The following verse was sent to the Liverpool Weekly Courier published 19th August 1916 by Private W. Prescott King's (Liverpool Regiment)
When you're sleepng on the fire-step in a great coat soaking wet.
When the mud is in your eyes and mouth and in your hair, you bet
When the rain comes through your dug out roof and drips down on your nose.
When your feet are blinking icebergs and you haven't got no toes
When the neighbours in your shirt are dancing hornpipes on your chest
When you've dug for fourteen nights on end and never had no rest
When the corporal's pinched your rations and the sergeants pinched your rum.
Never curse or swear but simply smile - remember Belguim
When the Alleman blows off your hat or helmet with a crump
When the aerial torpedoes scarcely give you time to jump
When you're always in the hottest part and never had no luck
When the whizz-bangs come so thick you haven't time to duck
When trench morters, bombs and shrapnel seem to have a love for you
When in trying to retaliate you fight until you're blue.
When you hear the bullets singing and your head they nearly hit
Never mind, but just remember your a doing of your bit
When your billets are a cowshed and the blooming roof all leaks
When you've mortgaged all the money that is due to you for weeks
When if sick the doctor gives you M and D and sends you back
When you've lost your iron rations, your smoke helmet and your pack
When your rifle's chocked with mud and you get F.P. No 2
When your pals all go to Blighty every blooming one but you
When you've got to pop the parapet and courage is at zero
Just remember who you are my boy - a blooming British hero
Private W. Prescott 1916