Never forget those who fell in battle, they march on in front

A POEM for Anzac Day, titled ‘The Dead March On in Front’:

When you’re standing in the crowd, friend,

As the big parade goes by And all around are cheering, The ones who did not die; Remember when you’re shouting, friend,

Those other ones who bore the brunt,

They’re in the grand parade today;

The Dead march on in Front. They’ll never hear the joyful din Nor see the waving flags;

Unseen, unheard, they march erect

With a step that never lags; There’s Joe, there’s Fred and Andy

Who fell at El Alamein Ginger and Snow, inseparables Out on the Libyan plain; Tom, who dropped at Casino, Tossing grenades to the end, Jerry who died near the Arno The Padre, their guide, their friend.

There are sturdy lads in blue, friends

Shepherds of the convoy fleet, Heroes of the River Platte ... They never knew ...defeat; And gallant merchant seamen, friend,

From tankers, troopships, merchantmen,

Who died out on the watery wastes ...

In the van they live again. Onward they march with bearing pride

Leading the Big Parade; Don’t think that I’m romancing, friend,

You know the part they played,

Yes, cheer the ones who pass along

Each and all they bore the brunt

But pay a reverent tribute, friend,

To the nation’s glorious Dead; Unseen, unheard, in rightful place,

They march in front.

Poem by WR Whiteside from Whakatane, June 1945