Rodaways of ww1-2

                                  THE GURKHA

GURKHA'S ALL WAYS  STAND AND FIGHT
THEY WILL NOT SHIRK OR TAKE FLIGHT                      
BY YOUR SIDE TILL THE END                           
ALL WAYS THERE LIKE A FRIEND

WHAT IS THE COST YOU MAY SAY                           
THE PRICE FOR FREEDOM WE HAVE TO PAY                 
WHEN THEY LAY DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR US                
ANYTHING WE PAY WONT BE ENOUGH

WE LET OLD ENEMY'S LIVE OVER HERE                       
TAKING OUR JOBS AND DRINKING OUR BEER                  
SENDING MONEY HOME TO THEIR BRIDES                     
ALL THE FAMILY'S OVER ON THE NEXT TIDE 

SO GOVERNMENT MINISTERS DON'T BE TIGHT                 
THE GURKHA'S THEY HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT                  
TO LIVE IN BRITAIN JUST LIKE YOU                       
REMEMBER THEY FIGHT FOR THE RED WHITE AND BLUE.

    DEC 08

----

 THE GURKHA'S THEY HAVE WON THE RIGHT
AFTER PUTTING UP A SPLENDID FIGHT
TO LIVE IN BRITAIN WITH ME AND YOU
THE 3 BELOW  DIED FOR THE RED WHITE AND BLUE

PTE YUBRAJ RAI
C/SGT KRISHNABAHADUR DURA
AND CPL KUMAR PUN

SO NOW THE GOVERNMENT HAVE GONE ABOUT TURN
JUST ONE BIG LESSON THEY NEED TO LEARN
THEY HAVE GOT TO START LISTENING TO WHAT WE SAY
IF THEY NEED USE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY

MAY 09

  THE FIGHTER BARRY POLLARD GUNNER R.A.  MY PAL

HE GOT TOLD THAT HE HAD CANCER AND NOT MUCH TIME TO LIVE              
HOW LONG DO YOU RECKON DOC BEFORE THEY SHUT DOWN THE LID                
TWO OR THREE MONTHS THE DOC REPLIED                                   
THEN I GUESS THERE'S NO PLACE TO HIDE

THE CANCER TRIED TO TAKE  HIM ALMOST RIGHT AWAY                      
BUT HE WAS HAVING NONE OF IT   HE WOULD FIGHT HIS OWN WAY                       
IT WAS NOT GOING TO BEAT HIM TILL HE WAS READY TO GO                
HE HAD FAR TOO MUCH TO DO  AND NO TIME TO BE SLOW

HE HAD TO GRIN AND BEAR IT  FOR OVER A GOOD THREE YEARS              
IT NEVER STOPPED HIM SMOKING OR DRINKING  A NICE COOL BEER            
BECAUSE HE WAS A FIGHTER AND WOULD SHOW NO FEAR                       
THE DAY BEFORE HE DIED HE HAD HIS FAGS AND A BEER

AFTER ALL HIS PAIN AND SUFFERING IT FINALLY TOOK IT TOLL             
ALL THAT HE HAD LEFT WAS HIS HEART AND  SOUL                         
BUT ONE THING I WILL REMEMBER TILL MY DYING DAY                    
I WALKED ALONG WITH BARRY  PART OFF THE WAY

NOV 09                    RIP OLD PAL     

                        THE GOOD OLD MOD

IT SEEMS THEY ONLY LIKE A PARADE
FLYING THE FLAG FOR THE FALLEN AND BRAVE
HOW MANY ARE COMING HOME ON THERE OWN
RELYING ON CHARITY'S NEAR THEIR HOMES

BROKEN BODIES AND MINDS MOST WON?T GET FIXED
THE SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST
WE TOLD YOU ABOUT THE GURKHA YOU WENT ABOUT TURN
WE ARE TELLING YOU ABOUT THE WOUNDED WILL YOU NEVER LEARN

