Andrew Barton Paterson

Right in Front of the Army

”Where ’ave you been this week or more, 
’Aven’t seen you about the war’? 
Thought perhaps you was at the rear 
Guarding the waggons.” ”What, us? No fear! 
Where have we been? Why, bless my heart, 
Where have we been since the bloomin’ start? 
Right in the front of the army, 
Battling day and night! 
Right in the front of the army 
Teaching ’em how to fight!” 
Every separate man you see, 
Sapper, gunner, and C.I.V., 
Every one of ’em seems to be 
Right in front of the army! 
Most of the troops to the camp had gone, 
When we met with a cow-gun toiling on; 
And we said to the boys, as they walked her past, 
”Well, thank goodness, you’re here at last!” 
”Here at last! Why, what d’yer mean? 
Ain’t we just where we’ve always been? 
Right in the front of the army, 
Battling day and night! 
Right in the front of the army, 
Teaching’em bow to fight!” 
Correspondents and Vets in force, 
Mounted foot and dismounted horse, 
All of them were, as a matter of course, 
Right in the front of the army. 

Old Lord Roberts will have to mind 
If ever the enemy get behind; 
For they’ll smash him up with a rear attack, 
Because his army has got no back! 
Think of the horrors that might befall 
An army without any rear at all! 
Right in the front of the army, 
Battling day and night! 
Right in the front of the army, 
Teaching ’em how to fight! 
Swede attaches and German counts, 
Yeomen (known as De Wet’s Remounts), 
All of them were, by their own accounts, 
Right in the front of the army!