ARE YOU WEARING WHITE SHOES?
Are you wearing white shoes?
I don’t know the wrongs or rights
But I’m quite sure you shouldn’t
Wear white shoes with black tights
RED SHOES
Stiletto healed red shoes
Are of such seductive hues
That when they come into view
They arouse a man anew
I WENT TO PC WORLD
I went to PC World
I saw computers
With or without a screen
Keyboards and mice
But there wasn’t
A policeman to be seen
ARE YOU WEARING AN ANKLE BRACELET?
Are you wearing an ankle bracelet?
What is the significance? I forget
On one ankle you’re just crumpet
On the other you’re a strumpet
RED FERRARI
Me and a Red Ferrari
Are not best suited are we?
For I can get in easily
But can’t get out with dignity
OH DEAR WHAT CAN THE MATTER BE
Oh dear what can the matter be
Three old ladies locked in the lavatory
And it all happened last Saturday
And nobody knew they were there
The first old lady was totally batty
And she was in there each Saturday
As I say she was really quite batty
And nobody cared she was there
The second old lady said sweetly
“I’m no lady oh how you flatter me”
I’ve not been here before on a Saturday
And we were surprised she was there
The third old lady was an anomaly
He was a man called Ian from Battersea
He didn’t even know it was Saturday
And didn’t know why he was there
I CAN’T WATCH CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON
I can’t watch Christopher Eccleston
I find his speech very distracting
He was clearly a graduate
Of the shouty school of acting
RED ROSE
Red rose carried no blush
She was not an English flower
Red rose was not prettily fragranced
She was not sweet, but sour
Red rose though of English genus
Was a spy for a Marxist power
RED DOOR
What is behind the red door?
Does danger lurk out of view?
Why do I hesitate before knocking?
Just because of its crimson hue
I have no answer but I do know this
I would not hesitate if it were blue
RED BLOODED
I like to think
I’m a red blooded man
I love the female form
I’m definitely a fan
But I’m old fashioned
Red blooded man or no
But there’s just a bit
Too much on show
RED LEATHER
She wore red leather
From head to toe
Which subtly squeaked
As she went to and fro
It hugged her figure
And she smelt divine
That new car smell
Is a favourite of mine
That leather clad lass
In the red leather suit
Without doing anything
Could toot my flute
RED FEATHERS
She Wears Red Feathers
And a Huly-Huly Skirt
Or so the old song goes
To me she sounds like a flirt
Let’s see how alluring she is
In Primark joggers and T-shirt
Friday 22 November 2013
Monday 4 November 2013
Walking With God By My Side
CALLING ALL YOU ANGELS
Calling all you Angels
Amidst the heavenly host
Come in the name of God,
Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Answer the clarion call
Of the sombre Last Post
And take the fallen hero
Amidst the heavenly host
GOD SAT UPON HIS THRONE
God sat upon his throne
In the presence of the chosen
All was well in paradise
It was a special day in heaven
There was a quiet mutter abroad
And the flutter of Angels wings
Before a silent hush descended
And the heavenly chorus sings
WITHIN THE SILENT ECHO
Within the silent echo
Of the last rites
As the last words of life
Reluctantly give way
To the first words of death
God reaches out his hand
And you alluringly ascend
On comforting wings
GOD IS ON THE WEB
God is on the Web waiting for your prayer
You can easily find Him if you look around
There is no video link, Skype or live chat
But if you have faith it will be profound
Of course if an atheist was to click the link
It would respond with “Page not found”
I HEAR AN ANGEL SINGING
In the quiet of the night
When peaceful silence reigns
I hear an angel singing
And I wonder if it’s you
Amidst the chorus of the dawn
When birds are centre stage
I hear an angel singing
And I ponder if it’s you
When the wind is in the trees
Swirling in the breeze
I hear an angel singing
And I think it might be you
When the rain cascades
Down from the heavens
I hear an angel singing
And I’m sure it must be you
When the sun shines brightly
And its warmth is on my skin
I hear an angel singing
And I believe it may be you
At the setting of the sun
When another day is done
I hear an angel singing
And I know that it is you
ON MYSTICAL QUESTS
On mystical quests
The medieval knights
Sought the Holy Grail
They journeyed far
And widely searched
For a fine Golden cup
Bejewelled with gems
A challis fit for a King
Used at the last supper
By Christ himself
But these brave knights
Were doomed to fail
Christ did not live as a King
He was a Carpenter
And a poor carpenters cup
Would not have been
Crafted in Gold
And encrusted with Jewels
It would be a simple cup
Carved from wood
A humble vessel
For the son of God
WALK WITH GOD ALONG THE PATH OF LIFE
Walk with God along the path of life
When a spring is in your step
And at times when you must trudge
He will be your companion
So feel the blood of life course
And feel his love course with it
With every beat of your heart
As you walk with God
BEYOND THE SILVER MOUNTAINS
Beyond the silver mountains
Lies the undiscovered country
Where I will pass into the blue
And you will be there to meet me
I will walk over the mountains
And join you in God’s country
In the peace beyond the tears
And be together for eternity
RED DAWN
The Red Dawn of a new day
A glimpse of heaven
Signifying a new beginning
Another precious gift
Another day of life
Not to be squandered
But be accepted
In the spirit it was given
Calling all you Angels
Amidst the heavenly host
Come in the name of God,
Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Answer the clarion call
Of the sombre Last Post
And take the fallen hero
Amidst the heavenly host
GOD SAT UPON HIS THRONE
God sat upon his throne
In the presence of the chosen
All was well in paradise
It was a special day in heaven
There was a quiet mutter abroad
And the flutter of Angels wings
Before a silent hush descended
And the heavenly chorus sings
WITHIN THE SILENT ECHO
Within the silent echo
Of the last rites
As the last words of life
Reluctantly give way
To the first words of death
God reaches out his hand
And you alluringly ascend
On comforting wings
GOD IS ON THE WEB
God is on the Web waiting for your prayer
You can easily find Him if you look around
There is no video link, Skype or live chat
But if you have faith it will be profound
Of course if an atheist was to click the link
It would respond with “Page not found”
I HEAR AN ANGEL SINGING
In the quiet of the night
When peaceful silence reigns
I hear an angel singing
And I wonder if it’s you
Amidst the chorus of the dawn
When birds are centre stage
I hear an angel singing
And I ponder if it’s you
When the wind is in the trees
Swirling in the breeze
I hear an angel singing
And I think it might be you
When the rain cascades
Down from the heavens
I hear an angel singing
And I’m sure it must be you
When the sun shines brightly
And its warmth is on my skin
I hear an angel singing
And I believe it may be you
At the setting of the sun
When another day is done
I hear an angel singing
And I know that it is you
ON MYSTICAL QUESTS
On mystical quests
The medieval knights
