Good courage in the July drive
That's why I did not die,
Whilst the fighting in the trenches
The first day of July.
In No Man's land I took my stand
Where some bullets pierced my thigh,
And left me there a cripple
On the battlefield to die.
Where hundreds of our soldier boys
Lay dead upon the ground,
And no one there to say a prayer
As I gazed and looked around.
After seventy-three long hours
In a shell-hole where I lay,
The blood ran down like water
"Twas the horror of the day.
When down beneath the shell-hole
I could not rise my head,
And on top of my legs and body
Some soldiers lay there dead.
Whilst shells were flying all around
My puttees caught on fire,
But for the clay and mud that day
My frame began to tire.
For sixty-two long hours
The hun did blast away,
And ten thousand of our soldier lads
On the battle field did lay.
Oh! The bitter morning; I heard that day
From the whistling of the mortar,
And all the rats that roamed that day
Took part amongst the slaughter.
We were the 29th Division or the S.S. Brigade
As we advanced over No Man's land,
"The penalty was great." they said
But looking back over the past that's gone
No more will I fight to die,
Way out there on Flander's Fields
As sure as I am Kilfoy.
I am one of the lucky five hundred
Though my limbs are shattered and torn,
I will not forget that July Drive
Or those who are left to mourn.
Of glory to their memory
Where on the battle field they lie,
Down in those terrible trenches
Where they were left to die.
It was then I spied a soldier lad
Who wore a Red Cross band,
As he travelled alone that day
Out there on No Man's Land.
Then he pulled the dead bodies of me
And lay them by my side,
Then wrapped me up in bandages
Where most men would have died.
Then he took me on his shoulders
Oh! What courage this man must find,
And he brought me to a dressing station
One mile down the line.
My boot and foot, part of my leg
Were left out there in the mud,
Which made his burden lighter
But his clothes were soaked with blood.
I do not know that good man's name
As my strength was all but gone,
God will defend such courage
Is a prayer that guides us on.
It was my last time on that battle field
And no more will I want to see,
The horrors of a brutal war
No place on earth should be.
And as I look back on my memories
When we were in the prime of life,
Not thinking that this day would come
For me to have a wife.
Yes, today after forty long years
I have a good and faithful wife,
And am blessed with a family
To guide my crippled life.
My prayers have all been answered
And to the past, I'll say good-bye.
Where we fought and died like soldiers
The first day of July.
By: W.S. Reardon For Private Soldier Leo Kilfoy, Soldier of War World One.