THERE IS AN EASY WAY TO BALANCE THE BOOKS
SEND HOME THE REFUGEES THE THIEVES AND CROOKS
FORCE THE BANKS TO START PLAYING A FAIR GAME
MINISTERS THROW AWAY YOUR EXPENSES CLAIMS

THE VALUES OF THIS COUNTRY HAVE GONE DOWN THE DRAIN
ALL THE DEAD BRITISH SOLDIERS ARE TURNING IN THEIR GRAVES
WHAT DID THEY FIGHT FOR ALL THOSE BRAVE MEN
FOR YOU LOT TO GIVE ARE COUNTY AWAY

ITS NO GOOD SAYING YOU ARE TRYING YOUR BEST
GIVE OUR TROOPS WHAT THEY NEED AND THEY WILL DO THE REST
THERE WON?T BE AS MANY COMING HOME IN A BOX
JUST A FEW WALKING WOUNDED IN NICE CLEAN SOCKS

 MANCHESTER REGIMENT MODERATOR

THE MANCHESTER MODS ARE ON THE SOMME                     
DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST                                   
SEEING THE GRAVES OF THE MANCHESTER LADS                 
LAYING THERE TO REST

ITS A MOVING EXPERIENCE IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN           
IT GAVE ME A FEELING OF PRIDE                           
SEEING A GRAVE OF FAMILY OF MINE                          
LAYING THERE WITH HIS PALS AT HIS SIDE

WE CAN ONLY GO AND PAY OUR RESPECTS                       
AND PLACE POPPIES ON THEIR GRAVES                         
AND BRING IN FROM THE COLD THE UNKNOWN SOUL              
WITH MORE INFORMATION AND RESEARCH.

OCT 09     

                                   I'VE OFTEN THOUGHT

 my G-GRANDFATHER PTE FREDERICK RODAWAY
       4 BN KINGS LIVERPOOL
          K.I.A 18/8/1916

I'VE OFTEN THOUGHT AND PONDERED TO                                     
IF I AM THE FIRST TO VISIT YOU                                       
FROM THE FAMILY YOU LEFT BEHIND                                      
AS YOU LAY HERE IN THE GROUND  
                                                                      
WHAT WAS YOU DOING AT YOUR AGE                                       
FIGHTING A WAR WHEN YOUR TWICE THERE AGE                              
I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT YOU HAD MORE SENSE                              
SUPPOSE ITS BETTER THAN SITTING ON THE FENCE

YOU SONS CAME HOME FROM THAT WAR                                      
AND I GUESS THEY NEW THE SCORE                                       
THEY WERE HURTING DEEP INSIDE                                         
KNOWING YOU WERE LEFT BEHIND         

MY GRANDDAD NEVER SPOKE A LOT                                          
OF YOU HIS DAD HE LOVED SO MUCH                                       
SO I THANK YOU ON THIS DAY                                           
THE PRICE FOR FREEDOM YOU HAD TO PAY

AND HAS I GAZE AND LOOK AROUND                                        
AT ALL YOU PALS IN THE GROUND                                        
I WONDER WHAT LIVE WOULD HAVE BEEN                                    
WITHOUT THERE SACRIFICE FOR THE LIKE OF ME.

I HAD THE HONOUR OF VISITING MY G-GRANDFATHERS GRAVE IN SEPT 08
CATERPILLAR VALLEY LONGUEVAL  SOMME                 
HE WAS 47 YEARS OLD WHEN HE DIED, RIP

                         IRLAM AND CADISHEAD

IRLAM AND CADISHEAD WHERE IS THAT?
I DID NOT HAVE A CLUE
THEN I GOT TALKING TO A PAL OF MINE
TURNS OUT HE WAS FROM THERE TOO

I DONE A LITTLE RESEARCH ON HIS FAMILY TREE
AROUND WORLD WAR 1 AND TWO
AND FOUND SOME OF HIS FAMILY FOUGHT IN ONE
FOR THE LIKES OF ME AND YOU

WORKING CLASS HEROES EVERYONE
OVER 1000 ANSWERED TO THE CALL
A LOT OF THEM NEVER EVER RETURNED
YOU?LL FIND THEIR NAMES ON A MEMORIAL WALL

