Lest we Forget

Lest we Forget

A quarter of a million underage young British soldiers

Fought in World War One.

Each one, one in a million – each one gone.

Journalists arrested or outlawed at the front,

Threatened with execution

For publishing unpatriotic pollution.

Over a quarter of a million women working on the land,

An army in the landscape.

Each one, one in a million – a new role taking shape.

Nurses arrested and executed saving other’s lives.

Medicine in its early days,

Moving into another phase.

A million horses sent over to the trenches,

Mules and dogs on guard.

Each one, one in a million – a life that is scarred.

Objectors, pacifists, those with different views.

Too old, too young, or simply disinclined -

Labelled by society - some heroes, some maligned.

Disabled, grannies or mothers waiting for the news,

Scientists and engineers expanding knowledge and the mind,

Shop-keepers, farmers, all those who were left behind.

Over 37 million casualties – civilian or in uniform -

Statistics are unclear.

Each one, one in a million – but each one someone dear.

And dear the cost to one and all

Will we ever the lesson learn?

Do not forget them, one and all

For each is our concern.

 By Linda Prince

© Charmaine Harrison @ http://charmingphotography.weebly.com/