Ivor Posted 13 June , 2008 Share Posted 13 June , 2008 Hope you do not mind, but I have just returned home from France where I visited Vimy Ridge and the area around Givenchy and Festubert, Salome where my great uncle was KIA and Dud Corner Cemetry where he is named on a plaque. Whislt in the area I joted down my thoughts in verse so I hope you do not mind me sharing them with you: You chose to go It’s all so different now From all those years ago, When August was about to smile on England And you chose to go. So here I stand, where once you stood Far from your Corney home With family lost in your thoughts And the lanes you loved to roam. With gunfire and shell exploding All around you were soldiers brave. You could have run but chose to fight And France’s freedom you chose to save. And what of you my friend? Who at just sixteen against your parents’ wishes Your service to your King you wished to lend. But at the age of twenty your life you would spend. And so on my holiday I could have chosen monuments, A historic château or palaces too But I came to find you. So I wondered out alone Close to Windy Corner and Givenchy where canal and field abound And in Dud Corner found The names of English soldiers killed in war And what of you my friend Who died so far from home? No last farewell kiss, All that remains is this. A name upon a plaque Amongst so many others, yet all alone And whatever would you think of me, who am able Due to your sacrifice, to go back to my home. I thank you and your brothers in arms. But we pass you all by and brush aside all your sorrows Forgetting we can love and laugh only Because you all gave your tomorrows. It’s all so different now From when you gave your life On that April day ninety years ago For you chose to go. Dedicated to Joseph Steele (200738 Kings Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment ) - 28th December 1897 to 28th April 1918, KIA Salome, France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Llewellyn Posted 13 June , 2008 Share Posted 13 June , 2008 Well done Ivor and thanks for sharing. Regards. Llew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted 13 June , 2008 Share Posted 13 June , 2008 Very moving poem, Ivor. Wish I had your way with words. Regards, Garry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 14 June , 2008 Share Posted 14 June , 2008 Whislt in the area I joted down my thoughts in verse so I hope you do not mind me sharing them with you: What a very moving verse it is Ivor and a memorable moment for you, I'm sure that your Great Uncle Joseph would have been as proud and honoured of you as you are of him. Many thanks for sharing your words with us all, Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kieran butcher Posted 12 November , 2016 Share Posted 12 November , 2016 Hello Ivor. Joseph is my great great uncle as well. I'm just looking in to things about him and your poem came up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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