Sought the Holy Grail
They journeyed far
And widely searched
For a fine Golden cup
Bejewelled with gems
A challis fit for a King
Used at the last supper
By Christ himself
But these brave knights
Were doomed to fail
Christ did not live as a King
He was a Carpenter
And a poor carpenters cup
Would not have been
Crafted in Gold
And encrusted with Jewels
It would be a simple cup
Carved from wood
A humble vessel
For the son of God
WALK WITH GOD ALONG THE PATH OF LIFE
Walk with God along the path of life
When a spring is in your step
And at times when you must trudge
He will be your companion
So feel the blood of life course
And feel his love course with it
With every beat of your heart
As you walk with God
BEYOND THE SILVER MOUNTAINS
Beyond the silver mountains
Lies the undiscovered country
Where I will pass into the blue
And you will be there to meet me
I will walk over the mountains
And join you in God’s country
In the peace beyond the tears
And be together for eternity
RED DAWN
The Red Dawn of a new day
A glimpse of heaven
Signifying a new beginning
Another precious gift
Another day of life
Not to be squandered
But be accepted
In the spirit it was given
A Mixed Bag
SAVAGERY LONG SINCE PROCURED
Savagery long since procured
Its inhumane and bestial song
And its uncivilised beat
Is known to the barbarous throng
Whose ferocity knows no bounds
As it perpetrates its brutal wrong
HOMOSEXUALITY IS NOT A DISEASE
Homosexuality is not a disease
Nor is it against God or his word
And being “Different” is not a crime
It is neither unnatural nor abhorrent
No one cares if Adam loves Steve
Instead of loving Eve
There is no right way or wrong way
For matters of the heart
What matters is that they feel love
Love is indifferent to philosophy,
Theological perspective or social acceptability
There is no good love or bad love
There is no right love or wrong love
There is only love
And any relationship founded on love
Has my blessing
HOW SINGS THE SAVAGE BEAST
How Sings the savage beast
With a heart full of misery
When held within the narrow
Bounds of his captivity
How Sings the savage beast
With a heart full of joy
When his confines evaporate
And he is as free as a boy
IT’S NOT THE SIZE OF A MAN
It’s not the size of a man
That marks him high or low
It’s what is in their hearts
That makes them grow
Just look around you
And you will also know
That the smaller being
Can cast a giant shadow
STATE SANCTIONED ASSASSINATION
State sanctioned assassination
Of a foreign émigré
But Polonium poisoning
Seems a preposterous way
To assassinate anyone
Whatever anyone might say
THE ENGLAND OF WINSTON
The England of Winston
Did it ever exist?
Those days long past
When we had our finest hour
The England of Winston
When national pride
Was not frowned upon
But openly celebrated
The England of Winston
Must be an invention
For it is so far removed
From what I see today
England without Winston
Is not pride worthy
It has no identity
And no sense of itself
THE WHITE HORIZONTAL PLUME
The white horizontal plume
Streams in its wake
Like a long grey ribbon
As the locomotive powers on
A truly romantic image
Of the great age of steam
GLIENICKE BRIDGE
On a grey misty morning
Under cold war skies
Spanning the Havel River
Stood the Bridge of Spies
Where in the murky light
At the hour of the Lark
The faceless ones
Exchange agents in the dark
RED ARROWS
Red Arrows way up high
In tight formation fly
Weaving patterns across the sky
So pleasing to the eye
RED BRICK
Red Brick, built Britain
For common man and squire
Built from the ground up
Until they built an Empire
THE RED RIVER OF THE SOUTH
The Red River of the south
Gains it name
From the red-bed country
Of its watershed
Where it rises on the slopes
Of the Llano Estacado mesa
In two branches to flow east
From the Texas Panhandle
It acts as the border between
Texas and Oklahoma
Before entering Arkansas
And winds its way across
The arid lands of the Great Plains
And flows into Louisiana
Bound for the Mississippi
THE RED RIVER OF THE NORTH
The Red River of the North
Is born at the confluence
Of the Bois de Sioux
And the Otter Tail
Flowing north through
The Red River Valley,
Forming the border
Of Minnesota and North Dakota
On its journey into Manitoba
Where it washes into Lake Winnipeg
And spreads into the vast deltaic wetland
Known as Netley Marsh
RED LEATHER CHAIR
My earliest memory
Of Grandpa Henry
Is of him sat in his chair,
A red leather affair,
Reading a volume
Of prose in his room
He sat me on his knee
And then he read to me
And for an age, we pair
Sat in his red leather chair
Reading tales of daring
And in adventures sharing
RED MINI
My dad bought a new red Mini
He had it parked up at home
With a go faster stripe down the side
And brightly polished chrome
It had leather seats
And the dash was polished wood
It was nineteen sixty two
And it looked like a Mini should
GREEN LEATHER CHESTERFIELD
In green leathered comfort
I sat in a Chesterfield
In an atmosphere
That totally appealed
Among my piers
In silent appreciation
Almost a reverence
Of our quiet situation
A brandy on the table
A cigar in the ash tray
And the world held
Well and truly at bay
I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC
I was stuck in traffic
And cursing they delay
And whatever problem
That was in the way
There was an accident
Bike versus van
Resulting in Life changing
Injuries To a man
And my one concern
Had been the inconvenience
But though I was late
I was not as a consequence
Left unable to walk
Or injured in anyway
Yes I was late for work
But I was still ok
BACK IN SMOGGY BERMONDSEY
When we were back
In smoggy Bermondsey
And all the money was spent
We looked back fondly
On our September holiday
Picking hops in Kent
Savagery long since procured
Its inhumane and bestial song
And its uncivilised beat
Is known to the barbarous throng
Whose ferocity knows no bounds
As it perpetrates its brutal wrong
HOMOSEXUALITY IS NOT A DISEASE
Homosexuality is not a disease
Nor is it against God or his word
And being “Different” is not a crime
It is neither unnatural nor abhorrent
No one cares if Adam loves Steve
Instead of loving Eve
There is no right way or wrong way
For matters of the heart
What matters is that they feel love
Love is indifferent to philosophy,
Theological perspective or social acceptability
There is no good love or bad love
There is no right love or wrong love
There is only love
And any relationship founded on love
Has my blessing
HOW SINGS THE SAVAGE BEAST
How Sings the savage beast
With a heart full of misery
When held within the narrow
Bounds of his captivity
How Sings the savage beast
With a heart full of joy
When his confines evaporate
And he is as free as a boy
IT’S NOT THE SIZE OF A MAN
It’s not the size of a man
That marks him high or low
It’s what is in their hearts
That makes them grow
Just look around you
And you will also know
That the smaller being
Can cast a giant shadow
STATE SANCTIONED ASSASSINATION
State sanctioned assassination
Of a foreign émigré
But Polonium poisoning
Seems a preposterous way
To assassinate anyone
Whatever anyone might say
THE ENGLAND OF WINSTON
The England of Winston
Did it ever exist?
