Item 01: William Burrell diary, 20 December 1915-12 November 1916 - Page 178

[Page 178]

When the boys come home

We are proud of our boys, our brave boys
who for their country are fighting
Not for the sake of conquest or gain
but for the wrongs that needed righting
For the sake of the lands that lie ruined
For the sake of the homeless & sad
For the sake of the loved ones in homeland
They have given up all they had
We think of them there in the trenches
In the cold the mud & the rain
With the fiery shells bursting round them
While they fight with might & main
But what keeps our brave boys so steadfast
with courage that never gives way?
The Lord stands beside them to help them
and he is their strength & their stay

But where did they learn of this Saviour
save from the lips of their mother
or from some comrade who loved him
who spoke of Him one to another
But some had forgotten this Saviour
Till danger, death & alarm
(when the comrade fell dead beside him)
made them fly to his sheltering arm

But what about you in the Homeland
Is this Saviour precious to you
Do you pray him to keep these dear lads
& commit them to him anew.
are you keeping your promises to them
are you helping with all your might
To comfort cheer & help them
who have bravely gone to the fight

When this terrible war is ended
& the boys – the brave boys – come home
come back to loved ones - & mother
ah! what will they find when they come
a world where all is against them
a struggle for life to begin
or their loved ones & dear mother
awaiting to welcome them in.