A Legend would be Born

We hit the beaches early, rowed in through the waves

Looked for cover that wasn’t there

Saw the wounded piling up, pitied the blokes we couldn’t save

And cursed the wretched army gear

With the Dawning of this new day a legend would be born

 

A Turkish shell picked me up and threw me down again

My mates rushed in to help

Can’t do naught, the medic said, that’s the war for him

He was only eighteen, Johnny said with a yelp

With the Dawning of this new day a legend would be born

 

I did me best, tried to stay and do my job for them

But it was not to be

I could help them get through this

There was a bigger plan for me

With the Dawning of this new day a legend would be born

 

From the beach to the high ground back and forth again

It was doomed right from the start

Long hard days ahead just to settle in

We Aussies got the heart

With the Dawning of that new day a legend would be born

 

Months of waste of Australia’s youth, all in their prime

The Nek, The defence and Lonesome Pine

I was there with them all

Their pain I felt as mine

With the Dawning of that new day a legend would be born

 

The withdrawal came and the lads got out

The Turks knew nothing of it

Three days it took to leave that place

No noise now, they had to leave their kit

With the Dawning of that new day a legend would be born

 

I am the Spirit of Anzac

I was with them all

I shall remain on duty

And answer the country’s call

With the Dawning of that new day a legend would be born

 

From Anzac to Afghanistan

And all wars in between

The Aussie soldier knows me

Where he is, I’ve been

With the Dawning of that new day a legend had been born

 

 

Jim Poland
RAInf (RAR)
1981-1994

 

FILE PHOTO (September 2012): ‘T-wall’ art in Tarin Kot, Afghanistan. Photo by Brian Hartigan.

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