Those days long past
When we had our finest hour
The England of Winston
When national pride
Was not frowned upon
But openly celebrated
The England of Winston
Must be an invention
For it is so far removed
From what I see today
England without Winston
Is not pride worthy
It has no identity
And no sense of itself
THE WHITE HORIZONTAL PLUME
The white horizontal plume
Streams in its wake
Like a long grey ribbon
As the locomotive powers on
A truly romantic image
Of the great age of steam
GLIENICKE BRIDGE
On a grey misty morning
Under cold war skies
Spanning the Havel River
Stood the Bridge of Spies
Where in the murky light
At the hour of the Lark
The faceless ones
Exchange agents in the dark
RED ARROWS
Red Arrows way up high
In tight formation fly
Weaving patterns across the sky
So pleasing to the eye
RED BRICK
Red Brick, built Britain
For common man and squire
Built from the ground up
Until they built an Empire
THE RED RIVER OF THE SOUTH
The Red River of the south
Gains it name
From the red-bed country
Of its watershed
Where it rises on the slopes
Of the Llano Estacado mesa
In two branches to flow east
From the Texas Panhandle
It acts as the border between
Texas and Oklahoma
Before entering Arkansas
And winds its way across
The arid lands of the Great Plains
And flows into Louisiana
Bound for the Mississippi
THE RED RIVER OF THE NORTH
The Red River of the North
Is born at the confluence
Of the Bois de Sioux
And the Otter Tail
Flowing north through
The Red River Valley,
Forming the border
Of Minnesota and North Dakota
On its journey into Manitoba
Where it washes into Lake Winnipeg
And spreads into the vast deltaic wetland
Known as Netley Marsh
RED LEATHER CHAIR
My earliest memory
Of Grandpa Henry
Is of him sat in his chair,
A red leather affair,
Reading a volume
Of prose in his room
He sat me on his knee
And then he read to me
And for an age, we pair
Sat in his red leather chair
Reading tales of daring
And in adventures sharing
RED MINI
My dad bought a new red Mini
He had it parked up at home
With a go faster stripe down the side
And brightly polished chrome
It had leather seats
And the dash was polished wood
It was nineteen sixty two
And it looked like a Mini should
GREEN LEATHER CHESTERFIELD
In green leathered comfort
I sat in a Chesterfield
In an atmosphere
That totally appealed
Among my piers
In silent appreciation
Almost a reverence
Of our quiet situation
A brandy on the table
A cigar in the ash tray
And the world held
Well and truly at bay
I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC
I was stuck in traffic
And cursing they delay
And whatever problem
That was in the way
There was an accident
Bike versus van
Resulting in Life changing
Injuries To a man
And my one concern
Had been the inconvenience
But though I was late
I was not as a consequence
Left unable to walk
Or injured in anyway
Yes I was late for work
But I was still ok
BACK IN SMOGGY BERMONDSEY
When we were back
In smoggy Bermondsey
And all the money was spent
We looked back fondly
On our September holiday
Picking hops in Kent
A Little Bit Of Humour # 32
HIS LATE GRACE
When my uncle
Passed away last night
He was given
The last rites
By a Bishop, who
Missed it very nearly
As he could only
Move diagonally
MATHS PROBLEMS
The American’s must
Suffer from innumeracy
As they only have one math
As far as I can see
MY BROTHER TEACHES
My brother teaches
Year nine history
Which in itself
Is a bit of a mystery
As there are more
Interesting years surely
SUPER HEROES COME
Super heroes come
In all shapes and forms
Which is fair enough
But what kind of hero
Is Iron Man,
Ironing isn’t even tough
I TOLD PEOPLE THAT MY UNCLE
I told people that my uncle
Worked for the United Nations
And it was an illusion I enjoyed
That was not strictly the truth
But it was close enough
After all he was UNemployed
I SIGNED UP FOR BOTANY
When I was at school
I signed up for Botany
I thought any class about “bots”
Is the one for me
FESTIVAL TOILETS
At the festival toilets
There was a bit of a queue
Which got a bit out of hand
To my view
But we all survived
The Battle of Portaloo
MY UNCLE MICHAEL
My Uncle Michael
Was a schizophrenic
But he was good people
Was Uncle Mick
I LOST MY BOOMERANG
I lost my boomerang
I can’t remember where or how
Oh wait a minute
It’s coming back to me now
MY POOR UNCLE TURNED TO CRIME
My poor uncle turned to crime
Him and an incompetent friend
They got caught with a shotgun
And he sawed off the wrong end
WHITE SHOES
Stiletto healed white shoes
Being worn out to a party
Well in my personal view
They make you look tarty
RED SKY IN THE MORNING
Red sky in the morning
As the day is dawning
Is a sailors warning they say
But really it’s just another day
When my uncle
Passed away last night
He was given
The last rites
By a Bishop, who
Missed it very nearly
As he could only
Move diagonally
MATHS PROBLEMS
The American’s must
Suffer from innumeracy
As they only have one math
As far as I can see
MY BROTHER TEACHES
My brother teaches
Year nine history
Which in itself
Is a bit of a mystery
As there are more
Interesting years surely
SUPER HEROES COME
Super heroes come
In all shapes and forms
Which is fair enough
But what kind of hero
Is Iron Man,
Ironing isn’t even tough
I TOLD PEOPLE THAT MY UNCLE
I told people that my uncle
Worked for the United Nations
And it was an illusion I enjoyed
That was not strictly the truth
But it was close enough
After all he was UNemployed
I SIGNED UP FOR BOTANY
When I was at school
I signed up for Botany
I thought any class about “bots”
Is the one for me
FESTIVAL TOILETS
At the festival toilets
There was a bit of a queue
Which got a bit out of hand
To my view
But we all survived
The Battle of Portaloo
MY UNCLE MICHAEL
My Uncle Michael
Was a schizophrenic
But he was good people
Was Uncle Mick
I LOST MY BOOMERANG
I lost my boomerang
I can’t remember where or how
Oh wait a minute
It’s coming back to me now
MY POOR UNCLE TURNED TO CRIME
My poor uncle turned to crime
Him and an incompetent friend
They got caught with a shotgun
And he sawed off the wrong end
WHITE SHOES
Stiletto healed white shoes
Being worn out to a party
Well in my personal view
They make you look tarty
RED SKY IN THE MORNING
Red sky in the morning
As the day is dawning
Is a sailors warning they say
But really it’s just another day
Tales of Love # 7
HAIR OF RED
Hair of red
Falls untamed
Over ivory skin
Stark in contrast
Like a crimson rose
Against bridal white
IT WAS MY GOOD FORTUNE
It was my good fortune
That you came my way
For like a broom you swept
My loneliness away
TOUCHED BY THE GODDESS
Touched by the goddess
Our hearts surrendered
As Venus worked her spell of love
And nothing could break the bond
That fitted us perfectly
Like a hand inside a glove
So strong were the bonds
That entwined our hearts
And held us prisoners of love
Only death could part us
And I am now haunted
By the call of the mourning Dove
YOU VIEW LOVE AS A SNARE
You view love as a snare
Of ordinary everyday life
And won’t be trapped into
The ritual taking of a wife
But who will support and
Comfort in times of strife
If you don’t open your heart
To the simple joys of life
THE LOVE THAT DARE NOT SPEAK ITS NAME
The love that dare not
Speak its name
For fear of bringing
Upon them, shame
Denial of their love
Would be a cruel betrayal
For inside they knew
It was perpetual
Try as the families might
It would not be swept
Beneath a convenient carpet
Their bond was kept
And when they were safe
Behind a closed door
Their love was expressed
As true lovers adore
IF LONELINESS IS YOUR FEAR
If loneliness is your fear
There’s no need to shed a tear
For the solution is clear
Just find a love sincere
Someone to hold dear
And watch sadness disappear
OH FOR A SIGHT OF YOUR SMILE
Oh for a sight of your smile
Soothing as chamomile
To ease away my frown
Picking me up when I’m down
MY BROWN EYED FRAU
Where are you now
My brown eyed frau
It breaks my heart
Now that we’re apart
Sugar sweet brunette
My dearest Margaret
Wherever you might be
Come back to me
WHEN I PLIGHT MY TROTH
I don’t understand even though
I wear my heart on my sleeve
When I plight my troth
You find it so difficult to believe
I have never hidden my feelings
But I would not have plighted
Should I, for a moment, thought
They would not have been requited
A SPECIAL WORD FOR A SPECIAL GIRL
A “special” word for a “special” girl
Modesty prevents you saying its true
But if the word “special” didn’t exist
It would have to be invented just for you
HAIR OF BROWN
Hair of brown
Falls in cascade
Over freckled skin
In perfect compliment
Like forest fronds
And dappled shade
KOWTOW IN MACAO
Do you remember?
