 | Ballads of the War |  |
65
A Gunner's Story
The Battle of Colenso, 15th December, 1899
I am the eldest of mother's sons,
She is a widow, she drew my pay;
I fell in trying to save the guns;
But my heart was glad when the ball went through;
How else could I dare to be talking with you,
Seeing we gave the guns away?
She is a widow, she drew my pay;
I fell in trying to save the guns;
But my heart was glad when the ball went through;
How else could I dare to be talking with you,
Seeing we gave the guns away?
Timber of limber and coil of steel,
Light to gallop with, strong to stand,
None are made swifter death to deal;
But ah! I was glad when that ball went thro';
If I had been spared to be seen of you,
How could I face my native land?
Light to gallop with, strong to stand,
None are made swifter death to deal;
But ah! I was glad when that ball went thro';
If I had been spared to be seen of you,
How could I face my native land?
No scouts ahead! it may well seem strange,
Of foes in the river we had no thought;
Our Colonel wanted a closer range;
I was glad when the rifle-ball went thro',
How else should I dare to be talking with you,
Seeing we knew not what we ought?
Of foes in the river we had no thought;
Our Colonel wanted a closer range;
I was glad when the rifle-ball went thro',
How else should I dare to be talking with you,
Seeing we knew not what we ought?
66
My breech-block scarcely had closed on shell,
When forth of the ambush volleyings came,
And every horse of the battery fell;
Ah! sir, I am glad that the ball went thro',
For now I can dare to be talking with you;
It is easier here to bear the blame,
And out of the silence, I tell you true,
We died at our guns and we both died game.
When forth of the ambush volleyings came,
And every horse of the battery fell;
Ah! sir, I am glad that the ball went thro',
For now I can dare to be talking with you;
It is easier here to bear the blame,
And out of the silence, I tell you true,
We died at our guns and we both died game.
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