Combat Soldier

 COMBAT SOLDIER


I knew a combat soldier 

That fought abroad in world war two

He told many stories

A cold lager was his brew

A man of integrity

That worked for his keep

Always paid his way

For a good night's sleep


He'd seen a lot of action

Blood, Shock and Trauma

So hard to explain

A horror to remember 


He never talked much

About his time in New Guinea

118 men had died

It was gruesome place to be

I did hear happy tales

About the Queensland outback

A much nicer place

Than the Kokoda Track


He'd seen a lot of action

Blood, Shock and Trauma

So hard to explain

A horror to remember 


When it was time to Muster

He and many were absent

A Lieutenant searched the scrub

Before  becoming arrogant

Found him in a rowdy bar

Where he pleaded not guilty

They gave him a discharge

He was then happy and free


He'd seen a lot of action

Blood, Shock and Trauma

So hard to explain

A horror to remember 


Many years later

He got a war service loan

Raised a family

In a working class zone

A friendly Doctor

Told him to take care

They had a laugh

To carry on being a lair


He'd seen a lot of action

Blood, Shock and Trauma

So hard to explain

A horror to remember 


He never got a medal

But drank at an RSL

They gave him a badge

Then told them to go to hell

It wasn't all that bad

A lot of people did care

He still enjoyed a laugh

You can say a prayer



© Ronald Beswick  2025



Comments

  1. RonaldoOctober 29, 2025 at 1:36 AM

    This true story is about my father who rarely talked to me about New Guinea. He always talked about the Queensland outback when he never mustered. I know he was never Court Marshalled and would have played up. He was a teenager!

    ReplyDelete

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