This Poem Was Written By An Unknown Soldier During The First World War and Shows That Even In Those Dark Days Humour was Apparent, Besides Which Everyone Was Football Mad.

THE BURNING QUESTION

Three Tommies sat in a trench one day,
Discussing the war in the usual way,
They talked of the mud and they talked of the Hun,
Of what was to do and what had been done,
They talked about rum, and-tis hard to believe,
They even found time to speak about leave,
But the point which they argued from post back to pillar,
Was whether Notts County could beat Aston villa,

The night sped away and zero drew nigh,
Equipment made ready all lips getting dry,
And watches consulted with each passing minute
Till five more to go then twould find them all in it,
The word came along the line to get ready!
The sergeant admonishing all to keep steady,
But out rang a voice getting shriller and shriller,
I tell yer Notts County can beat Aston Villa!

The earth shook and swayed and the barrage was on
As they leapt o'er the top with a rush, and were gone
Away into Hun land through mud and though wire
Stabbing and dragging themselves though the mire
No time to heed those who are following en route
Till stopped by a strong point they lay down to shoot,
Then through the din came a voice " Say Jack Miller! "
"I tell yer Notts County can beat Aston Villa"

The strong point has gone, and forward they press
Towards their objective in number grown less
They reach it at last and prepare to resist
The counter_attack, which will come through the mist
Of the rain falling steadily, dig and hang on
The word for support back to H.Q has gone
The air charged with moment grows stiller and stiller---
" Notts County's no earthly against Aston Villa "

Two " Blighties ", a struggle through mud to get back
To the old A.D.S down a rough duck board track
A hasty field dressing a ride in a car
A wait in a C.C.S., then there they are
Packed side by side in a clean Red Cross train,
Happy in hopes to see Blighty again,
Still, through the bandages, muffled "Jack Miller,
I bet you Notts County can beat Aston Villa! "

THIS POEM WAS FOUND IN THE WIPERS TIMES PUBLISHED IN OCTOBER 1917-----I ASUME THE SOLDIER THAT WROTE THIS WAS DEAD BY THAT TIME HENCE----ANONOMOUS