ap1
07-07-2007, 20:47
This poem provided by Forum Member vcj123 was amongst the private papers of her father Col W J Simmons MC. He was Company commander of A Coy 2 RWF, his Company actions during the fighting were crucial in the capture of the key town of Ansirene.
The Invasion of Madagascar 1942
‘Twas a morn we’ll all remember
That sunny fifth of May
When the 29th were landed
In that very quiet bay
As all ashore we waded
Not a single shot was heard
Not a sign and not a signal
Just the murmur of the birds
Fast the dawn was breaking
And we’d landed to the last
Off came the tanks and carriers
And they all went rushing past
For our advance had started
Though the foe was not in sight
But all the boys were ready
To prove Great Britain’s might
The first skirmish that we met
Six miles from shore inland
The foe were all retreating
Before our gallant band
Each Coy was pushing forward
Each section wisely led
For not a soul was injured
And not a life was bled
The next twelve miles were taken
To a place called Avril Quest
Through the village of Anamakia
Without a halt nor a rest
The foe was on the hilltops
And three of our heroes fall
But their deaths were soon avenged
For their killers went to hell
It was eve when we met full resistance
At a place called Robinson Hotel
And the life we lived in that area
Was the life we’ll all live in Hell
Still the Old 29th was undaunted
As the order came out for a rest
For we knew in our heart at the finish
That we would come out best
With the night came the bully and biscuit
And the (something) tin full of hot char
Most of the men are more tired
For the journey had been so far
All night we watched and waited
Our bayonets all fixed and in line
Our thoughts far away in the homeland
With our loved ones left there behind
With the dawn of the sixth came the sniping
And the time we had wasn’t swell
Most of the lads got their bullets
From where no-one could tell
All day we were shot and shelled at
And many gave up the ghost
But steadfast and grimly we held on
After that nights repost
On the night of the sixth we lined up
For the finish and final advance
And we knew that tomorrow
Ours would be what was France
None knew what was before us
Ours was not to reason why
But all we knew that ‘fore the morn
Few heroes would fall and die
Half a kilo went by us
Yard after yard we did stalk
When all of a sudden they heard us
And their guns chattered and talked
At first we were down and well under
Till we found that the bullets were high
Then half bent we went forward
Not daring to glance at the sky
At last the Line was truly broken
With final and determined rush
Over the top we charged them
Until all resistance was crushed
Though some of the heroes had fallen
Their sacrifice will never be vain
For they’ve gone to a world that is better
A world that is free from sorrow and pain
There are spots in Madagascar
That denotes the price we paid
Where all our heroes are buried
So that U.K. will not be enslaved
Comrades pledging revenge
Ready to stand shoulder to shoulder
In the field of the next event.
Caimans Fort.
12th August, 1942.
‘A’ Company.
2nd Battalion. The Royal Welch Fusiliers
The Invasion of Madagascar 1942
‘Twas a morn we’ll all remember
That sunny fifth of May
When the 29th were landed
In that very quiet bay
As all ashore we waded
Not a single shot was heard
Not a sign and not a signal
Just the murmur of the birds
Fast the dawn was breaking
And we’d landed to the last
Off came the tanks and carriers
And they all went rushing past
For our advance had started
Though the foe was not in sight
But all the boys were ready
To prove Great Britain’s might
The first skirmish that we met
Six miles from shore inland
The foe were all retreating
Before our gallant band
Each Coy was pushing forward
Each section wisely led
For not a soul was injured
And not a life was bled
The next twelve miles were taken
To a place called Avril Quest
Through the village of Anamakia
Without a halt nor a rest
The foe was on the hilltops
And three of our heroes fall
But their deaths were soon avenged
For their killers went to hell
It was eve when we met full resistance
At a place called Robinson Hotel
And the life we lived in that area
Was the life we’ll all live in Hell
Still the Old 29th was undaunted
As the order came out for a rest
For we knew in our heart at the finish
That we would come out best
With the night came the bully and biscuit
And the (something) tin full of hot char
Most of the men are more tired
For the journey had been so far
All night we watched and waited
Our bayonets all fixed and in line
Our thoughts far away in the homeland
With our loved ones left there behind
With the dawn of the sixth came the sniping
And the time we had wasn’t swell
Most of the lads got their bullets
From where no-one could tell
All day we were shot and shelled at
And many gave up the ghost
But steadfast and grimly we held on
After that nights repost
On the night of the sixth we lined up
For the finish and final advance
And we knew that tomorrow
Ours would be what was France
None knew what was before us
Ours was not to reason why
But all we knew that ‘fore the morn
Few heroes would fall and die
Half a kilo went by us
Yard after yard we did stalk
When all of a sudden they heard us
And their guns chattered and talked
At first we were down and well under
Till we found that the bullets were high
Then half bent we went forward
Not daring to glance at the sky
At last the Line was truly broken
With final and determined rush
Over the top we charged them
Until all resistance was crushed
Though some of the heroes had fallen
Their sacrifice will never be vain
For they’ve gone to a world that is better
A world that is free from sorrow and pain
There are spots in Madagascar
That denotes the price we paid
Where all our heroes are buried
So that U.K. will not be enslaved
Comrades pledging revenge
Ready to stand shoulder to shoulder
In the field of the next event.
Caimans Fort.
12th August, 1942.
‘A’ Company.
2nd Battalion. The Royal Welch Fusiliers