IT?S JUST A LITTLE DISTRICT SOME WILL SAY
BUT IT?S GOT A GREAT BIG HEART
ITS ROOTS ARE WRITTEN DOWN IN, SOAP AND STEEL
IT CERTAINLY PLAYED ITS PART

IF YOU GO WALKING AROUND THERE TODAY
YOU WILL NOT BE ON YOUR OWN
JUST LOOK AT THE OLD HOUSES THAT?S WERE THEY LIVED
THEIR  DESCENDANTS ARE STILL THERE TODAY

 JUNE 2010

                                    SWARM

A  New swarm his on the way
People giving their time away
Looking for memorials off Salford men
To try and save not throw away

Those Salford men have earned the right
They all put up a splendid fight
Both in world war one and two                            
That?s the least that we can do    
And all the lads that are fighting today
We will support them in every way      
We want everyone to come back home
And not find a name on a memorial wall

 dec 2010

               PTSD  COMBAT STRESS

THIS IS FOR THE LADS AT COMBAT STRESS
NEVER FEEL YOUR ON YOUR OWN
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE JUST LIKE ME
WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST
                      
I NEVER SERVED THIS COUNTRY MYSELF
I DONE IT WITH BRICKS AND MORTAR
BUT THINKING BACK ONE NEVER KNOWS
I MIGHT HAVE MADE A GOOD SOLDIER

BUT I AM WRITING THIS TO THANK YOU ALL
FOR THE SERVICE  THAT YOU GAVE
AND HOPE THIS COUNTRY HELPS YOU BACK
AND KEEP YOU FROM A EARLY GRAVE

SO I WISH YOU  GOOD LUCK AND PEACEFUL NIGHTS
AND DAYS WHEN YOU CAN ALL LOOK FORWARD
NOT ABOUT THE DAYS THAT GAVE YOU THE STRESS
AND LEFT YOU WITH THIS DISORDER

AND ONE LAST THING I NEED TO ASK
JUST REMEMBER TO TELL YOUR STORY
SO PEOPLE LIKE ME CAN UNDERSTAND
ITS NOT ALL MEDALS AND GLORY.

AUG 18TH 2011

                                                 100 years.

its coming round to a hundred years
and we have shed loads of tears
to the soldiers who never ever made it home
I salute you one and salute you all

those buried in graves,next to your pals
those who were lost, and never found
I guess the search will never end
to find a soldier and bury with his friends

some became legends winning the V.C.
I would give them all one if it was left to me
we have to have heroes to look up to
most family's had one  but just never knew

all those young men who made it home
they hardly said a word as they grew old
what did you do granddad in the great war
I,ll tell you lad when you get a bit older

then granddad dies and you ask your dad
sorry son he never told me either

                                             THE POPPY,

THE POPPY I AM WEARING, I WEAR IT WITH PRIDE
EVERY POPPY TELLS A STORY OF SOLDIER'S WHO  HAVE DIED
FOR ME IT WAS MY GREAT-GRANDDAD WHO'S BURIED ON THE SOMME
HE'S LAYING THERE WITH HIS PALS KNOWING THE JOB GOT DONE

THOUSANDS NEVER MADE IT HOME
THOUSANDS WITH NO KNOWN GRAVE
SO IF YOU GO TO VISIT THEM
WITH FAMILY OR  JUST SOME FRIENDS  ,
PLEASE STAND FOR A MOMENT AT A UNKNOWN GRAVE,

25/APRIL/2013

                            TEAR FOR A SOLDIER

I SEE THE YEARS ROLLING BY
AS I LOOK UP INTO THE SKY
AND FEEL PRESSURES DEEP INSIDE
AND THINK OF YEARS ALL GONE BY

NOTHING UP THERE THAT'S WHAT I THINK
JUST THE SILENCE THAT HELPS ME THINK
MEMORIES OF DAYS GONE BY
WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE WITHOUT THE SKY

