My father’s journey took him first
From home to school
From school to pit
14 years old and down the mine
Didn’t see daylight many a time
Until at 18 he walked to Wigan
Signed on there
To collect the King’s shilling
Sent down south
For basic training
Off to India
At least not raining
Three years there
Couldn’t be fitter
Ready for home until Mr Hitler
Six years more
Of fierce fighting
Desert sands
Rommel sighting
Home to Blighty
Rest deserving
Getting married and country serving
D-Day soldier
Desert rat
Now in Normandy
The spat
Caen was flattened
Advance making
Ardennes offensive
Yanks were shaking
Ended war
Near Hamburg town
Arrested Himmler
All unknown
Helped with Europe’s restoration
Home to England
Broken nation
Back down pit
For better wages
Till his health gave out
In stages
Second fiddle to my mother
Learned to cope as any other
Lovely bungalow at the end
Back in Hindsford dear old friend
Died and buried in Tyldesley ‘Cem’
My father Michael
The best of men
Brian Fahy
12 May 2021
Erris Poetry 