Songs Of The New Diggers " Onward Engineers" Is Popular

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 88, 13 April 1940, Page 5 (Supplement)

Songs Of The New Diggers " Onward Engineers" Is Popular

There has always been friendly rivalry and good-natured banter between the different arms of the Services, each of which has embodied its virtues and' proud achievements in song and story. It was that way last war, and seemingly so again this. The story is told of a famous general addressing his division in the last war and opening with the phrase, "Gentlemen of the Royal Engineers and men of other regiments," and this spirit seems to be ingrained in the engineers of to-day, judging by the following verses, to the tune of a well-known hymn, which comes fresh from Egypt, sent by 2287, Sapper C. F. Rayner, to relatives in Auckland:— Onward Engineers, Crowns and picks may perish, Marching as to war, Two-up rise and tcatie, With the croicn and anchor, But Number Four Sub section, Going on before. Constant will remain. Number Four Sub-section We are not dividca, Leads against the foe: All one body we, Forward into battle, All fatigues and working parties, See the sappers go. Four's the M U G. Chorus: _ Onward, etc. Onward Engineers, Marching a# to war, _ . . Number Four Sub-section, 7W end of our scchon, Going on before. Wc get all the toorfc Still we all can take 11, And wc icill not shirk. At the sight of Four ■ Sub., When Vfie war is over, Hitler's Host doth flee, In our rightful sphere, On then Engineers, At the "Central" back in Auckland, On to victory. t We'll be drinking beer. Hell's foundations quiver, When'we're on the way; Last Chorus: Sappers lift your voices, Onward Engineers, "That'll be the day." Sinking pints galore, Number Four Sub-section, Onward, eta. Leading as before, '