I START THINKING OF SOLDIERS WHO HAVE DIED
THERE DEEDS ARE PLANTED DEEP INSIDE
IN THAT PLACE WHERE WE HOLD TEARS
THAT OPENS MORE EASY WITH THE YEARS

NOTHING I CAN DO TO STOP THE TEARS
OR MORE SOLDIERS DYING EACH YEAR
JUST HOPE AND PRAY THAT IT ENDS
THEN I CAN DRIFT AWAY EASY AND MEET UP WITH FRIENDS

AND AS FOR ME DON'T SHED A TEAR
I'LL BE AROUND FOR MANY A YEAR
SAVE IT FOR THE NEXT SOLDIER WHO HAPPENS TO DIE
AND THEN LOOK UP INTO THE SKY

THERE'S NOTHING TO SEE, ITS ALL INSIDE
JUST FEELINGS FOR A SOLDIER
THAT FILL YOU WITH PRIDE.

 10/05/13

               ONE OF PLENTY UNDER AGE IN WW1

I GOT TO KNOW A LIVERPOOL BARROW BOY WHO FOUGHT IN WW1
HE WENT AND SIGNED UP IN THE ARMY WITH OUT TELLING HIS MUM
YOU CAN IMAGINE ALL THE PANIC AND PAIN SHE WAS GOING THROUGH
SHE WAS DETERMINED TO GET HIM HOME AGAIN
BEFORE THE YEAR WAS THROUGH

SHE WROTE OFF TO THE ARMY,MY SON HE'S UNDER-AGE
YOU HAVE HIS BROTHER AND FATHER, YOU HAVE ME IN A RAGE
THEN THE ARMY THEY REPLIED LIKE THE ARMY ALWAYS DO
YOU NEED TO SEND HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE FOR PROOF OF HIS AGE
AND IT'S NEEDED IN A HURRY, HIS REGIMENT ARE ABOUT TO ENGAGE

THEN THE PANIC SURE SET IN , SHE HAD NO MONEY YOU SEE
3 SHILLING AND 7 PENCE WAS NEEDED TO GET HIM BACK HOME FREE
SHE GOT THE MONEY BUT IT WAS TO LATE
HIS REGIMENT THE CHESHIRE'S WHERE HEADING FOR FOREIGN SHORES
FRANCE THEN ON TO SALONIKA PLACES HE HAD NEVER BEEN.

THE MOTHER CARRIED ON WRITING YOU HAVE ALL THE PROOF YOU NEED
AND I NEED HIM HOME EARLY, BEFORE HE'S IN A GRAVE.
SHE FINELY GOT THE LETTER SHE WAS WAITING FOR,
YOUR SON IS COMING HOME
HE'S HEADING FOR FRIENDLY SHORE'S

WELL IT TOOK OVER A YEAR TO  FINELY GET HIM HOME
SHE WAS WELL DELIGHTED ,HE HAD PUT ON ALMOST A STONE
BUT THE FEELING OF JOY WAS NOT TO LAST
HE WENT AND SIGNED UP  STRAIGHT AWAY
THIS TIME IN THE MANCHESTER'S HE WAS GOING OVER AGAIN

HIS FATHER IN THE MEAN TIME WAS KILLED NEAR HIGH WOOD,
HIS MOTHER THEN WAS FRANTIC,SHE WAS DOING ALL SHE COULD
THE ELDEST SON  WAS IN EAST AFRICA BUT IN A TOTAL DIFFERENT WAR
THE FAMILY GATHERED ROUND HER THEY ALL KNEW IT HAD TO BE
TO FIGHT FOR KING AND COUNTRY FOR THE LIKES OF YOU AND ME


THAT YOUNG SOLDIER WAS MY GRAND FATHER
WHO NEVER TALKED ABOUT THE WAR
OR THE HORROR HE HAD SEEN,

PTE, WILLIAM C RODAWAY
CHESHIRE,MANCHESTER AND DEVONSHIRE REGIMENTS
Birth  NOVEMBER 1899 Liverpool   Died December 1966  Blackpool.
signed up 13 April 1915 aged 14 years and 6 months of age 
Discharged l 2-6-1916  from the Cheshire regiment, then signed up again into the Manchester   still in uniform when he got married in June 1919                                                                                                                                  1914-15 STAR, WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS


