A Legend would be Born
We hit the beaches early, rowed in through the waves
Looked for cover that wasn’t there
Saw the wounded piling up, pitied the blokes we couldn’t save
And cursed the wretched army gear
With the Dawning of this new day a legend would be born
A Turkish shell picked me up and threw me down again
My mates rushed in to help
Can’t do naught, the medic said, that’s the war for him
He was only eighteen, Johnny said with a yelp
With the Dawning of this new day a legend would be born
I did me best, tried to stay and do my job for them
But it was not to be
I could help them get through this
There was a bigger plan for me
With the Dawning of this new day a legend would be born
From the beach to the high ground back and forth again
It was doomed right from the start
Long hard days ahead just to settle in
We Aussies got the heart
With the Dawning of that new day a legend would be born
Months of waste of Australia’s youth, all in their prime
The Nek, The defence and Lonesome Pine
I was there with them all
Their pain I felt as mine
With the Dawning of that new day a legend would be born
The withdrawal came and the lads got out
The Turks knew nothing of it
Three days it took to leave that place
No noise now, they had to leave their kit
With the Dawning of that new day a legend would be born
I am the Spirit of Anzac
I was with them all
I shall remain on duty
And answer the country’s call
With the Dawning of that new day a legend would be born
From Anzac to Afghanistan
And all wars in between
The Aussie soldier knows me
Where he is, I’ve been
With the Dawning of that new day a legend had been born
Jim Poland
RAInf (RAR)
1981-1994
FILE PHOTO (September 2012): ‘T-wall’ art in Tarin Kot, Afghanistan. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
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