THE VACANT RANKS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 81, 11 March 1916, Page 2

THE VACANT RANKS.

DON’T YOU HEAR THE VOICES . CALLING. The following verses were written by a wounded man on one of the troopships. They were given by him to Private Sanderson, of Benalla, who lost a leg at the Dardanelles. Sanderson was recommended for the V.C., but, unfortunately for him, the officer who recommended him was killed before the recommendation could be put on record. On the road to Tipperary There’s a place that’s vacant still, There’s a rifle lying silent, There's a uniform to fill; True, at home they’ll hate to lose you, But the march will soon begin On the road to Tipperary, With the army to Berlin.

Have you seen the lonely crosses Of the boys who’ll ne’er come home? Will you idle while they’re calling? Will you leave them all alone? For they’re calling, calling, calling, And they want to count you in \ On the road to Tipperary, With the army to Berlin. When from Mons they fought each footstep, When their lips with pain were dumb, Twas the hope that held their trenches, Never doubting yon would come; jThrough the frozen hell of winter, I ’Midst the shrapnel’s racking din, They have waited,, never fearing j You would join them at Berlin. On the road to Tipperary, There’s a crimson debt to pay; There’s a land of awful darkness, , Patient faces, tired and grey; Sobbing women, ruined girlhood, S: row the trail of cultured sin; [Can you bear the call of vengeance? Won’t you join ns to Berlin? On the road to Tipperary Sleep the boys whose day is done; Don’t you hear the voices calling To complete their work begun? There are ghostly lingers beckoning, There are victories yet to win On the road to Tipperary, With the army to Berlin. On the load to Tipperary. When the boys come home at last, Won’t veil wish that you bad ’listed. Ere old England’s call Had passed? But the Date of Manhood’s open. Your part can still begin On the road to Tipperary, ; With the army to Berlin. [