That’s why I’ve penned these verses, The simple facts to tell.

I recently found a poem in my emails going to and fro between my Dad and aunts and uncles. I was about to delete it, thinking it was more of the family reunion stuff that we had all attended recently.

I am glad I didn't.

Instead I got to learn quite a bit about a very wonderful man.

I asked my Dad to tell me more about Grandpa Willis  (my Great Grandfather) and this poem. 

This is what he said (he didn't know he would be being blogged!)

Grandpa Willis was a very quiet and humble man and I feel sure he would have recognised the author of this poem if it wasn’t him. Also, if it was a copy you’d think there’d be another version somewhere but I have shown it to various people who love war history and none have seen it before.

We found the poem in Grandpa’s old trunk after he died. There he kept his War diary (in which was a well preserved poppy from the Western Front) which we all knew about but the poem wasn’t known about then. 

Grandpa was always loath to talk about the War – he felt it was a stupid and senseless waste of life. He was wounded in one of the major battles there and as kids we were always fascinated by the piece of shrapnel that they dug out of him back in England where he recovered, and the scar in his side from the operation. 

I’m a bit of a fan of the history of the Western Front and the famous part the Aussies played in the eventual victory, they were involved in many heroic battles to turn the Germans back - the town of Amiens was a key to the German hopes of pushing the Allies back to the sea, then crossing the Channel to take England. There was a decisive battle where the Aussies under their own General John Monash using a new and more modern approach to warfare beat and started the eventual retreat of the Germans and this "Key to Amiens" is a proud recollection of that. 

Grandpa was wounded in another famous battle, the Battle of Le Hamel which is a village not far from Villiers Brettoneux.

So today I have a treat for history lovers, for those that like poetry, for anyone who likes good writing and all that live a free life thanks to the bravery, courage and ultimate sacrifice of too many.

Lest we Forget.

How Amiens Was Saved

They boasted a front of granite strength

Which nothing on earth could shake

The arms and skill of fifty years

Defied our men to break.

They bent the line  for forty miles

And flushed with victory

Were pushing on to Amiens

To drive us to the sea

Across the smiling meadows

His columns held their sway

To the tune of “Rule Germania”,

And the song of “To the Day”

When Germania rides to victory

And the Kaiser doffs his crown

And the eagle sounds the trumpet

That “Britain’s trampled down”.

They roll the Allies forward

And Amiens is the key

It is the final flutter

For the channel and the sea

But now at Villers Bretoneux

They get a mighty shock

For the army of Australia

Is like a piece of rock

Entrenched upon the plateau

With Amiens in the rear

Are half trained rough Australians

Who never knew a fear.

He made his thrust at daylight

With the mighty Prussian Guard

But Australian sons of British blood

Refused to yield a yard

And back he came mid trumpets

And bullets poured like rain

But our duty was to hold the line

So we knocked him back again.

It was the morn of April

He made his great attack

With explosive shell and bullets

They failed to push us back.

We faced the cruel bayonets

But put him on the run

And we won the key to Amiens

Though they were three to one

And when the reliefs took over

We passed back to the rear

Silent by the fallen

For the price we paid was dear.

And the people of Australia

Safe from the slush and mud

Enjoying a life of freedom

Away from the stench of blood

And the mothers of Australia

Away in the Homeland dear

Saddened souls of affection

For a loved ones distant tear.

They knew not how they perished

Or how those brave men fell

That’s why I’ve penned these verses

The simple facts to tell.

Many a good and honest girl

Was struck with a sudden pain

Longing for her dear lover

Who’ll never return again.

Many a bright Australian child

Wailed at home in vain

Crying to greet a soldier Dad

Now numbered with the slain.

Mothers, fathers and sisters

Though the salt tears coursed like rain

Were proud of the soldier heroes

Whose fight was not in vain.

Many a fine Australian boy

Caused a mothers tears

By dying to save Australia

The land he loved so dear

Their graves are scattered o’er the land

And wild flowers clothe their bed

And springtime’s scent of glory

Spreads fragrance o’er the dead

Bright  poppies grow beside them

In bloom of scarlet red

Poppies, blood red poppies

Wave proudly overhead.

They’re buried where they perished

Where death had taken toll

And drops of blood have written

A long and glorious roll

The town boy from the office

The bush lad from the plough

The stockman and the rover

These  sleep forever now.

They gave their lives for Australia

And the German thrust was checked

And we won the Key to Amiens

And the Kaiser’s plan was wrecked

Possibly (Most likely definitely) written by Private Michael Willis, 14th Battalion - 4th Division. Wounded at the Battle of Le Hamel.