Post by Administrator on Jun 17, 2010 13:01:00 GMT
THE RED ENSIGN MEN
Dedicated to the men of Merchant Navy
Have you ever stood a foc’sle watch
On a tanker, just at dawn
And through icy sheet checked out the fleet
Dreading the klaxon horn,
Loathing the feel of freezing steel
And longing for a day that’s warm ?
Hoist the blood red ensign high !
Pay homage to the brave !
Those who live and those that die
In a deep and lonely grave !
Have you ever seen a cargo ship go down ?
Heard the screams of dying men ?
Struck by a foe from deep below
And were helpless to defend
And in your dreams relived the scenes
Until you woke again ?
Hoist the blood red ensign high !
Salute those valiant men !
Those who were, and those who are
And those to be again !
Have you ever seen a ship at sea
That could barely make its way ?
But bore the might of a frenzied fight
And still made port, one day ?
With decks still red from those that bled
Who died for our today !
Hoist the blood red ensign high !
And let us not forget
Those loyal crews who paid there dues,
In courage, blood and sweat !
Have you ever sat in an open boat
On seas that were choked with oil ?
With lungs aflame and racked with pain,
And felt your anger boil
And wondered why men had to die,
And was it worth the toil ?
Hoist the blood red ensign high
Sound the bugle call !
And honour them the Merchant men,
The bravest of them all. !
Dennis John Wood. Caerphilly, Ex Army and ex Merchant Navy
On display at: The United Services Club, Wharton Street, Cardiff