My Great Uncle Bernard
Joined a Canadian Regiment,
The Overseas Expeditionary Force,
114^th Brock Rangers.
He was shipped back to England
and said his Goodbyes to his folks,
When asked by his sister
"Why did you enlist?"
He replied
"You would not want to think me a coward."
The cold, damp winter weather
brought on his Arthritis,
Almost crippled, he was hospitalised,
Then before he’d recovered
they discharged him again,
and sent him over to France.
Into the trenches
and the frontline of battle.
On April 9^th, 1917
They were ordered to storm Vimy Ridge,
Bernard was killed
on that very first day,
how I don’t know,
but I wonder,
was it that tank
hidden in a cottage,
that mowed him down with the others?To think of him running
on those arthritic legs
through mud and gunfire
is so painful.
Like so many others
in the flower of his youth
he was cut down in those fields to expire.
My Grandmother,
his sister,
kept all of his medals
in plain sight, for all to see,
She was proud of her brother.
and treasured his photo’s
keeping alive his memory,
Now she too is gone,
and I have his medals
on a wall in my house,
in plain sight, for all to see,
I treasure his photo’s
and keep alive his memory,
I am proud of my Great Uncle Bernard.
On Remembrance Day,
I’ll plant a cross,
Bearing his name with pride.
Now he is resting
In La Chaudiere Cemetery
Along with the others who died.