(Written in memory of all the young men who lost their lives in both the
Vietnam war and today's scourge of young men, motor vehicle accidents)

When we were young and carefree, and naive to the plans of some,
both Reg’s and Nashos together with scarce thought of the days to come,
we trained and drilled, or ran and dug, with never a thought to die,
as we went proudly marching by, with laughing face and shining eye

I remember my comrades departing as I was kept behind
to help train another Battery, to send at a future time,
I cannot put in words but some of you will know
How my spirit went along with them tho my body couldn’t go.

They laboured in the jungle heat, were drenched from the monsoon rain
stoic in all their tribulations as they tried to hide their pain,
they met their fates from land mine, sniper bullet and machine gun burst
from mortar fire and accident and dread malaria curst

I remember my comrades returning, with saddened face and watchful eye
but they kept their private council for they were men trained not to cry,
I saw their marriages crumble and some of them sicken and die,
from the effect of "friendly" chemicals that had rained down from the sky.

Many years later on a day of sad despair
I gazed on the still white face of my oldest son with his body beyond repair.
Then his life slipped quietly away from him and his battle for life was lost
to have him back I would give my all, no matter what the cost.
.
I think of all the girls who were never met or married
and of those little children who were never born or carried,
with the sorrow spreading out like the ripples in a pond,
flowing out and down forever through the long sad years beyond.

On a still quiet night when all around me slumber,
I still shed a silent tear as I remember all their number,
but then I see their spirits marching by, with laughing face and shining eye
and when they all call out to me, do you remember us?

I reply, I do

(Alex Elliot)