Poems - 2nd Bn RWF - Madagascar 1942

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

To the Royal Welch Fusiliers at Madagascar 1942


To this countryside of hills and dales
Came those lads – sons of Wales
Ready for the strictest training
They marched into the Haining
When on parade tis truth to tell
The boys turned out smart and well

They turned the heads of all the lassies
Who wondered why they wore the flashes
They didn’t have very long to wait
For soon they had made a date
The Band had started to play at Dances
And those of course started romances

On Sunday evenings to the hall
We were welcomed one and all
To be entertained by their Military Band
And the Welsh Choir which sang so grand

I had almost forgotten this when I wrote
That the Royal Welch Mascot was a Goat
It trotted along in Military style
And smart though it was, one had to smile

But soon alas those fellows so fine
Must pass from our midst to another clime
Here’s wishing them well with hearty cheers
The boys of the Royal Welch Fusiliers

Selkirk

Found a poem in a book can not be that old though?

I had a thought to night something quite really sad
I had this a sudden feeling I need to phone my dad

We have not spoken for such long long time and I know we really should
If just to say how are you I hope your feeling good

We use to chat and comment I'd often request his knowledge
As I left school very early and never went to college

What was that number Id tap in zero something seven
now all I get when I call is someone up in heaven

The years we had so very special and the moments that we shared
The love you gave showed to us how much you truly cared

Now life's moved on and while I am here we can never be together
but am I over this tremendous lost, like many the answer never!


Do not think its military but fell out of a family book

Do you know anymore about this poem? Has anyone any photos of the regiment in Selkirk or at The Haining?

Welcome BryanSouter. Can you give us some background to your question please? What your particular interest is?

Thanks

I live in Selkirk, and the Haining House was left in the will to Selkirkshire. I know that regiment were stationed in the Haining during WW2 but don't know much else.

Thank you Brian, i'll see what I can dig out from Red Dragon, a book which covers WW2.

Thanks again.

Hello bryan and Al,

I have 4 photos of the 2nd R W F on my old web site http://bridgendrwf.co.uk/ they are not good photos, they show "A" company attacking the causeway "A" company making for the new road to the capital, Major Gwydyr Jones over looking the Mah Junga, then 2 R W F have taken the town, and the 22nd East African Brigade coming to relieve the 2 R W F. I am in the middle of trying to transfer my new blog to the forum. On my new blog I have a fairly good photo of the 2nd R W F on parade in Selkirk prior to leaving for Madagascar. This photo shows Lt Col Stockwell, Major Gwydyr Jones,Major Lyle, Captain Demetriadis, and C S M Purcell. Hope you can find the photos on my old web site.I intend to upload the 4 photos from my old web site and enhance them if possible. The photos were given to me by Fus Robinson ( deceased) ex 2 R W F
The reason for the landing on Madagascar was when the Japanese sunk the pride of the British navy and the Dutch had their tenuous hold in the area also demolished by the Japs, the whole area was ripe for the Axis to retain a U boat pens in the area. So it had to be in the Allies possession if at all possible
Regards R B D aka jungle1810

Many thanks for that. Looked up photo, and yes it shows the regiment outside the County Hotel in Selkirk. Great stuff.

In August 1941 the 2nd Bn moved to Selkirk, where the next few months were to be spent. The officers shot pheasant at Bowhill at the invitation of the Duke of Buccleuch and the men took part in many local sports. The battalion played a leading part in Selkirks "Warship Week" with a parade and a concert at which the famous actress Mary Ellis sang.

In a letter to the Colonel of the Regiment about the battalion a Colonel C.A.G.O. Murray wrote "This Battalion was most popular in Selkirk for their good discipline and behaviour. They also did their best to entertain the people with concerts, dances etc. One of the things they did will always be remembered with gratitude. We had a heavy fall of snow and the local municipal cleansing department practically did not exist owing to the lack of man-power. Your 2nd Battalion turned out, complete with shovels and transport, and cleared all the main streets and pathways, and what is more, continued to keep them clear until the snow period was over. It was a godsend to all of us. No other unit helped us in this way on their own initiative."

The St Davids Day dinner of 1942(1st March) was held at the County Hotel with the full band playing in the Minstrels Gallery. The battalion departed on exercise on the 12th Mar, this was cancelled and the battalion returned to Selkirk, at which point they were mobilised to Greenock on the 21st March. On the 24th March 29 Ind Brigade sailed down the Clyde, heading for Madagascar. They would not return to the UK until 1946.

I'm friends with a gentleman who served with this battalion at this point in time. If there's anything specific you wish to know, I can ask him. He was a Fusilier.

Hope this helps.

Many thanks for that, it's great to read. Yes, if your gentlemen friend has any memories of Selkirk he'd like to share, please do so.

My father was with the Royal Welch Fusiliers in Selkirk in 1941/1942 and I wondered if the gentleman that you mentioned recognized my father in the attached photograph. My father Frank (Dapper) Dadge is kneeling with the rugby ball in front of him. Two other members of the battalion in the photograph are T.E. Bridges and Luscombe who I believe were both members of "Tiger" platoon. I would also be interested to learn of any information with regard to Tiger Platoon. My mother also mentioned two young ladies Thora and Voy who may have inspired some of the lines in the poem.

Roy

Excellent picture Roy, I will ask him. The 1st Bn had a "GR" Platoon whilst at Kohima in 1944, each company supplied a number of men, in the war diary's they are in the thick of it. A bit like a CO's Reserve I suspect…a small group, under his direct command, not part of the rifle companies, so he could utilise them without taking assets away from the fighting companies. The CO of 1RWF at the time of Kohima was Lt Col Braithwaite he was previously 2 i/c of the 2nd Bn at Madagascar in 1942……perhaps he got the idea of that GR Platoon from his time with 2RWF.