In Flanders fields the Poppies blow between the crosses, row on row
that mark OUR place, yet in the sky the Larks still sweetly singing fly
unheard among the fury of the guns below.
For WE are the dead, but short as were those days ago
WE lived, hailed dawn and witnessed sunset's glow
Loved and were loved, but now we lie in Flanders fields.
Take up OUR quarrel with the foe, to YOU from falling hands WE throw
the 'Torch' of freedom, take it, hold it high, break not the faith with WE who die,
WE shall not sleep though Poppies grow in Flanders fields.
(a poem of reply was composed to 'In Flanders fields') :-
Oh YOU who now do sleep in Flanders fields, sleep well and one day rise anew
for WE, the living still, did catch the 'Torch' YOU threw and faithfully WE held it high for YOU.
We cherish too the Poppy red, that grows on fields where valour led.
The fields reflecting to the skies, that blood of 'Heroes' never dies
but adds it's lustre to the red,
of the flower that blooms above the dead in Flanders fields.
And now, we do Torch and Poppy red, wear in honour of OUR dead
Fear not that YOU have died for naught
WE have learned the lesson that YOU taught in Flanders fields.
Such words as these may well be intended as a tribute to the 'Valour and Glory' of those who sacrificed their lives for whatever 'Cause' they thought they were fighting for BUT, 'I' find the last two lines of the 'Reply' poem quite significant, since it would appear that we have learned precisely NOTHING from the awful sacrifices those who fell in WW1 made.
It would appear (from what we have seen of recent conflicts) that our service personnel have become more akin to 'Automatons' than soldiers, ever ready to blindly carry out whatever 'Duties' are required of them (as ordered) and HOW REFRESHING to note that Trooper Griffin had the courage to face the realities of the EVILS he was expected to perform at the whim of those whose agenda's have been PROVEN to be deceitful, in expressing his views accordingly.
Well done Trooper, your courageous exposure of the 'Hypocrisy' that exists in and around the 'Forces', is long overdue (imho)....... "Who Dares Wins !"