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For The Fallen From which "The Ode of Remembrance" was extracted. |
Laurence Binyon, UK, 1914. |
In Flanders Fields A Poignant World War One poem. |
Colonel John McCrae, Canadian Doctor. |
The Dying Aviator A drinking song from World War One. |
WW1 Airman Cecil Marks. |
| A classic WW1 poem: "An Irish Airman Foresees his Death" |
W. B. Yeats |
Epitaphs of War The poignant connection between the famous Empire Poet Rudyard Kipling and the "Missing" soldiers of WW1. |
Rudyard Kipling |
A World War
One Folk Poem...
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And a lucky charm that seemed to work!
Australian War Museum Relic No.33983:
An Identification Bracelet with three 'good luck' charms:
1. Lucky Black Cat. 2. Silver FUMSUP charm (a play on 'thumbs up')
3. Boomerang engraved
'I GO TO RETURN'.
Associated with Aircraft Mechanic Second Class
("2AM") /Instrument Fitter No.1478, Henry James MARSTON, 3rd Squadron,
Australian
Flying Corps.
Henry Marston left for overseas service aboard HMAT Shropshire
on 11 May 1917.
On 22 November he proceeded to Bailleul, France where he
was taken on strength by 3 Squadron.
The FUMSUP
dolls came with a poem:
"Behold in me the birth of luck, two charms
combined:
TOUCHWOOD - FUMSUP.
My head is made of wood most rare, my thumbs turn up to touch me there.
To speed my feet they've Cupid's wings; they'll help true love 'mongst
other things.
...I'll bring good luck to all away- just send me to a friend to-day."
Henry narrowly escaped a serious accident on the Western Front in
1918.
He was standing near the landing strip at his 3 Squadron (AFC)
aerodrome when a British FK8 bomber tried to land.
Unfortunately the
aircraft crashed, igniting the bombs on board in a bright red flash,
followed by a huge explosion.
Finding himself unscathed, Henry
immediately went to the aid of the FK8's Observer, who had been blown out
of the cockpit by the blast.
Henry remained in Europe
with 3 Squadron until March 3rd, 1919. He boarded the transport ship
Kaisar-i-Hind
[Translation: "Emperor of India"]
on 6 May and disembarked in
Melbourne on 16 June 1919, from where he was discharged.
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High Flight A classic poem capturing the joy of flying. |
John Gillespie Magee,
Royal Canadian Air Force. |
A Season of War Reflecting on the Squadron's first casualty of World War Two. 1939. |
Kevin Small (a noble citizen). |
Build Me No Monument A young serviceman's sensitive thoughts on mortality in war. Written in Syria 1941. |
David McNicoll. |
"Safe and Well" A humorous look at hazards in the Desert. (1941) |
Lance Corporal Claude
H. Mawby, Australian 2/31st Infantry Battalion. |
Three A poem dedicated to No.3 Squadron RAAF. |
Tom Russell
(Flight Lieutenant - Kittyhawk Pilot 1942-43). |
Were You There Then? A WW2 pilot's personal feelings about the great mates that he served with. |
Tom Russell. |
Three Cheers for the Man on the Ground A humorous poem written in 1942. |
Eric Sykes [RAF]. |
The Ground-Strafer's Version of 'Lili Marlene' A popular Song from the Pilots' Mess. |
Devon Minchin. |
Confessions of a 'Clued-Up' D.M.T. A driver's tale! |
Alex Archer (Driver Motor Transport). |
Who Blew Up Agnone Station? The mystery continues... |
Tom Russell. |
Mates A Prisoner-of War tribute. |
Duncan Butler (ex-POW, SE Asia). |
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"Northward to Thai" A searing poem about the Thai-Burma Railway, 1943. Illustrated by Changi POW Artist, Des Bettany. |
"F.H.S." [Unidentified POW Poet.] |
Stalag 3 Poem A defiant Prisoner-of-War ditty from the site of the "Great Escape". |
Canadian Air Force POWs in Germany. |
Our Fred... 85 Commemorating the amazing WW2 Padre Fred McKay. |
Tom Russell. |
Anzac Day A moving tribute. |
D. Hunter (2/12 Battalion New Guinea). |
POSTWAR POEM or SONG TITLE: |
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The etheral song lyric "Brothers in Arms". |
Mark Knopfler, “Dire Straits” 1982 |