Farewell by A.W.B.

During the early years of the war (before conscription), the rallying cry for young men to volunteer was a major part of local newspapers. This poem by A.W.B. was published in the Eastbourne Gazette on May 26th 1915.

It is one of the worst poem’s I’ve ever read, but I gives a really good indication of the feeling of the town and the overwhelming pressure for every man to enlist. I think it captures the feelings of the time pretty well.


Farewell

Good-bye, young Lewes laddie,
We grip you by the hands;
We never shall forget you,
While Lewes Castle stands.

You leave your home behind you,
You’ve heard your country call,
And Lewes town will mind you,
Till Lewes Castle fall.

You’ll think of those you’ve left lad,
You won’t forget your home,
We’ll have a welcome ready,
To greet you when you come.

For you’re come home a hero,
To sound of martial drums;
We’ll set the church bells ringing
“The Conquering Hero Comes.”

Your lass is at the gate, lad,
As you march down the lane,
And at the gate she’ll greet you
When you come home again.

Oh, come you back with speed, lad,
Your gong makes us sore,
And come you back a hero
From foreign fields or gore.

We never will forget, lad,
How you went at the call;
We’ll ever mind that debt, lad,
Till Lewes Castle fall.

A.W.B.