STANDING BY.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13771, 7 May 1915, Page 8

STANDING BY.

Egypt, land <;f sand and sunsets, "Where my footsteps pause awhile, Where the "dirty, fly-specked Arab Barters fruit with native, guile. Half the world we crossed to reach you, Hearts were light r.iid hopes were high, Thinking that we' came for fighting, But we're only Standing By. Maybe, when our limbs are feeble, And our heads are bending low, We will tell our children's children Of the days of long ago ; How with patriotic fervour Men came from far and nigh, Answering the call of freedom (This includes the Standing By). •Uniform and web equipment, Rifle, pnlltlirough, haversack, Epsom, One-tree Hill, and Penrose, Marching out and marching back. ■C-ompany, platoon, and section, Always drilling, wet or dry, Till they'd made a little army Suitable for Standing By. Seasickness, inoculation, Tropic heat and horsey smell, All the incidents of travel (Though we stood them rather well), Trains and transports, field manoeuvres, Bivouac beneath the sky, Fitting us for active service, Also, p'rhaps for Standing By. Trudging like a loaded camel In the sun the whole day through, Skirmishing to Beit el Shahat, Marching out to No. 2. Land of corn and land of cancan, Land of "Avar," tell us why. If we have a little patience Will they stop this Standing ByP Dreamt last night I was in heaven, Things were similar up higher. 'Routine orders by St. Peter, Colonel of the maxim choir, Polish up your harps and halof) (Mind the flannelette is dry), IWe may want you in a fortnight, Carry on with Standing By. : —E. W. McLean, N.Z. Expeditionary Force, Egypt. |