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196 For 'e might 'ave gone an' sprayed 'em with a pompom,

Or 'e might 'ave slung a squadron out to see—

But 'e wasn't takin' chances in them 'igh an' 'ostile kranzes—

He was markin' time to earn a K.C.B

The General got 'is decorations thick

(The men that backed 'is lies could not complain),

The Staff 'ad D.S.O.'s till we was sick,

An' the soldier—'ad the work to do again!

For 'e might 'ave known the District was a 'otbed,

Instead of 'andin' over, upside-down,

To a man 'oo 'ad to fight 'alf a year to put it right,

While the General went an' slandered 'im in town!

An' it all went into the laundry,

But it never came out in the wash.

We were sugared about by the old men

(Panicky, perishin' old men)

That 'amper an' 'inder and scold men

For fear o' Stellenbosh!