BATTALION PARADE

Arawa Guerilla, Issue 16, 1 July 1943, Page 10

BATTALION PARADE

Every morning we’re made, on Battalion parade, To hear speeches, prepared and extempore, We listen wth awe to such military law, As the S.O.T. quotes from his memory. He expresses in tone, that doesn’t condone, Any slip or mistake from some rooky, Just what he thinks of our failings and kinks, In terms neither placid nor sooky; The tirade completed, and sometimes repeated, The officers take up position, Then round the bullring, with arms at a full-swing, We trudge till we need a physician.

Davy McNaughton is usually called on, To lead the meandering column, He treats with ignore, the music galore, With expression so fixedly solemn. The W.O.’s are kept on their toes, And move with a tolerant air, The Camp Sergeant-Major would willingly wager, That he was the best soldier there

(Oh, yeah!) When we’ve circled the tarmac, till we’re nearly bers’ac, With relief do we hear that

command, • “March off to your circuits, get into your work” it’s, A fluke if we’ve missed reprimand. Oh, Battalion parade, whether sunshine or shade, Is a daily occurrence we dread, With those fixed eagle eyes, even bright sunny skies, Shine on hearts that are heavy as lead.