In old Macao
I greeted you
With an elaborate bow
You responded
With a formal Kowtow
Then I said hello
And you said Ciao
But the formality
Was just for show
So anyone looking
Just wouldn’t know
That the two of us
In that tableaux
Were more familiar
And all aglow
In the privacy
Of the chateaux
Hair of red
Falls untamed
Over ivory skin
Stark in contrast
Like a crimson rose
Against bridal white
IT WAS MY GOOD FORTUNE
It was my good fortune
That you came my way
For like a broom you swept
My loneliness away
TOUCHED BY THE GODDESS
Touched by the goddess
Our hearts surrendered
As Venus worked her spell of love
And nothing could break the bond
That fitted us perfectly
Like a hand inside a glove
So strong were the bonds
That entwined our hearts
And held us prisoners of love
Only death could part us
And I am now haunted
By the call of the mourning Dove
YOU VIEW LOVE AS A SNARE
You view love as a snare
Of ordinary everyday life
And won’t be trapped into
The ritual taking of a wife
But who will support and
Comfort in times of strife
If you don’t open your heart
To the simple joys of life
THE LOVE THAT DARE NOT SPEAK ITS NAME
The love that dare not
Speak its name
For fear of bringing
Upon them, shame
Denial of their love
Would be a cruel betrayal
For inside they knew
It was perpetual
Try as the families might
It would not be swept
Beneath a convenient carpet
Their bond was kept
And when they were safe
Behind a closed door
Their love was expressed
As true lovers adore
IF LONELINESS IS YOUR FEAR
If loneliness is your fear
There’s no need to shed a tear
For the solution is clear
Just find a love sincere
Someone to hold dear
And watch sadness disappear
OH FOR A SIGHT OF YOUR SMILE
Oh for a sight of your smile
Soothing as chamomile
To ease away my frown
Picking me up when I’m down
MY BROWN EYED FRAU
Where are you now
My brown eyed frau
It breaks my heart
Now that we’re apart
Sugar sweet brunette
My dearest Margaret
Wherever you might be
Come back to me
WHEN I PLIGHT MY TROTH
I don’t understand even though
I wear my heart on my sleeve
When I plight my troth
You find it so difficult to believe
I have never hidden my feelings
But I would not have plighted
Should I, for a moment, thought
They would not have been requited
A SPECIAL WORD FOR A SPECIAL GIRL
A “special” word for a “special” girl
Modesty prevents you saying its true
But if the word “special” didn’t exist
It would have to be invented just for you
HAIR OF BROWN
Hair of brown
Falls in cascade
Over freckled skin
In perfect compliment
Like forest fronds
And dappled shade
KOWTOW IN MACAO
Do you remember?
In old Macao
I greeted you
With an elaborate bow
You responded
With a formal Kowtow
Then I said hello
And you said Ciao
But the formality
Was just for show
So anyone looking
Just wouldn’t know
That the two of us
In that tableaux
Were more familiar
And all aglow
In the privacy
Of the chateaux
The Winds Of War
BLUE DANUBE
It was called Blue Danube, which
Doesn’t sound menacing at all
So innocuous for the first operational
Weapon in Britain’s nuclear arsenal
HMS IOLAIRE
On New Year’s Eve 1918
The Iolaire carried sailors
Veterans of the Great War
Back home to the island of Lewis
But as they approached Stornoway
As the New Year dawned
She struck "The Beasts of Holm"
And sank in the darkness
205 souls perished in the depths
They survived the horrors of war
Only to drown in the waters of home
RED COATS
The bayonets gleaming
In the sun
The piper’s pipe
The drummers drum
Red Coats forming
Up the square
The sound of battle
Everywhere
Though far outnumbered
In the field
They do not waver
They do not yield
The men
From borough and shire
The thin red line
Of the empire
PAST THE CENOTAPH THEY MARCH
Past the cenotaph they march
After Big Bens doleful chime
The proud veterans on parade
Years beyond their prime
But even with walking sticks
They still keep perfect time
THE FLOWERED FIELDS OF FLANDERS
The flowered fields of Flanders
Where met many a gallant enlistee
War visited its hell upon the earth
Turning them to a muddy bloody sea
SO SILENT WENT THE GUNS OF HELL
So silent went the guns of hell
No longer dispensing shot and shell
So we emerge from where we dwell
In answer to the armistice bell
WHETHER THEY MAY WIN OR LOOSE
Whether they may win or loose
Or whether they think its right
Our soldiers don’t get to choose
Which wars that they fight
THE RED ARMY
The Red Army
Rose from the ashes
Like a phoenix
Rising up from
The brink of defeat
To repel the invader
Pushing the Nazi scourge
Back to Hitler’s backyard
To end one war
And begin another
Colder one
RED BEARD
It was called Red Beard, which
Doesn’t sound menacing at all
So innocuous for the first tactical
Weapon in Britain’s nuclear arsenal
THE RAF SEEK OUT THERE TARGETS
The RAF seek out there targets
On recognisance missions
Brave young men
Flying beyond enemy lines
Armed with nothing more than cameras
They make pass after pass
Taking shot after shot
Before returning home
With their precious load
When the photo interpreters
Of Medmenham
Enhance the images
With their stereoscope’s
To create a 3D picture
For detailed analysis
By the boffins
Who identify a target
For more brave young men
To bomb the sites
Of the vengeance weapons
It was called Blue Danube, which
Doesn’t sound menacing at all
So innocuous for the first operational
Weapon in Britain’s nuclear arsenal
HMS IOLAIRE
On New Year’s Eve 1918
The Iolaire carried sailors
Veterans of the Great War
Back home to the island of Lewis
But as they approached Stornoway
As the New Year dawned
She struck "The Beasts of Holm"
And sank in the darkness
205 souls perished in the depths
They survived the horrors of war
Only to drown in the waters of home
RED COATS
The bayonets gleaming
In the sun
The piper’s pipe
The drummers drum
Red Coats forming
Up the square
The sound of battle
Everywhere
Though far outnumbered
In the field
They do not waver
They do not yield
The men
From borough and shire
The thin red line
Of the empire
PAST THE CENOTAPH THEY MARCH
Past the cenotaph they march
After Big Bens doleful chime
The proud veterans on parade
Years beyond their prime
