WW1 Poem

The following picture and poem have kindly been sent by Ken Webb.
Ken's Great Grandmother, Lydia Evelyn (Eva) GOLTZ (nee Grey) resided at Crystal Hill Tarnagulla with her husband Arthur Goltz. When going through a number of old letters has came across a hand written poem of 5 verses. He'd like to believe were written by Lydia but we don't know. Maybe someone will recognise this poem. It is a very moving ode to the mood in the town at the time.

Comrades All


The Street seems very silent
Whats become of all the boys?
You may search all round the cricket ground;
No shouting, now, no noise,
You may scale the hill at Growler's, cast
An eye at the swimming dam;
Look in at every concert hall, search all
Corners of the town.

They marched to school together; those
Same Tarnagulla boys,
Playing fair each game of marbles;
Sharing each the other's joys.
Sending ball to hit the wickets, boisterous
Games of football too;
Now those lads all bravely fighting, they
Have sterner work to do.

Up the Hill to Old Green Valley, where
they tramped so oft before,
Gathering sprays of scented wattle, gee bungs,
Cranberries, flowers - galore;
Peeping into every bird's nest; picking gum
From every bough:
Where are those once busy footsteps?
Some are resting now.

They have played the game; the greatest
In all their lives before,
Their deeds of valor, of glory, will resound
From shore to shore;
They are fighting still in the firing line-
Still joining in the fray;
Whilst their comrades are peacefully Sleeping;
Angels guard them where they lay.

Perchance each lad had wandered
Far apart throughout the years;
Now they are again united, sharing each
Their hopes and fears;
Some at Lonesome Pine have fallen-
They can never lonesome be,
School mates once, now comrades faithful,
Bear each other company.

Victoria Theatre

An image of one of the hand written pages with the poem on it.



Victoria Theatre

A photo of two of Lydia's brothers, Horace and Devon.

Horace Leslie Grey (on the left) was killed at Gallipoli 1st August 1915 aged 24 years and buried at Lone Pine. His brother, Devonshire Dickson Grey (on the right) received the Military Medal, for his stretcher bearer duties during operations around Glencorse Wood, east of Ypres on the 20th and 21st Sept 1917.