To serve their king and country
Because they were very fit
They said it was their duty
To do their little bit

They were a long time in battle
I think about three years
Our many thoughts were with them
Also many tears

Some times the fighting was real hard
They were sleeping in the wet
And had their meals at any time
These things one don’t forget

They both came to us again
But their health it had to fail
Sam did not look at all real well
But Jim looked so very pale

Then Jim grew so very weak
He had no more to give
He struggled on for many months
And done his best to live

But for his king and country
His young life he did deny
So he closed his weary tired eyes
Too weak to say good-bye

Sam lived for two or three years
I really do not know how long
But I always knew he suffered
Not complaining right or wrong

Yes I knew he always suffered
And I am sure that God knows best
And one morning after sunrise
God called Sam home to rest

They really were two fine young men
It broke their loved ones heart
To see them slowly fade away
And from their families part

Will Spicer also enlisted
And got so far away
They found that he was unfit
And sent him home to stay.

From The golden days of Lewis Ponds; Poems by Mary Spicer