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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Leigh1 on Thursday 25 April 19 20:54 BST (UK)
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This is a real long shot!
I have a hand-written poem that was amongst my g/g.father's papers entitled "Surprised but found Ready". It is an account of the attack on the camp at Lake Chrissie by the Boers and its defence by the men of the West Yorks, the Camerons and the Suffolks during the Boer War. I think it unlikely that my g/g.father (who was in the West Yorks) wrote the poem himself - there is no name with it - but I have not been able to find any record of it. It would be nice to know who penned it. The first verse is as follows:
The sentries were posted, a strict watch to keep
O'er their comrades, who lay on the veldt fast asleep
They had marched many miles over rough broken ground
When they lay down to rest in the camp not a sound.
Any ideas?
Thanks
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That's a challenge! I can't find the poem in any anthology I know of.
During the Boer Wars there were many minor poets who had a few poems published in magazines who have mostly been forgotten - I can't find a reference online for this poem.
Two possible avenues to explore:
1) the Anglo Boer War Forum https://www.angloboerwar.com/ - posting on that site might produce a response.
2) Regimental archivists or historians might know of poems which refer to their regiments.
Good hunting!
Philip
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Thanks Philip - I will follow your suggestions. I may be doing my g/g.father a disservice in assuming he did not write the poem himself, but I have never heard that he was a particularly literary gent!
Thanks again.