But even with walking sticks
They still keep perfect time
THE FLOWERED FIELDS OF FLANDERS
The flowered fields of Flanders
Where met many a gallant enlistee
War visited its hell upon the earth
Turning them to a muddy bloody sea
SO SILENT WENT THE GUNS OF HELL
So silent went the guns of hell
No longer dispensing shot and shell
So we emerge from where we dwell
In answer to the armistice bell
WHETHER THEY MAY WIN OR LOOSE
Whether they may win or loose
Or whether they think its right
Our soldiers don’t get to choose
Which wars that they fight
THE RED ARMY
The Red Army
Rose from the ashes
Like a phoenix
Rising up from
The brink of defeat
To repel the invader
Pushing the Nazi scourge
Back to Hitler’s backyard
To end one war
And begin another
Colder one
RED BEARD
It was called Red Beard, which
Doesn’t sound menacing at all
So innocuous for the first tactical
Weapon in Britain’s nuclear arsenal
THE RAF SEEK OUT THERE TARGETS
The RAF seek out there targets
On recognisance missions
Brave young men
Flying beyond enemy lines
Armed with nothing more than cameras
They make pass after pass
Taking shot after shot
Before returning home
With their precious load
When the photo interpreters
Of Medmenham
Enhance the images
With their stereoscope’s
To create a 3D picture
For detailed analysis
By the boffins
Who identify a target
For more brave young men
To bomb the sites
Of the vengeance weapons
Classic Aircraft
THE SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE
Brainchild of R. J. Mitchell
The Spitfire was designed
As a short-range,
High-performance
Interceptor aircraft
The Supermarine Spitfire
Was the perfect flying machine
With its elliptical wings
And Rolls-Royce Merlin engine
It was fast and manoeuvrable
Which helped it dominate the skies
During the Battle of Britain
THE HAWKER HURRICANE
The Hawker Hurricane
Always overshadowed by the Spitfire
Whether as an interceptor-fighter
Or a fighter-bomber
Yet during the Battle of Britain
It shouldered a greater proportion
Of the burden against the Luftwaffe.
THE HAWKER SEA HURRICANE
The Sea Hurricanes
Were carrier based
Catapult-launched
Convoy escorts,
Known as "Hurricats"
THE HAWKER TYPHOON
The Hawker Typhoon
Single-seat fighter-bomber
Known affectionately as the Tiffy
Began life a medium
And high altitude interceptor
But with its Typhoon speed
It found its niche as
A low-altitude interceptor
But when ground attack rockets
Were added to its armoury.
The Typhoon earned a reputation
As the RAF’s
Most successful ground-attack aircraft.
THE DE HAVILLAND MOSQUITO
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito
Was a British multi-role combat aircraft
"The Wooden Wonder"
Known more affectionately
As the "Mossie" to its crews
Was the most versatile
British aircraft
Of the Second World War
THE AVRO LANCASTER
The Avro Lancaster
Was a four-engine British
Second World War heavy bomber
An iconic plane of the RAF
It first saw active service
With Bomber Command in 1942
Where it soon overshadowed
Its close contemporaries
The Handley Page Halifax
And the Short Stirling
It was affectionately known
As The "Lanc"
Perhaps best remembered
For Operation Chastise
Or the dam busters raid
Where it delivered
Barnes Wallis’s "Bouncing bomb"
With devastating effect
It was on to carry
The earthquake boms
Tallboy and Grand Slam
Used on V2 installations
THE AVRO LINCOLN
The Avro Type 694,
Was a four-engine
British heavy bomber
That never saw active service
In the Second World War
It was originally designated
As the Lancaster Mk IV
But were renamed
As the Avro Lincoln,
Though it became operational
Too late for World War Two
It saw plenty of action
In subsequent conflicts
Until the Jet age retired them
THE VICKERS WELLINGTON
The Vickers Wellington
Was a British twin-engine
Long range medium bomber
Known as “the Wimpy”
Designed originally
For daylight operations
It was widely used
As a night bomber
In the early years
Of World War 2.
Before being displaced
As the bomber of choice
By the large four-engined
Heavy bombers like the Lancaster
But the Wellington
Took on a new roll
As an anti-submarine aircraft
It was the only British bomber
To remain in production
For the duration of the war
And was first-line equipment
From beginning to end
THE VICKERS WELLESLEY
The Vickers Wellesley
Was a British light bomber
That was all but obsolete
By the time the war came
It was totally unsuited
To the European air war
Of the Second World War
But the Wellesley found a purpose
In the desert theatres
Of East Africa, Egypt
And the Middle East
THE HANDLEY PAGE HALIFAX
The Handley Page Halifax
Was a British four-engine
Second World War heavy bomber
Where it was soon overshadowed
By the Avro Lancaster,
But the Halifax remained in service
Until the end of the war
THE HANDLEY PAGE HASTINGS
The Handley Page
H.P.67 Hastings
Was a British troop-carrier
And freight transporter
The largest transport plane
In the world in its time
THE WESTLAND LYSANDER
The Westland Lysander
Was a British army
Co-operation and liaison aircraft
Which came into service
Prior to the Second World War
But when it became obsolete
In the army co-operation role,
Its exceptional characteristics
Came into their own
The Lysander’s short-field capability
Made it a natural
For clandestine missions
Being able to land on small
Unprepared airstrips
Deep behind enemy lines
To place or recover agents,
Particularly in occupied France
THE SHORT STIRLING
The Short Stirling
Was the very first British
Four-engine heavy bomber
The RAF had in the World War 2
It first entered service in 1941
And had a very brief career
As an operational bomber
Quickly being surpassed
By the Halifax and the Lancaster
Relegating the Stirling
To second line role
But it still had a significant
Contribution to make
First as a glider tug
And then as a resupply aircraft
During the allied invasion
Of Europe in 1944-1945
THE AVRO ANSON
The Avro Anson
Was a British twin-engine
Multi-role aircraft
Used by the RAF
Before, during, and after
The Second World War
It was originally the Avro 652
And was designed as an airliner
But was quickly redeveloped.
