Read Online The Happy Warrior by Kerry B. Collison - Free Book Online

us may go down,
    The rest will carry on without a frown.
    We’re sure to have the memory — of the capture of Tarakan.
    Colby Corrigan.
    2/48 Aust. Inf. Batt.
----
    Dawn Patrol
    The day was breaking, heralding the light of dawn,
    Seeping through the foliage a new day is born;
    And with creeping fingers showed up where one boy lay
    Silent in Death, never again to laugh or play;
    The pride of Australia, the pride of us all,
    This boy had answered willingly his Country’s call.
    All day yesterday they had fought from dawn to dark,
    Not without loss, for it had surely left its mark;
    No sleep, no rest, they had been on picquet all night
    But with day breaking, they still held onto this height;
    Then the word came that a patrol would have to go
    To find out his strength, the positions of the foe.
    These men, gaunt, unshaven, with a glint in their eyes,
    Nothing but their senses could they use for their guides;
    Their automatics slung, their senses all alert,
    Thought first of their loved ones, their loss they knew would hurt;
    And with hearts that throbbed madly, with pulses that raced,
    Only they knew the perils they would have to face.
    Wiping out their thoughts of home and all they love,
    They mingled with the shadows, trusting that God above
    Watched their every movement; their lives they left to Him.
    It was a path of Life and Death, a path so dim,
    Shrouded by the tree tops, and undergrowth so thick,
    To make no false step needed every jungle trick.
    With stealth, and with silence, using every jungle law,
    Stalking and creeping, they knew that every yard more
    Brought them close to Death. But did anyone stop?
    Not they — only the Japs’ bullets could make them drop.
    Then with suddenness the silence was broken,
    A Jap machine gun to their right had spoken.
    Down to ground! Their thoughts were in a chaotic mess.
    Had they been seen? No, it was impossible — but yes;
    For still the machine gun bullets were passing by
    Just three feet over their heads, they were whining high.
    Where was the danger that now impeded their way?
    They puzzled this out as in the bracken they lay.
    Someone then remembered, higher up, to the right,
    A woodpecker had been seen in the waning light,
    And the Jap from his greater height could easily see
    Any movement that could be caused by brushing a tree;
    For the foliage above would then shiver and shake;
    The command went back, “Be careful, for goodness sake!”
    So with head bent low, dodging trees, protruding vines,
    They passed a dead Jap, and on the right were sure signs
    Of tracks and Jap doovers, with the nauseous stench
    That pollutes the air in the region of their trench;
    A muttered curse, with those softly whispered words;
    â€œDeath is too good for you, you mongrel yellow curs!”
    Cautiously forward, yard by yard, with bated breath
    Past those doovers they crept in defiance of death;
    Then the sound of a bolt with that metallic click
    Swung them ’round with a speed undeniably quick,
    Searching for the danger that made its presence felt —
    But on they must go, so in the shadows they melt.
    Looking forwards and sideways they managed to go,
    Keeping to shadows, till within nearly a stone’s throw
    Of Japs digging doovers and jabbering aloud,
    (There’s one thing about them. they make plenty of sound),
    Their job is now completed, they silently withdraw
    To report their success and all the things they saw.
    So with joy and light hearts they wended their way back
    Past those concealed doovers by the side of the track,
    Side-stepping the Jap corpse that was gruesome and stark,
    For this was the last phase, the last reminding mark
    Of the fingers of Death, and the fingers of Fate,
    That had waited to grasp them with relentless hate.
    Love, Life and Joy once more seemed to seep through their veins,
    These feelings they had curbed while the danger had reigned;
    But now they were themselves, laughing again once more,
    Throwing off this cloak,