By Tomas ‘Paddy’ Hamilton

. . When I joined the Air Force Back in 1966 We were young and clever And thought we knew

  I WATCHED THEM, NO LONGER YOUNG, THOSE WHO ANSWERED THE CALL A SOBER, SOMBER REMINDER, THE ONES WHO GAVE

I HAD BEEN DOWN TO HELL MORE TIMES THAN I COULD COUNT EVERY TIME I STUMBLED MY WOES WOULD ALWAYS

I AM NOT A HERO, I JUST DID MY JOB SOME SAY AS A SERVICEMAN, I WASN’T WORTH TWO BOB

SHE’LL ALWAYS TELL IT AS IT IS, NO RESPECT FOR MILITARY RANK AND IF THE NEED ARISES, SOMETIMES SHE CAN

Back in 1942, things looked pretty grim The enemy was at Australia’s door, our chances seemed so thin Britain was

THEY WERE THE GUARDIAN ANGELS, TO RESCUE MATES FROM HARM THEIR ONLY FORM OF SELF DEFENCE, THE RED CROSS ON

I’m just a little donkey, standing four foot four It was never my intention, to serve in the First World

It was a time of revolution, with monarchs on their knees Freedom and the rights of man, were carried on

THERE’S A PASSAGE IN THE BIBLE, I TRUELY DO BELIEVE A TIME TO LOVE, A TIME TO LAUGH AND A

There are those in this great country, who stand out in a crowd And overcome adversity, to make our nation

No one gives a second glance, as we fly through the sky When we cruise overhead, few will wonder why

When night falls like an evil veil, you’re out there on patrol To protect the weak and uphold the law,

IT WAS THE FESTIVE SEASON, SO MANY YEARS AGO WHEN A TALE OF HAPPINESS, WOULD SUDDENLY TURN TO WOE THEY

This town is still familiar, for I lived here long ago Gazing down Kelly St, the memories begin to flow

Wartime fighter pilots, gallant knights of the air Few would ever make that claim, they wouldn’t ever dare Bobby Gibbes

For twelve months, this place has been, the sum of all our fears But sadly, for many, it was their

I stand here this time each year, in the soft grey light of dawn To pay a silent tribute, to

They all called us “Chocos”, cause we’d melt in the battle’s heat Yet we were sent in harms’ way, when