For a marine reconnaissance role
Though was soon rendered obsolete
As an operational entity
It was saved from the scrap heap
And became a multi-engine
Air crew trainer
And remained in production
Until 1952
THE AVRO SHACKLETON
The Avro Shackleton
Was a long-range British
Maritime patrol aircraft
Which came into service
With the RAF in 1951
It was a distant cousin
Of the legendary Lancaster
Which evolved first
Into the Lincoln
And then into the Shackleton
Its speciality was
Anti-submarine warfare
Then airborne early warning
And search and rescue
It was finally retired in 1990
THE AVRO LANCASTRIAN
The Avro 691 Lancastrian
Was a mail transport
And passenger aircraft
Used by Canada and Britain
In the 1940s and 1950s
The Lancastrian was basically
A modified Lancaster bomber
And delivered people and mail
As efficiently as death
THE AVRO MANCHESTER
The Avro 679 Manchester
Was a British heavy bomber
Of the Second World War
But it was an operational failure
Due to its underpowered
And unreliable twin-engines
However it lead directly
To the successful four-engined
Avro Lancaster, which became
The most successful
British bomber of the war
THE BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER
The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter,
Affectionately known as the Beau,
Was a British long-range fighter
A successful reworking
Into a heavy fighter
Of the Beaufort torpedo bomber design
Beaufighter is a portmanteau
Of "Beaufort" and "fighter"
But unlike the Beaufort,
The Beaufighter had a long career
And served in almost all theatres
Of the Second World War,
Firstly as a night fighter,
Then as a fighter bomber,
Eventually even replacing
The Beaufort as a torpedo bomber
THE BRISTOL BEAUFORT
The Bristol Beaufort
Was a British twin-engine
Torpedo bomber
Which saw service
With RAF Coastal Command
And then the Fleet Air Arm
Of Royal Navy
They were versatile and not
Used exclusively as torpedo bombers,
They were also utilized with great effect
As conventional bombers and mine-layers
However despite distinguishing themselves
In the Mediterranean
And in the defence of Malta
Their day in the sun
Was over all too soon
They were relegated to a trainer
Until the war ended
THE AVRO YORK
The Avro York
Was a British transport plane
And was yet another Avro aircraft
Derived from the legendary
Lancaster heavy bomber,
Which was used in military
And civilian roles
Between 1943 and 1964
THE BRISTOL BLENHEIM
The Bristol Blenheim
Was a Second World War
British light bomber
It had an all-metal stressed-skin
Retractable landing gear
Powered gun turret
And variable pitch propellers
State of the art at the time
And cutting edge for the RAF
But in truth it was no match
For the German Messerschmitt Bf 109
So its time as a front line
Combat aircraft were short lived
THE SHORT EMPIRE
The Short Empire
Was a medium range
Four engine monoplane flying boat
Carrying passengers and mail
Between Britain and the British colonies
THE SHORT SUNDERLAND FLYING BOAT
The Short S.25 Sunderland
Was a British flying boat
And Royal Air Force patrol bomber
In the Battle of the Atlantic
Hunting German U-boats
But it was capable of more
Humanitarian missions
And took part in the Berlin airlift
THE SHORT SANDRINGHAM
The Short S.25 Sandringham
Was a medium range
British civilian flying boat
Converted from Shorts Sunderland
And replaced the Short Empire
Carrying passengers and mail
Between Britain and the British colonies
THE LOCKHEED LIGHTNING
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Was a World War II
American fighter aircraft
With distinctive twin booms
And one central nacelle,
Housing the cockpit
The P38 was nicknamed
The "fork-tailed devil"
By Luftwaffe Pilots
It was the very definition
Of versatility in fact it had it all
And was in the thick of it
From Pearl Harbour
To Victory over Japan Day
THE AVRO VULCAN
The Avro Vulcan
Was an RAF
Delta Wing strategic bomber
And was the backbone of the Uks
Airborne nuclear deterrent
During a long period
Of the Cold War
It carried no defensive weaponry
So had to rely on its high-speed
And high-altitude flight
To evade interception
Until the advent
Of Electronic countermeasures
And although it spent
Much of its career
Armed with nuclear weapons
The Vulcan was still capable
Of performing conventional
Bombing missions
A fact underlined
Very effectively in 1982
When it was used in
Operation Black Buck
During the Falklands War
THE ENGLISH ELECTRIC LIGHTNING
The English Electric Lightning
Was a supersonic jet fighter
From the days of the Cold War
Noted for its great speed
The only all-British Mach 2 fighter
And the first in the world
Capable of Supercruise
Renowned for its interceptor capabilities
The Lightning was the best of the best
THE WACO HADRIAN
The Waco CG-4A
Was the most widely used
Troop/cargo military glider
Of World War II
Named the Hadrian
THE LOCKHEED HERCULES
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Is a four-engine turboprop
Military transport aircraft
An uncomplicated work horse
Take-offs and landings
Can be made on any unprepared ground
And its uses are too numerous to mention
In fact it would be easier to list
What the Hercules can’t do
THE GENERAL AIRCRAFT HAMILCAR
The General Aircraft
GAL. 49 Hamilcar
Was a large British military glider
Produced during World War II
Commissioned at the behest
Of the then Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
In order to transport
Airborne assault troops
And heavy cargo into battle,
When completed
The Hamilcar was capable
Of transporting heavy equipment
In support of airborne troops.
The glider could transport
A single light tank
Or two Universal Carriers.
Hamilcars were only used
On three occasions,
But only in support
Of British airborne forces.
They first saw action in June 1944
Transporting anti-tank guns
Assorted armoured Vehicles
And Tetrarch light tanks
Into Normandy during Operation Tonga
They were used in a similar way
During Operation Market-Garden
And finally in March 1945
During Operation Varsity
When they landed in Germany
THE GENERAL AIRCRAFT HOTSPUR
The General Aircraft
GAL.48 Hotspur
Was a military glider
Commissioned at the behest
Of the then Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
In order to transport
Airborne assault troops into battle
The Hotspur was the result
But its tactical limitations
Meant it was only used for training
THE AIRSPEED HORSA
The Airspeed AS.51 Horsa
Was a British World War II
Troop-carrying glider
Used for air assault by British
And allied armed forces
Like other British gliders
Of the Second World War,
Gliders were named
After military figures
Whose name began with H,
So it was named after Horsa,
The legendary 5th century
Jutish Conqueror of southern Britain.
