Where Have All the Soldiers Gone
The Government of Canada recently approved a Bill declaring the first Sunday in June as an appreciation of past and present contributions by our Military men and women towards World peace and stability.

It so happens, that the Canadian forces were part of the great Armada that transported masses of troops and equipment onto the Normandy Beach Head, which eventually led to freeing Europe from Nazi domination. Canada has been a UN Peace Keeper since our PM Lester Pearson invented the word.

Two veterans of the landing and myself were among those that attended the 25th anniversary of the Normandy landing. I would like to share a song written at that time with you.

I'm going to leave you with my song. It is to the tune "The Streets of Laredo" from an Old Irish ballad "A Trooper cut Down in His Prime." Perhaps on this special June day, you might give a thought to the young Canadian men and woman cut down in their prime and sing this to the Veterans.

The Normandy Lament

As I was a walking down by Courselles,
It was early one morning down by the sea,
When whom should I meet but many old comrade
Who came back to visit old Normandy.


The Bunkers were silent; the aircraft were quiet,
The sea was a sobbing for the young men who died,
And many a Veteran was there on the seawall
With tears in his eyes as the memories rolled by.


Today as you stand there, you can see that great moment,
The ships of the Armada the fires of hell,
The thump of the bullets, the crash of the cannon,
The screams of the dying the whine of shrapnel.


At Beney sur Mer, up on the hill side,
They're in the maples among their gravestones.
The cream of our nation are buried together,
They lie there in silence as we walk alone.


Two minutes of silence, the volleys are fired,
The tombs are now open and the dead form line,
They walk out among us, all these young fellows,
The pride of our nation cut down in their prime.


Many years have past since they stormed up the beachhead,
We'll always remember the lives that they gave,
The Fathers the brothers, the uncles, the comrades,
To God up in heaven, please watch o'er their graves.


The last post has sounded; the silence is over,
We'll always remember, with honor and pride.
All the young soldiers that gave us our freedom,
All the young soldiers cut down in their prime.


© Jack C. Downey 1968

Refer to one of Jack's previous articles called: Don't forget who gave their lives for our CANADA DAY!


Special thanks to Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians Society website)

Jack C. Downey CD
Send comments to: Jack

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