Come Into The Army, Maud

New Zealand Listener, Volume 6, Issue 146, 10 April 1942, Page 17

Come Into The Army, Maud

{Soon after women were conscripted for the A.T.S. in England, the following poem by "Sagittarius" appeared in the New Statesman and Nation. We feel that its relevance to New Zealand to-day, where women have been similarly called to the colours, is sufficient justification for its reappearance in the pages of The Listener.] OME into the Army, Maud, Your hours of ease are flown, Get into the Army, Maud, They are waiting for you alone, And the word of command has been wafted abroad And the fall-in finally blown. OU were blind to the ads. in the daily press, So they got you, sweet, on the run; You would not pop into the battle-dress, Though the War Office said it was fun, You would not become an adventuress In the ranks of adventurous A.T.S.* Where brave girls cook for the Sergeants’ Mess And the batwoman busily bats. you have failed to volunteer Re So at last you have met your fate; There has risen a splendid cheer From the Commons holding debate. The Air Force cried: "She is near, she is near!" But the War Office muttered: "We wait!" The Navy trolled: "She is here, she is here!" But the Army barked: "She is late!" (June weed in the garden of Service Girls, You may sigh till the war is through For gloss of ermine and glamour of pearls, Or even a uniform blue, ‘ De-rouge the nails, and prune the curls, And into the A.T.S. with you!

(*A.T.S. Adventure Through Service. Daily advertisement).