Page:Soldier poets, songs of the fighting men, 1916.djvu/94

 H. SPURRIER

Wounded at La Bassée

The Charge at Neuve-Chapelle

HE charge we made at Neuve-Chapelle

When Fate the die had cast

Was like the lightning of the clouds

As bursts the thunder-blast.

Not least among the records red

For that disastrous year,

Of trenches won and lost again,

Its annals shall appear.

Great battles have been waged and won

Of more momentous power,

When Earth within the balance swung

In sanguinary hour.

But redder morn did never rise

Than on that doubtful day,

Through Death and wire-entanglement

We wrought resistless way.

Along our line the rumour ran

And leaped from lip to lip,

Till that terrific call of blood

Had got us all in grip. 90