In honour and memory of those who served – we remember.
And… in tribute to my father who wrote these words in April 1945.
Beside a muddy river bank
Amid the stagnant water reeds,
Half visible through drifting mist,
A cross stands stark among the weeds.
No name it bears, except “Unknown.”
No sign to show if friend or foe.
Not e’en a mound, but just a cross,
Reflected in the stream below.
Who lays here then, alone in death,
To challenge all who come this way?
With speechless lips to halt all men,
That pass him by, who had to stay.
He does not ask who won the fight,
Nor if the war is over yet.
For him, no interest lies in that.
But all he asks is,
“Don’t forget.”
He gave his life, ‘twas all he had.
But was his sacrifice in vain?
He asks us to forget him not,
Nor let it happen o’er again.
In years to come, this cross will stand,
Its whiteness dulled by blowing dust.
And shall we carry on his torch?
To let him lie in peace – We must!
(Dad’s Notes…Written on the bank of the Santurno River, near Forli, Italy. I was sent here to
co-ordinate the secret code work with the British 8th Commando Brigade for a parachute drop. Near our bivouac, at the water’s edge, was a single cross marked “Unknown.” And that inspired these lines.)
(N.B. Dad was RAF Code and Cipher out of Magdalen in Oxford, England. He saw action in Africa, Italy, Sicily, and Greece with the various British Infantry Units, as well as local partisan groups. Serving as liaison between the commanders on the ground and the US Army Air Force. He would arrange and coordinate the drop of requested troops and supplies as needed in support of the front lines prior to battle. He spent 3+ years in the Mediterranean and was one of four in his class of 120 at Magdalen to survive the war.)
4 thoughts on “The Challenge…”
What a great post on this Memorial Day weekend. We should all pray for our service men and women who have died for us and the ones that that protect us now.
Love you Bev. Jim
Love back Jim… and keep taking care!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. A perfect post for this holiday. And it’s perfectly clear where your writing genes come from. . My sincere thanks to all who serve, have served, and especially those who sacrificed all. ✝️
Well… they do say that the apple never falls far from the tree – lol!!
Thanks for the lovely comment and have a good Memorial Day week!!!