“PATROL IN” - AT NUMBER EIGHT

by Private Milton Myers of Gravenhurst, Ontario
As published in The Gravenhurst Banner, November 18, 1915

Softly falls the touch of twilight
O·er Belgium's blood-stained fields
It is " stand-to " in the trenches
At our back a big gun peels

Forth a boss of dire destruction
As a shell hurtles on it's way
Caring not for man's distraction
Killing all within it's sway

Down the line the order passes
· Patrol out "at number eight
Braving rifle fire and gases
Playing hide-and-seek with fate

Out in front between the trenches
With no cover save the sky
And it's raining how it drenches
But we'll do the job or die

There's a sap that need extending
There is broken wire to mend
And the Boches keep on sending
Star shells flaming without end

Pitter-pat the dumdums clatter
On each side and over head
While the wicked Maxums scatter
Deadly pellets made of lead

See at last the clouds are breaking
And the rain has ceased to fall
And the full moon starts a shaking
Silvery moon sprays over all

Back we scramble to the sap-head
Pass the word to those who wait
Job is finished - wire is mended
· Patrol In · - at number eight *****