Work-a-day Warriors/Our British Dead

by Joseph Lee

Illustration by Joseph Lee from 'Work-a-day Warriors' by Joseph Lee, published in 1917

VIA DOLOROSA
Bringing in the wounded after 9th May

OUR BRITISH DEAD

 

O stranger, bring the Spartans word, that here,Obedient thus to their command, we lie.Simonides.

 

Here do we lie, dead but not discontent,That which we found to do has had accomplishment.

No more for us uprise or set of sun;The vigilant night, the desperate day is done.

To other hands we leave the avenging sword,To other tongues to speak the arousing word.

Here do we lie, dead but not discontent,That which was ours to do has had accomplishment. Forget us not, O Land for which we fell—May it go well with England, still go well.

Keep her bright banners without blot or stain,Lest we should dream that we have died in vain.

Brave be the days to come, when weAre but a wistful memory. . . .

Here do we lie, dead but not discontent,That which we found to do has had accomplishment.

Illustration by Joseph Lee from 'Work-a-day Warriors' by Joseph Lee, published in 1917

FRENCH GIRLS TENDING THE GRAVE OF AN ENGLISH SOLDIER