Any help appreciated.

quote:

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Originally posted by J Dempsey:
Looking for any information on the works of Robert Boak,known as the Donemana poet. He lived in the first half of the 20th century in Donemana, Co Tyrone. The titles of two poems are
1. My Native Glen
2. Come closer, Bill, old comrade

Any help appreciated.

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I've just come across a newspaper cutting in an old family bible - it's a poem called "At the Field Hospital" dated 2 July 1916 and the first line is "Come closer Bill old comrade, I'm glad to have you near" - the poet is not named, there are just the words "Field Card" at the end. Could this be by your Donemana poet?? The cutting is qute faded but I'm going to retype it for one of my relatives in Derry - would you like me to post / e-mail you a copy.
I know your original message is quite old now, but if you are still interested, drop me an e-mail.

quote:

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Originally posted by Dianeo:
Hello Pat,

I've just heard the 'Come Closer Bill Old Comrade' Poem recited by Gerry Anderson on Radio Ulster. This poem has great significance for me and I would love to have a copy of it. I would also be extemely interested to know what paper it was printed in. Thank you, Diane.

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AT THE FIELD HOSPITAL
(Field Card)

2nd July 1916

Come closer, Bill, old comrade, I’m glad to have
You here,
It does not seem so hard to die when one we
Love is near;
For as “Kids” we played together – “Shot
Marbles on the wall,”
And as youths in good old Brandywell we used
To kick the ball.
You’ll tell them in the dear old town – old Derry
On the Foyle –
That the boys who drilled with “Wooden Guns”
Were worthy of their soil.
But you’ll hardly need to tell them, e’er now
The world has heard,
What with the hardy sons of Ulster for their King and
Country dared,
How when ordered from the trenches, by just
That one word “Go!”
With the war-cry “No Surrender” they quickly
Found the foe,
And onward dashed, from trench to trench, as
Streams the rushing tide.
The Fountain, Dark-lane, Rosemount, and the
Lads from Waterside
Went onward, ever onward, their progress
None could stay.
They weren’t out “Goose-stepping” nor singing
“Dolly’s Brae.”
But to clear the earth of him we hate – Lor’ how
The Germans ran!
They hadn’t time to “wait and see” at “Omagh” or “Strabane.”
It maybe someone blundered, the fault might’ve
Been our own,
But when we reached trench No.5 we found ourselves alone:
Alone and unsupported amidst a withering fire,
Yet we held our winnings gamely till the order
Came – Retire!
I cannot, nor will any man, the stories ever tell.
How caught in that triangle – it seemed the
Mouth of Hell –
With comrades falling, falling, we formed as on parade;
“You’ll fight a rearguard action,” was all our leaders said.
And in that rearguard action, Bill, I got the Knockout blow;
And now I’ve got to “travel” the road that all must go.
When lying faint from loss of blood I heard
A brother call,
“We cannot leave him here to die,
Where one goes, go we all.”
It was a chap from Monaghan, a loyal man and true;
He swung me ‘cross his shoulders,
And said he’d see me through.
“Right, matey,” then another said “where one
Goes go we all,
I’ll help you, brother Ulsterman – I’m County Donegal.”
The Ulster’s fought the rearguard, with many a hearty cheer
And the next thing I remember
Was being patched up here.
But I know the efforts useless; I feel I’m going fast.
I see the new day breaking, foe me ‘twill be the last;
I’ll ne’er again sit on the Wall
Of an evening calm and cool
To watch the youngsters playing “tig” around
First Derry School.