The Song of Tiadatha

Should you question, should you ask me Whence this song of Tiadatha? Who on earth was Tiadatha? I should answer, I should tell you, He was what we call a filbert, Youth of two a...

Two long months spent Tiadatha On a Barrack Square in Dudshire Learning how to be a soldier. Laid aside the sword and scabbard Fashioned by the son of Wilkin, Only routed out on...

During all the months of training, Months of waiting down in Dudshire, Often sighed my Tiadatha For his haunts about St. James’s, Missed his little flat in Duke Street, Missed h...

On a day in late September, In September 1915, Marched the 14th Royal Dudshires For the last time past their General, Ere they sailed to fight the Germans. After which my Tiadat...

Tiadatha had a notion, All the Dudshires had a notion That in France they’d drop for ever Musketry and long route marches, Drop the sloping arms by numbers, Drop the everlasting...

As the Dudshires were preparing For a winter in the trenches, Just as they were getting settled In their sector of the trenches, Came an order for their moving To an unknown des...

On the day the Royal Dudshires Set their foot in Salonica, Nobody seemed pleased to see them, No one worried much about them. M.L.O.s were apathetic, Not a bit enthusiastic, Lik...

There are many famous highways, Many famous streets in history: Watling Street and Piccadilly, Sidney Street and Champs-Elysée, And the Appian Way and Wall Street, But the Lembe...

Often in those days of digging, Days of weary treks up country, Days of strenuous manœuvres, Came the listless private soldiers, Came the corporals and the sergeants, Spoke a wo...

There are very many lessons Taught you by the British Army, And when you have boiled the lot down Only two things really matter. When you’ve learnt them you’re a soldier, Till y...

Very lovely is Kyoto In the days of cherry blossom; Very lovely is the splendour Of the snow-wrapped Rocky Mountains; Lovely are the coral islands Strung like jade in the Pacifi...

Many stunts did Tiadatha In the line in front of Doiran. He would often go patrolling Right up to the Bulgar trenches; Sometimes he would bring a board back With a Bulgar notice...

Soon my wounded Tiadatha Carefully labelled like a parcel Started on his journey Baseward, Fared upon that fearful journey, Burning head and aching shoulder, Fared upon a swayin...

For a while my Tiadatha Rested on the slopes of Hortiach, Rested till he’d got his strength back. Then at Summer Hill he sojourned, Barren camp where no one lingers Any longer t...

Some days after Salonica Had been burnt and devastated, Tiadatha and the Dudshires Trekked across the hills to Snevce, To the Doya Tepe sector. Settled in Popovo village In the...

In the month of bleak November Said the Colonel of the Dudshires, Heart athirst for blood and battle, “We must have another outing, Do another stunt one morning, Raid that wood...

On a certain winter’s morning, Early on in 1918, Tiadatha had the tidings Sudden as a tropic sunrise, Unbelievable as winning Something in a comic raffle, That he’d got his leav...

Waterloo the same as ever With its old familiar noises, Hustle, bustle and excitement, Hurrying feet and anxious faces, People staggering with parcels, People pushing for their...