THE LAST TOMMY John “Harry” Patch 17th June 1898 – 25th July 2009

 

God bless you Harry Patch

The last British Tommy to fall

Jack, Jill and Maudie are waiting

Can you hear that distant bugle call?

The serried ranks stand cheering

Calling you to glory Harry

Calling you to reassemble

You must go now no time to tarry

Jack, Jill and Maudie Allen

Are waiting to greet you proudly

Goodbye Harry so long old friend

Can you hear the bugle calling loudly?

Come to the cookhouse door boys

Come to the cookhouse door

Oh fallen heroes, oh hearty lads

I fear we will see your like no more

 

Jack, Jill and Maudie Allen where the nicknames of Harry Patch’s Lewis machine gun crew who were killed by shell fire on Pilkem Ridge, Passchendaele, Belgium in 1917