling on the trees.
The sloes will soon be ripening, and gentle is the breeze,
That sets the leaves a-rustling to sing their autumn song,
While all the scarlet berries tell us 鈥淲inter won鈥檛 be long鈥.
Now is the harvest season, the richest time of all,
How sad to think that over here, too many fruits will fall.
A SOLDIER鈥橲 QUESTION
What is it all about then?
What am I doing here?
Why is my stomach rumbling with a symphony of fear?
When will it all be over, shall I be going home?
Where might the bullet catch me鈥 and will I die alone?
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