But on D-Day 1944
The Horsa showed
It was not a conqueror
But a liberator of Europe
THE HAWKER SIDDELEY HARRIER
The Hawker Siddeley Harrier
Is more popularly known
As the "Harrier Jump Jet"
And was the first operational
Vertical take-off aircraft
Its unique abilities
Made it easier to disperse
An attack squadron
Away from vulnerable sir fields
The Harrier is quite simply
The most remarkable
Aircraft ever made
THE SLINGSBY HENGIST
The Slingsby Hengist
Was a British military glider
Like other British gliders
Of the Second World War,
Gliders were named
After military figures
Whose name began with H,
So it was named after Hengist,
The legendary 5th century
Jutish Conqueror of southern Britain.
But on D-Day 1944
The Hengist showed
It was not a conqueror
But a liberator of Europe
THE DOUGLAS DAKOTA
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain
Or as the RAF preferred the Dakota
Was a military transport aircraft
A successful development
From the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner
A valuable asset to the Allies
During World War II
And like the Hercules
The Dakota’s uses
Were too numerous to mention
And it would be easier to list
What the Dakota can’t do
THE BRITISH AEROSPACE SEA HARRIER
The British Aerospace Sea Harrier
Was developed directly
From the Hawker Sidderley Harrier
And was used by the Royal Navy
Operating them from
Invincible-class aircraft carriers
Informally known as the "Shar"
The Sea Harrier
Served in the Falklands War,
Both Gulf Wars and the Balkans
Brainchild of R. J. Mitchell
The Spitfire was designed
As a short-range,
High-performance
Interceptor aircraft
The Supermarine Spitfire
Was the perfect flying machine
With its elliptical wings
And Rolls-Royce Merlin engine
It was fast and manoeuvrable
Which helped it dominate the skies
During the Battle of Britain
THE HAWKER HURRICANE
The Hawker Hurricane
Always overshadowed by the Spitfire
Whether as an interceptor-fighter
Or a fighter-bomber
Yet during the Battle of Britain
It shouldered a greater proportion
Of the burden against the Luftwaffe.
THE HAWKER SEA HURRICANE
The Sea Hurricanes
Were carrier based
Catapult-launched
Convoy escorts,
Known as "Hurricats"
THE HAWKER TYPHOON
The Hawker Typhoon
Single-seat fighter-bomber
Known affectionately as the Tiffy
Began life a medium
And high altitude interceptor
But with its Typhoon speed
It found its niche as
A low-altitude interceptor
But when ground attack rockets
Were added to its armoury.
The Typhoon earned a reputation
As the RAF’s
Most successful ground-attack aircraft.
THE DE HAVILLAND MOSQUITO
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito
Was a British multi-role combat aircraft
"The Wooden Wonder"
Known more affectionately
As the "Mossie" to its crews
Was the most versatile
British aircraft
Of the Second World War
THE AVRO LANCASTER
The Avro Lancaster
Was a four-engine British
Second World War heavy bomber
An iconic plane of the RAF
It first saw active service
With Bomber Command in 1942
Where it soon overshadowed
Its close contemporaries
The Handley Page Halifax
And the Short Stirling
It was affectionately known
As The "Lanc"
Perhaps best remembered
For Operation Chastise
Or the dam busters raid
Where it delivered
Barnes Wallis’s "Bouncing bomb"
With devastating effect
It was on to carry
The earthquake boms
Tallboy and Grand Slam
Used on V2 installations
THE AVRO LINCOLN
The Avro Type 694,
Was a four-engine
British heavy bomber
That never saw active service
In the Second World War
It was originally designated
As the Lancaster Mk IV
But were renamed
As the Avro Lincoln,
Though it became operational
Too late for World War Two
It saw plenty of action
In subsequent conflicts
Until the Jet age retired them
THE VICKERS WELLINGTON
The Vickers Wellington
Was a British twin-engine
Long range medium bomber
Known as “the Wimpy”
Designed originally
For daylight operations
It was widely used
As a night bomber
In the early years
Of World War 2.
Before being displaced
As the bomber of choice
By the large four-engined
Heavy bombers like the Lancaster
But the Wellington
Took on a new roll
As an anti-submarine aircraft
It was the only British bomber
To remain in production
For the duration of the war
And was first-line equipment
From beginning to end
THE VICKERS WELLESLEY
The Vickers Wellesley
Was a British light bomber
That was all but obsolete
By the time the war came
It was totally unsuited
To the European air war
Of the Second World War
But the Wellesley found a purpose
In the desert theatres
Of East Africa, Egypt
And the Middle East
THE HANDLEY PAGE HALIFAX
The Handley Page Halifax
Was a British four-engine
Second World War heavy bomber
Where it was soon overshadowed
By the Avro Lancaster,
But the Halifax remained in service
Until the end of the war
THE HANDLEY PAGE HASTINGS
The Handley Page
H.P.67 Hastings
Was a British troop-carrier
And freight transporter
The largest transport plane
In the world in its time
THE WESTLAND LYSANDER
The Westland Lysander
Was a British army
Co-operation and liaison aircraft
Which came into service
Prior to the Second World War
But when it became obsolete
In the army co-operation role,
Its exceptional characteristics
Came into their own
The Lysander’s short-field capability
Made it a natural
For clandestine missions
Being able to land on small
Unprepared airstrips
Deep behind enemy lines
To place or recover agents,
Particularly in occupied France
THE SHORT STIRLING
The Short Stirling
Was the very first British
Four-engine heavy bomber
The RAF had in the World War 2
It first entered service in 1941
And had a very brief career
As an operational bomber
Quickly being surpassed
By the Halifax and the Lancaster
Relegating the Stirling
To second line role
But it still had a significant
Contribution to make
First as a glider tug
And then as a resupply aircraft
During the allied invasion
Of Europe in 1944-1945
THE AVRO ANSON
The Avro Anson
Was a British twin-engine
Multi-role aircraft
Used by the RAF
Before, during, and after
The Second World War
It was originally the Avro 652
And was designed as an airliner
But was quickly redeveloped.
