Badger then spoke truly
At Petworth, here we are.
Entered billets duly
I thank my lucky star!
Clean sheets at the butcher’s;
Quartered in the main street.
Bathroom, no more itches,
Rump steak, fresh meat, a treat!
Squad drill in the great park
Bayonet practice also
Hear Sergeant’s husky bark
‘Attack the bloody foe!’
As from gibbets hanging
Row of straw-filled dummies
Left, right, parry pointing,
Cold steel thrust in tummies!
Maybe three times weekly
Route-marching is ordered.
Tender-footed, nightly,
Blisters, corns, discovered.
After much foot-slogging,
More used to Army shoes,
Stepping-out more pleasing
Sing-songs, and air our views.
Chant, ‘Pack up your troubles’,
Also ‘Tipperary’,
‘The long long trail,’ doubles
Scots woo ‘Highland Mary’.
Sergeant-major’s halt call
‘Fall-out on the right side’
Loosen pack and down fall,
Smoke ‘fag’ as here we bide.
‘Don’t stray away, you there!’
Relieve aching muscles.
When whistle’s blast you hear,
Fall in for more tussles!
Machine-gun section needed,
Volunteer if you care,
From Rifleman ceded,
Might do much better there.
Find me now studying
That Light Vicker’s Gun there,
On tripod a’standing,
A water-cooled affair.
Minutely learing it’s
Parts and potential.
Lock, assembled in bits,
Each part, how essential.
Belted ammunition,
Learn too how the gun’s fed.
Know ev’ry position,
Ejected and loaded.
Anon came the order,
Machine-gunners hurry,
Move over the border,
To Cranleigh, in Surrey.
Down a deep Surrey lane,
Comfortably settled.
On the floor, mattress lain
Six gunners are bedded.
Hear the Nightingale sing
From evening till dawn.
Thrilling music of Spring,
Blackbird too on the lawn.
Day’s work more strenuous,
Much cross-country running.
Stragglers pant, furious,
The leader’s pace stunning!
Yet all looking hardy
And bronzed by the sun.
For cider, none tardy,
When returned from the run!
From Cranleigh departing,
Kind friends sadly leaving.
‘Sixtieth’ rejoining,
Aldershot returning.