Memories to Lament

Howdydoo all, hope you are doing well and behaving yourselves amidst the Virus restrictions. Victoria not looking good, lots of new cases appearing throughout the State, obviously those involved in the recent rally will be becoming anxious waiting for any signs of contracting the virus, for their sake I hope they remain clear. 
Tassie not looking too bad, some restrictions being eased and all going well, should not be far away from getting back to normal. Lets hope that when the border is opened that we do not encounter any spike in cases, god willing.
Below is a verse (story) I put together just recently. Many years back I encountered a bloke , a veteran, who told me his version of his experiences of war during the Middle East Campaign, we were downing a beer or two in Caboolture QLD at the time, I had no reason to disbelieve his account so here follows my adaption of his memories....good reading.



Memories to Lament

Way back in nineteen forty... I was a young bloke drovin oe’r the plain

From west of Warialda ...to Tenterfield...and then back home again

When I rode back home one day, my mum she met me at the door

She handed me a letter awash in tears, I’d been called up to war.

To leave my dog and my horse behind... was a difficult stage in my life

Can’t imagine how I would have felt... if I’d had kids... and a wife

The day I left my mum was in tears , I told her not to worry so

My Country has called me up to war... and I just have to go.

I took the rattler down to Sydney town York Street waitin there for me

It was standing room only... lots of eager boys seeking a trip overseas

Billy Dargin, and Benny Hall were there, they hailed from way up Armidale

After signing up we took a truck to Puckapunyal... and joined an army detail

It was but only a matter of time before we’d made the grade and were ready to fight

Mostly a bunch of kids just outa school... not knowing of their plight

Soon back onto the trucks to Sydney town.. and from the Quay we did depart

A Brigade of young’uns aboard the SS Queen Mary, not old enough to be street-smart.

Tobruk was our destination... but at the time... to where we did not know

The voyage across the Indian Ocean kept many a young soldier down below

Around Cape Horn without a skirmish, steadfastly The Mary made her way

Then into the Mediterranean... to Egypt and Libya, where we found our prey

The Western Desert Force was to be reckoned with ...beit with little firepower

For several months they held the fort against the enemy, never once to cower

The Axis threw the might of tanks, battleships and planes, against but a few…

But the Aussie Diggers held them back, not allowing the enemy to breakthrough

When the battle for Tobruk was over and the Axis retreated to their hole

We, left out there on the front... took days to count up the mounting toll

Many Diggers had been lost, others with horrific injuries known as human debris

Some still remain there silent under the desert sand... whilst some are home ...

now laying under a wattle tree.

Billy Dargin never made it back, and Benny Hall never again saw the light of day

But their accomplishments have lived on, and of course remembered every Anzac day

Whilst I made it home to Warialda... my mum she was waiting with my favourite rabbit stew

Yes, now I am back with my horse and my dog... drovin cattle again across the Old Barcoo.

Darrell B Parker

Weaver of Words and Emotions

20/06/2020