My darling mum

Montrose reader Ann Kerr writes: “My late husband, Royal Marine David Kerr sent the poem below to his mother.

“He served as a gunner on a landing craft (flak) during the Normandy landings,” she says.” From June 5 until August they patrolled Sword Beach, back and forth, strafing the German defenders.

“Returning to Portsmouth they were then posted to Burma.

“His D-Day diary, well-documented, in the Royal Marine Museum in Southsea. I thought with Mother’s Day being tomorrow, readers might be interested to read the poem.

“My husband was also an enthusiastic artist and One Man and Two Dogs has some of his notes collected as an amateur birdwatcher.

To Mum ‘Tis often that I write to you, And think and pray as well, Of home –our home my darling mum, Where our dear family dwells.

My thoughts are always with you all, No matter where I be, In jungle dark, or sand wastes bright Or on the roaring sea.

It comforts me to think of you, All safe and snug at home, And makes me often wonder Why I ever thought to roam.

Of course those were my younger days, When everything seemed bright, And thoughts were never far away from stealing and a fight.

But now for fights I look no more, My thoughts are all for peace, And days of rest and friendliness, And multitudes – of feasts.

So keep the home fires burning mum, Our day is drawing near, And it won’t be long before you say, At last – I know no fear!