For a marine reconnaissance role
Though was soon rendered obsolete
As an operational entity
It was saved from the scrap heap
And became a multi-engine
Air crew trainer
And remained in production
Until 1952
THE AVRO SHACKLETON
The Avro Shackleton
Was a long-range British
Maritime patrol aircraft
Which came into service
With the RAF in 1951
It was a distant cousin
Of the legendary Lancaster
Which evolved first
Into the Lincoln
And then into the Shackleton
Its speciality was
Anti-submarine warfare
Then airborne early warning
And search and rescue
It was finally retired in 1990
THE AVRO LANCASTRIAN
The Avro 691 Lancastrian
Was a mail transport
And passenger aircraft
Used by Canada and Britain
In the 1940s and 1950s
The Lancastrian was basically
A modified Lancaster bomber
And delivered people and mail
As efficiently as death
THE AVRO MANCHESTER
The Avro 679 Manchester
Was a British heavy bomber
Of the Second World War
But it was an operational failure
Due to its underpowered
And unreliable twin-engines
However it lead directly
To the successful four-engined
Avro Lancaster, which became
The most successful
British bomber of the war
THE BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER
The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter,
Affectionately known as the Beau,
Was a British long-range fighter
A successful reworking
Into a heavy fighter
Of the Beaufort torpedo bomber design
Beaufighter is a portmanteau
Of "Beaufort" and "fighter"
But unlike the Beaufort,
The Beaufighter had a long career
And served in almost all theatres
Of the Second World War,
Firstly as a night fighter,
Then as a fighter bomber,
Eventually even replacing
The Beaufort as a torpedo bomber
THE BRISTOL BEAUFORT
The Bristol Beaufort
Was a British twin-engine
Torpedo bomber
Which saw service
With RAF Coastal Command
And then the Fleet Air Arm
Of Royal Navy
They were versatile and not
Used exclusively as torpedo bombers,
They were also utilized with great effect
As conventional bombers and mine-layers
However despite distinguishing themselves
In the Mediterranean
And in the defence of Malta
Their day in the sun
Was over all too soon
They were relegated to a trainer
Until the war ended
THE AVRO YORK
The Avro York
Was a British transport plane
And was yet another Avro aircraft
Derived from the legendary
Lancaster heavy bomber,
Which was used in military
And civilian roles
Between 1943 and 1964
THE BRISTOL BLENHEIM
The Bristol Blenheim
Was a Second World War
British light bomber
It had an all-metal stressed-skin
Retractable landing gear
Powered gun turret
And variable pitch propellers
State of the art at the time
And cutting edge for the RAF
But in truth it was no match
For the German Messerschmitt Bf 109
So its time as a front line
Combat aircraft were short lived
THE SHORT EMPIRE
The Short Empire
Was a medium range
Four engine monoplane flying boat
Carrying passengers and mail
Between Britain and the British colonies
THE SHORT SUNDERLAND FLYING BOAT
The Short S.25 Sunderland
Was a British flying boat
And Royal Air Force patrol bomber
In the Battle of the Atlantic
Hunting German U-boats
But it was capable of more
Humanitarian missions
And took part in the Berlin airlift
THE SHORT SANDRINGHAM
The Short S.25 Sandringham
Was a medium range
British civilian flying boat
Converted from Shorts Sunderland
And replaced the Short Empire
Carrying passengers and mail
Between Britain and the British colonies
THE LOCKHEED LIGHTNING
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Was a World War II
American fighter aircraft
With distinctive twin booms
And one central nacelle,
Housing the cockpit
The P38 was nicknamed
The "fork-tailed devil"
By Luftwaffe Pilots
It was the very definition
Of versatility in fact it had it all
And was in the thick of it
From Pearl Harbour
To Victory over Japan Day
THE AVRO VULCAN
The Avro Vulcan
Was an RAF
Delta Wing strategic bomber
And was the backbone of the Uks
Airborne nuclear deterrent
During a long period
Of the Cold War
It carried no defensive weaponry
So had to rely on its high-speed
And high-altitude flight
To evade interception
Until the advent
Of Electronic countermeasures
And although it spent
Much of its career
Armed with nuclear weapons
The Vulcan was still capable
Of performing conventional
Bombing missions
A fact underlined
Very effectively in 1982
When it was used in
Operation Black Buck
During the Falklands War
THE ENGLISH ELECTRIC LIGHTNING
The English Electric Lightning
Was a supersonic jet fighter
From the days of the Cold War
Noted for its great speed
The only all-British Mach 2 fighter
And the first in the world
Capable of Supercruise
Renowned for its interceptor capabilities
The Lightning was the best of the best
THE WACO HADRIAN
The Waco CG-4A
Was the most widely used
Troop/cargo military glider
Of World War II
Named the Hadrian
THE LOCKHEED HERCULES
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Is a four-engine turboprop
Military transport aircraft
An uncomplicated work horse
Take-offs and landings
Can be made on any unprepared ground
And its uses are too numerous to mention
In fact it would be easier to list
What the Hercules can’t do
THE GENERAL AIRCRAFT HAMILCAR
The General Aircraft
GAL. 49 Hamilcar
Was a large British military glider
Produced during World War II
Commissioned at the behest
Of the then Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
In order to transport
Airborne assault troops
And heavy cargo into battle,
When completed
The Hamilcar was capable
Of transporting heavy equipment
In support of airborne troops.
The glider could transport
A single light tank
Or two Universal Carriers.
Hamilcars were only used
On three occasions,
But only in support
Of British airborne forces.
They first saw action in June 1944
Transporting anti-tank guns
Assorted armoured Vehicles
And Tetrarch light tanks
Into Normandy during Operation Tonga
They were used in a similar way
During Operation Market-Garden
And finally in March 1945
During Operation Varsity
When they landed in Germany
THE GENERAL AIRCRAFT HOTSPUR
The General Aircraft
GAL.48 Hotspur
Was a military glider
Commissioned at the behest
Of the then Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
In order to transport
Airborne assault troops into battle
The Hotspur was the result
But its tactical limitations
Meant it was only used for training
THE AIRSPEED HORSA
The Airspeed AS.51 Horsa
Was a British World War II
Troop-carrying glider
Used for air assault by British
And allied armed forces
Like other British gliders
Of the Second World War,
Gliders were named
After military figures
Whose name began with H,
So it was named after Horsa,
The legendary 5th century
Jutish Conqueror of southern Britain.
But on D-Day 1944
The Horsa showed
It was not a conqueror
But a liberator of Europe
THE HAWKER SIDDELEY HARRIER
The Hawker Siddeley Harrier
Is more popularly known
As the "Harrier Jump Jet"
And was the first operational
Vertical take-off aircraft
Its unique abilities
Made it easier to disperse
An attack squadron
Away from vulnerable sir fields
The Harrier is quite simply
The most remarkable
Aircraft ever made
THE SLINGSBY HENGIST
The Slingsby Hengist
Was a British military glider
Like other British gliders
Of the Second World War,
Gliders were named
After military figures
Whose name began with H,
So it was named after Hengist,
The legendary 5th century
Jutish Conqueror of southern Britain.
But on D-Day 1944
The Hengist showed
It was not a conqueror
But a liberator of Europe
THE DOUGLAS DAKOTA
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain
Or as the RAF preferred the Dakota
Was a military transport aircraft
A successful development
From the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner
A valuable asset to the Allies
During World War II
And like the Hercules
The Dakota’s uses
Were too numerous to mention
And it would be easier to list
What the Dakota can’t do
THE BRITISH AEROSPACE SEA HARRIER
The British Aerospace Sea Harrier
Was developed directly
From the Hawker Sidderley Harrier
And was used by the Royal Navy
Operating them from
Invincible-class aircraft carriers
Informally known as the "Shar"
The Sea Harrier
Served in the Falklands War,
Both Gulf Wars and the Balkans
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)