At 11 o'clock this morning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jdECwQDyBc&list=UUAsEhn7XsdT8744jP3kIYhQ
For The Fallen
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
<img src ="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3812/9465592120_55b52a8b50.jpg">

 

Touching poem mate and I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments but twice the reference to England is mentioned. Surely the fallen Scots, Irish, Welsh and others throughout the Commonwealth should be recognised.
Obviously the flow of the poem would be upset,but surely the word British could be inserted instead.
You might think I'm maybe being more than a wee bit pedantic but to me and other Scots it happens ALL the time. Britain seen as English by the English.

Sorry for being a wee bit touchy over this but today at 11 when I think of the fallen it will be all the fallen from these shores.

Sometimes the English can be so arrogant and at times it is hurtful.

BTW mate not getting at you just pointing out what goes right over most peoples heads but what is always picked up on here in Scotland.

Lets remember them all together.

 

Valid point, old mate, and one I agree with. However, within literature of the time, the terms England & Britain were very much interchangeable rather than being specific towards one nation over the others.