"The knock on the door"

[tut]

With Remembrance Day last Wednesday, I remembered this poem by an old RM friend of mine Derek Blevins. He paralleled Steve and I in many ways, we did our pilots course at Middle Wallop in 1966, went out to our respective Commando Units, I left before him and went out to Oman and he followed later. We both joined Bristow Helicopters on return to the UK but I was medically retired in '93 and he carried on until he was 65. Only saw him a couple of times after that before he died of cancer a few years ago.

His son joined the RM and served in Afghanistan, which is when Derek wrote this poem. Both Ian and Luke wanted to join the Corps and I would have been very proud of them if they had, Ian was only a few weeks short of going down to Lympstone to start his Officers training when the job at Weatherford came up that was to good to turn down. Likewise Luke was going to sign up when his Apprenticeship with OPITO came through.

They would both have made excellent Marines, and probably avoided quite a few mishaps in civvy street, but their War would not have been the ones that I went through, and I was secretly pleased that they never joined up. They would always have been trying to prove that they were the best of their Troop, and likeliest been the first to have been blown up.

If you have never served in the Forces or have not had children who have, it will probably just appear as sentimental overkill, but I am proud of the men and women who served in the two World Wars, and also those that have carried on in the Wars and Conflicts since then. The poem just brought back something that I never had to go through, but would have dreaded to have been waiting for if the boys had taken a different path.

tut

"The radios on, the TV as well,
It's having to know, the news that they will tell.
It's a fear that she bears like a constant bad dream
She's a mum, with a son, who's a Royal Marine.
She's proud, oh so proud of the things he has done.
From a child to a youth, to a Corps, matched by none.
She has cried as his skills have been held in esteem,
From Kings Squad, Green Beret, a trained Royal Marine.

She tries to keep busy, her mind on a chore,
But her nerves are all tensed for the 'Knock on the Door'
Her hand trembles slightly, as she knows it might mean.
There's a padre stood there, with a sad Royal Marine.
She writes endless letters of trivial events.
Send parcels of goodies, and sweaters like tents.
But she knows it may end with that 'Knock on the Door'.
He has travelled the world, and she well knows the score.

But now he's at war, and the risks are extreme,
Yet he chose this profession, that of Marine.
She gave her support, now she waits like the rest,
Kept firm by the fact that he serves with the best.
Now, a glance at his photo, from days that have been
His facing smiling down, his eyes all a gleam.
The look that they all have, these Bootlicks, these few.
And their loved ones just pray that their time is not due.

However, this mother has been here before
Her father, a 'Royal' in the second world war.
She ran with her mother to answer the door.
But the words, 'We Regret' changed their lives ever more.
Bravest of brave are the ones who wait home
They carry the that burden, sometimes alone.
No honours for them, just the tears they have cried
But their son is a 'Royal' and their 'medal' is pride.

She straightens her dress, and pats at her hair
For the sound of a vehicle has trembled the air.
There are steps to her door, then comes the first knock
Through stained glass, she sees two, and her mind starts to rock.
The walk to the door, as she holds back the tears.
Takes a lifetime of memories, of dread, and of fears.
She opens the door, misty eyed, cannot see
'Hi Mum, this is Bob, just got back'- Whats for tea?'

[greido]

Lovely poem, makes me appreciate my relatively unexciting but safe working life.

[robin]

Good post, thanks Tut. There will be some knocks on the door around the world but especially in France today and those will only lead to more and worse I am sure. A sad day indeed.

[scott_e]

I like that too Tut. Strikes a cord , nice post. I like to think for my "youngish age" I have strong appreciation for what the armed services have done historically (and specifically in WWII) to provide the way of life we have today. Longest period of time without a war in Europe. I think its a message that is lost far too often especially on the younger generations that take the security we have for granted.

[mwmackenzie]

Great poem Tut! Must be so hard for those at home waiting on their loved ones in service to return home safe, the stress day to day must be immense!