ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO Emigrant's Farewell To Britain

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30212, 17 August 1963, Page 10

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO Emigrant's Farewell To Britain

One hundred years ago last Thursday, the ship British Crown arrived in Lyttelton harbour after a voyage of three and a half months from Birkenhead. Before the ship left England (on May 1, 1863) the captain presented a copy of the following verses to each passenger, who included a Mr and Mrs James Smith, late of Kaiapoi. One of the copies is still in the possession of a great-great-grand-daughter of Mr and Mrs Smith. The poem, which is sung to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne,” is entitled “An Emigrant’s Farewell,” and reads thus:— Should dear old England be forgot. And never be brought to mind? The village spire and homely cot. And those we leave behind? No, Albion dear, my native land, Thou birthplace of the free, Tho' here we tread a different strand Our hearts are still with thee.

Should dear Auld Scotland be forgot, Her mountains crowned in snaw, Should faithless prove a true born Scot To brithers far awa? Nay, Scotia, wheresoe'er they turn Thy bairns love thee the same. The muir, the dell, the brawlin’ burn Still mind us o’ or heme. Should dear Ould Ireland be foregot, The pride of all the says, With hearts that's brave and blood that’s hot And love that ne’er betrays? Sweet Erin, tho we’re eastward far. And exiles tho’ we be, Sure, darlirn, don’t the Evening Star Remind us still of thee? Adieu loved isles to memory dear, We’U dry our tearful eyes, And found a new Great Britain here, Beneath far brighter skies.