Christmas in the Trenches-1916

[Katie]

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

The snow was falling-so were the Huns
As I stood at the dug-out door-
Or rather where the door would have been
If it hadn't gone before!

A bit higher up in the blooming trench
A chap howled with might and main
What sounded like "Herald Angels"
Mixed with "Here we are again"

My pal was talking about "turkey"
When we'd only two pots o jam
Towards the Christmas dinner just then-
Wouldn't any fellow say d----?

Folk talk about lonely "soldiers"
Take my word, "empty" ones are as bad-
They're all the time looking for hampers
Which they give the eye known as "glad."

I think of the pork shop windows
That gladdened my eyes when a boy-
What wouldn't I give at the moment
For a bright red saveloy!

I'm not a fellow for throwing out hints.
But we're making "mincemeat" of the Huns,
So perhaps it would only be fitting
If the Empire sent some to her sons.

Private Henry Toolan 5th K.L.R Somewhere in France December 1916

Transcribed by Kathyd Christmas Eve 2012