Verses 1889-1896 Part 33

When the Tower o' Babel had mixed up men's _bat_, Some clever civilian was managing that, An' none of, etc.

When the Jews had a fight at the foot of a hill, Young Joshua ordered the sun to stand still, For he was a Captain of Engineers, etc.

When the Children of Israel made bricks without straw, They were learnin' the regular work of our Corps, The work of, etc.

For ever since then, if a war they would wage, Behold us a-shinin' on history's page -- First page for, etc.

We lay down their sidings an' help 'em entrain, An' we sweep up their mess through the bloomin' campaign, In the style of, etc.

They send us in front with a fuse an' a mine To blow up the gates that are rushed by the Line, But bent by, etc.

They send us behind with a pick an' a spade, To dig for the guns of a bullock-brigade Which has asked for, etc.

We work under escort in trousers and shirt, An' the heathen they plug us tail-up in the dirt, Annoying, etc.

We blast out the rock an' we shovel the mud, We make 'em good roads an' -- they roll down the _khud_, Reporting, etc.

We make 'em their bridges, their wells, an' their huts, An' the telegraph-wire the enemy cuts, An' it's blamed on, etc.

An' when we return, an' from war we would cease, They grudge us adornin' the billets of peace, Which are kept for, etc.

We build 'em nice barracks -- they swear they are bad, That our Colonels are Methodist, married or mad, Insultin', etc.

They haven't no manners nor grat.i.tude too, For the more that we help 'em, the less will they do, But mock at, etc.

Now the Line's but a man with a gun in his hand, An' Cavalry's only what horses can stand, When helped by, etc.

Artillery moves by the leave o' the ground, But _we_ are the men that do something all round, For _we_ are, etc.

I have stated it plain, an' my argument's thus ("It's all one," says the Sapper), There's only one Corps which is perfect -- that's us; An' they call us Her Majesty's Engineers, Her Majesty's Royal Engineers, With the rank and pay of a Sapper!

THAT DAY

It got beyond all orders an' it got beyond all 'ope; It got to shammin' wounded an' retirin' from the 'alt.

'Ole companies was lookin' for the nearest road to slope; It were just a bloomin' knock-out -- an' our fault!

Now there ain't no chorus 'ere to give, Nor there ain't no band to play; An' I wish I was dead 'fore I done what I did, Or seen what I seed that day!

We was sick o' bein' punished, an' we let 'em know it, too; An' a company-commander up an' 'it us with a sword, An' some one shouted "'Ook it!" an' it come to _sove-ki-poo_, An' we chucked our rifles from us -- O my Gawd!

There was thirty dead an' wounded on the ground we wouldn't keep -- No, there wasn't more than twenty when the front begun to go; But, Christ! along the line o' flight they cut us up like sheep, An' that was all we gained by doin' so.

I 'eard the knives be'ind me, but I dursn't face my man, Nor I don't know where I went to, 'cause I didn't 'alt to see, Till I 'eard a beggar squealin' out for quarter as 'e ran, An' I thought I knew the voice an' -- it was me!

We was 'idin' under bedsteads more than 'arf a march away; We was lyin' up like rabbits all about the countryside; An' the major cursed 'is Maker 'cause 'e lived to see that day, An' the colonel broke 'is sword acrost, an' cried.

We was rotten 'fore we started -- we was never disci_plined_; We made it out a favour if an order was obeyed; Yes, every little drummer 'ad 'is rights an' wrongs to mind, So we had to pay for teachin' -- an' we paid!

The papers 'id it 'andsome, but you know the Army knows; We was put to groomin' camels till the regiments withdrew, An' they gave us each a medal for subduin' England's foes, An' I 'ope you like my song -- because it's true!

An' there ain't no chorus 'ere to give, Nor there ain't no band to play; But I wish I was dead 'fore I done what I did, Or seen what I seed that day!

"THE MEN THAT FOUGHT AT MINDEN"

A Song of Instruction

The men that fought at Minden, they was rookies in their time -- So was them that fought at Waterloo!

All the 'ole command, yuss, from Minden to Maiwand, They was once dam' sweeps like you!

Then do not be discouraged, 'Eaven is your 'elper, We'll learn you not to forget; An' you mustn't swear an' curse, or you'll only catch it worse, For we'll make you soldiers yet!

The men that fought at Minden, they 'ad stocks beneath their chins, Six inch 'igh an' more; But fatigue it was their pride, and they _would_ not be denied To clean the cook-'ouse floor.

The men that fought at Minden, they had anarchistic bombs Served to 'em by name of 'and-grenades; But they got it in the eye (same as you will by-an'-by) When they clubbed their field-parades.

The men that fought at Minden, they 'ad b.u.t.tons up an' down, Two-an'-twenty dozen of 'em told; But they didn't grouse an' shirk at an hour's extry work, They kept 'em bright as gold.

The men that fought at Minden, they was armed with musketoons, Also, they was drilled by 'alberdiers; I don't know what they were, but the sergeants took good care They washed be'ind their ears.

The men that fought at Minden, they 'ad ever cash in 'and Which they did not bank nor save, But spent it gay an' free on their betters -- such as me -- For the good advice I gave.

The men that fought at Minden, they was civil -- yuss, they was -- Never didn't talk o' rights an' wrongs, But they got it with the toe (same as you will get it -- so!) -- For interrupting songs.

The men that fought at Minden, they was several other things Which I don't remember clear; But _that's_ the reason why, now the six-year men are dry, The rooks will stand the beer!

Then do not be discouraged, 'Eaven is your 'elper, We'll learn you not to forget; An' you mustn't swear an' curse, or you'll only catch it worse, For we'll make you soldiers yet!

Soldiers yet, if you've got it in you -- All for the sake of the Core; Soldiers yet, if we 'ave to skin you -- Run an' get the beer, Johnny Raw -- Johnny Raw!

Ho! run an' get the beer, Johnny Raw!

CHOLERA CAMP

We've got the cholerer in camp -- it's worse than forty fights; We're dyin' in the wilderness the same as Isrulites; It's before us, an' be'ind us, an' we cannot get away, An' the doctor's just reported we've ten more to-day!

Oh, strike your camp an' go, the Bugle's callin', The Rains are fallin' -- The dead are bushed an' stoned to keep 'em safe below; The Band's a-doin' all she knows to cheer us; The Chaplain's gone and prayed to Gawd to 'ear us -- To 'ear us -- O Lord, for it's a-killin' of us so!

Since August, when it started, it's been stickin' to our tail, Though they've 'ad us out by marches an' they've 'ad us back by rail; But it runs as fast as troop-trains, and we cannot get away; An' the sick-list to the Colonel makes ten more to-day.