MY PAL OF YESTERDAY

(DEDICATED TO LANCE CORPORAL WOODWORTH OF MONTREAL. KILLED IN ACTION JANUARY 1917 AT VIMY RIDGE FRANCE.)
————————————
BY PTE. HARRY MORRIS 12^TH BRIGADE TRENCH MORTAR BATTERY

OH! WHERE IS MY PAL OF YESTERDAY
OF WHOM I WAS SO FOND
ALAS! HE IS NO LONGER WITH ME
BUT OUT IN THE GREAT BEYOND

DUSK, AND THE TRENCH MORTAR GUNS ARE BOOMING
HARK TO NERVE-WRECKING DUEL
CRASH! A HUN SHELL GETS MY COMRADE
GOD, BUT THIS WAR IS CRUEL

BACK OF THE RIDGE AT VIMY, LIES
ONE OF FAIR CANADA'S SONS
AND THERE HE IS PEACEFULLY SLEEPING
UNDISTURBED BY THE VOICE OF GUNS

TRUE! HE WAS SOMEBODY'S LOVED ONE
SOMEWHERE THE TEARS DID START
SOMEBODY'S FOND HOPES ARE SHATTERED
SOMEWHERE A BROKEN HEART

LIKE A MAN HE ANSWERED THE CALL OF HIS COUNTRY
HE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT AND IS GONE
AND ALTHO, HE IS SLEEPING AT VIMY
HIS SOUL UP ABOVE, STILL MARCHES ON

[Transcription updated April 25, 2025]