FIVE FALLEN FOUND h/work w.e 13.5.13
Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 11:22 am
I chose to write this piece because coincidentally I have a mate named John Calder who is himself an ex vietnam vet - whether he is related to the George Calder mentioned I have no idea, but stranger things have happened.
FIVE FALLEN FOUND – The story of the Zonnebeke 5
One of the Zonnebeke 5 was John Hunter, a man,
found buried in the fertile soil of France.
Each one wrapped in a blanket, in their uniforms and boots.
Five young blokes who had lost their final chance.
This bloke lay with arms folded; his death mask looked quite serene.
The rising sun badge there for all to see.
A tall bloke with a strong jaw line whose boots were mired in mud,
a bloke who’d fought with Aussie infantry.
His finders asked forgiveness from him as they moved his bones.
Both men felt the wellspring of emotion
that saw tears slowly coursing down their weathered wrinkled cheeks.
Perhaps that Aussie thought ‘God! What commotion’.
With reverent respect they placed the soldier’s remains in
the coffin, which was ready waiting there.
Searched for identifying marks that would give him a name.
Arranged him snug, with tenderness and care.
They found a piece of evidence that helped identify
along with DNA this man’s remains.
His younger brother was the one who’d wrapped him with such care
as round them shellfire, shrapnel, bullets rained.
The man found was a Queenslander. John Hunter was his name
49th Battalion AIF.
His body left behind in the then ravaged soil of France
by his young brother who fought on, bereft.
And of the five, two still remain nameless. Sad, sorry souls.
Two others found shared the same Christian name.
Both came from West Australia, fought with the 51st,
Young George Storey. Farm Hand - a statistic became.
the other George was George Calder and Sergeant was his rank,
one wonders if John and the Georges met
in life, or was it only in death they shared an embrace
and war that saw them break out in cold-sweat.
Two thousand seven saw these men re-interred. Three now named,
That day the sun shone bright for these brave blokes.
Full military honours, then a seven gun salute
fired by the 51st, made cordite smoke.
George Calder and George Storey, John Hunter. Brothers in arms
who fought in Polygon Wood 'midst battle cry.
These men whose bodies lay in fields. An unmarked barren grave
today beneath white headstones safely lie.
Maureen Clifford ©
FIVE FALLEN FOUND – The story of the Zonnebeke 5
One of the Zonnebeke 5 was John Hunter, a man,
found buried in the fertile soil of France.
Each one wrapped in a blanket, in their uniforms and boots.
Five young blokes who had lost their final chance.
This bloke lay with arms folded; his death mask looked quite serene.
The rising sun badge there for all to see.
A tall bloke with a strong jaw line whose boots were mired in mud,
a bloke who’d fought with Aussie infantry.
His finders asked forgiveness from him as they moved his bones.
Both men felt the wellspring of emotion
that saw tears slowly coursing down their weathered wrinkled cheeks.
Perhaps that Aussie thought ‘God! What commotion’.
With reverent respect they placed the soldier’s remains in
the coffin, which was ready waiting there.
Searched for identifying marks that would give him a name.
Arranged him snug, with tenderness and care.
They found a piece of evidence that helped identify
along with DNA this man’s remains.
His younger brother was the one who’d wrapped him with such care
as round them shellfire, shrapnel, bullets rained.
The man found was a Queenslander. John Hunter was his name
49th Battalion AIF.
His body left behind in the then ravaged soil of France
by his young brother who fought on, bereft.
And of the five, two still remain nameless. Sad, sorry souls.
Two others found shared the same Christian name.
Both came from West Australia, fought with the 51st,
Young George Storey. Farm Hand - a statistic became.
the other George was George Calder and Sergeant was his rank,
one wonders if John and the Georges met
in life, or was it only in death they shared an embrace
and war that saw them break out in cold-sweat.
Two thousand seven saw these men re-interred. Three now named,
That day the sun shone bright for these brave blokes.
Full military honours, then a seven gun salute
fired by the 51st, made cordite smoke.
George Calder and George Storey, John Hunter. Brothers in arms
who fought in Polygon Wood 'midst battle cry.
These men whose bodies lay in fields. An unmarked barren grave
today beneath white headstones safely lie.
Maureen Clifford ©