WWI Private Percy Schwartz WWII Private Reginald Donald Schwartz
I hear the stories of lost lives
My family members who did not survive.
Percy who worked down the mine
Perilously did his duty,
tunnelling to end this sickening waste of time.
Every day and every night down he went to end the war.
Failed and died by the tunnel he dug, smothered and witnessed
by the men he loved.
Uncle Reg I never knew but oh so brave,
he did what he had to do.
He died doing his duty for me and you.
At 21 he jumped, into the night no word,
no sound did we ever hear.
A family bereaved, a son that was lost, a family broken
Leaving family, he loved.
Robbed of a son, a brother, an Uncle I never met,
I remain to remember a man I never met,
who was my Uncle, my Mums Brother,
who gave his life to protect this land?
his family and our way of life …..
Never to forget the price of war, we owe our hero’s
service men and women our gratitude for the life
we live and love…….
Poem written by Jackie Havenhand Davey November 2018