                           THE FORGOTTEN

OUR LADS THEY HAVE A JOB TO DO
THEY TURN OUT FOR THE RED WHITE AND BLUE
PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE
THIS GOVERNMENT THINKS THAT'S VERY FINE

BUT THE LADS ARE STILL DYING IN AFGHANISTAN
A LOT MORE IS NEEDED TO SORT OUT THE TALIBAN
AND HOW MANY MORE WILL COME HOME ALL MESSED UP
MISSING AN ARM OUR MAYBE A FOOT

BROKEN BODIES AND MINDS MOST WONT GET FIXED
INVALIDED OUT TO SIGN ON THE SICK
THEIR NIGHTMARES CARRY ON ALL THROUGH THE DAY
THE LADS WONDER WILL THEY EVER GO AWAY

AND NOW THIS GOVERNMENT ARE MAKING BIG CUT BACKS
TO BAIL OUT THE BANKS AND THE BIG FAT CATS
THEY DONT GIVE A TOSS FOR OUR LADS ONCE MORE
THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE AGAIN ONCE MORE

AND WHILE THE GOVERNMENT WONDER WHAT TO DO
OUR LADS ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR THE RED WHITE AND BLUE
ITS OUR ARMED FORCES THAT MADE BRITAIN GREAT
THIS GOVERNMENT ARE WALKING AROUND WITH WHITE PAINT.
TONYROD

 LIGHTS OUT!                                                                                                                                           

 THE LIGHTS WENT OUT ON AUGUST THE 4th                                                                                                    

THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT WAR                                                                                            

THE PALS BATTALION'S WHERE UNHEARD OF THEN                                                                                    

JUST THE REGULAR BATTALION'S ALL THE KINGS MEN                                                                         

AND THEN BATTALION'S OF THE TERRITORIAL FORCE                                                                             

IT WAS BECOMING OBVIOUS WE NEEDED MORE                                                                                          

LORD KITCHENER SHOUTED OUT HE WANTS YOU                                                                                     

THEN LORD DERBY, HE GLADLY OBLIGED                                                                                                       

HE PULLED TOGETHER THE LIVERPOOL PALS                                                                                      

4 BATTALION'S OF LIVERPOOL'S BEST                                                                                                            

KNOWN AS THE PALS YOU KNOW THE REST                                                                                                    

ALL OVER THE COUNTRY PALS BATTALIONS WERE BORN                                                                          

AND A NEW DATE IS DRAWING NEAR                                                                                                                 

29th OF AUGUST ITS A 100 YEARS                                                                                                                      

THE PALS 100th BIRTHDAY IS THAT DAY                                                                                                          

SO RAISE A GLASS AND GIVE A CHEER                                                                                                          

AND I'LL SEE YOU ALL ON THE 31st A SUNDAY                                                                                                

WHEN WE UNVEIL THE MEMORIAL FRIEZE                                                                                                    

THE SCULPTOR TOM MURPHY HE HAS FINISHED HIS TASK                                                                       

THE STORY OF THE PALS IS READY AT LAST                                                                                                 

DONE ON A FRIEZE, O SORRY THERE'S TWO                                                                                                     

SIX FEET SIX BY FIFTEEN, THAT'S BIG ENOUGH   FOR ME,                                                                              

I  AM A PAL,OF THE PALS, I HAVE TOTAL RESPECT                                                                                        

AND WHEN YOU ALL COME AND HAVE A LOOK                                                                                   

REMEMBER THE PRICE THEY ALL HAD TO PAY                                                                                          ,      

OVER 2800 PALS NEVER MADE IT HOME

THAT'S THE PRICE FOR FREEDOM THEY PAID FOR YOU AND ME

TONYROD 30 JULY 2014