A Digger died today...

[Chuck]

This has probably been on here previously, but each time I read it.... well...



He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the R.S.L.,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his mates;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbours
His tales became a joke,
All his mates listened quietly
For they knew of where he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Jack has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Digger died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Digger died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

The Media tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young,
But the passing of a Digger
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some smoothie who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which they live,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that they give.

While the ordinary Digger,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever-waffling stand?

Or would you want a Digger
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Digger,
Who would fight until the end?

He was just a common Digger,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his likes again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Digger's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honour
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A DIGGER DIED TODAY."

Anon.

[T1 Terry]

A great tribute to all that have fort for our country and way of life in all the battle fields through the ages and still do today. It disgusts me to see how our Vietnam vets were treated though the offered no less for their country, those who serve in our military forces in times of peace all knowing full well they would be asked to put their lives on the line if called to do so, along with those that do just that to this day, they are all heroes in my eyes and they should all be treated as heroes even though they may shun the lime light claiming they were just doing what was expected of them.
Where would we be today if these heroes acted in the same way as our political leaders? Yet they seem to think they deserve preferential treatment..... why? Maybe each and every one of us should ask that question the next time we get the opportunity to speak to those who wish to put themselves of a pedestal built from manure......

T1 Terry

[Russ Daniels]

Beautifully penned Chuck & very well said Terry

[bob r]

I have not heard that before chuck, I will not forget it.
Bob

[bobk]

Chuck, Thanks for putting this in. Wish now that I had done this previously but I have now done a bit of research on the poem title and come to the site http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/11 ... e_day.html
Second World War veteran Lawrence Vaincourt, wrote his popular poem "Just a Common Soldier" out of sadness and frustration at the way Canada's shrinking number of veterans are treated by the government. Vaincourt certainly deserves credit. Very poignant. Someone has apparently Australianised it. BobK

[Chuck]

Onya Bob.

[Greynomad]

As we discovered, our son is liable for call-up in an emergency up to 5 years after resigning from Army Reserves.
Thanks, Chuck for giving us the poem. I have copied it to my hard drive for future distribution.