famous poets and writers
Rudyard Kipling Dec 30th 1865-Jan 18th 1936: Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay and educated at the United Services College in Devon, England, before becoming a journalist in Lahore. He had a great liking and fondness for the Irish soldiers on campaign, and often referred to their humour and courage in his many works. fascinated by military life, he published his Departmental Ditties in 1886 after which he returned to England, for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Kipling is known for his children's book which became classics. At the outbreak of he Great War, Kipling ceaselessly expressed his patriotism.
His only son John ( Known as Jack ) not called for military service because of ill health, entered service with the Irish Guards with the help of his father, when a commission was obtained for him. Jack was killed in 1915 at the Battle of Loos. Rudyard Kipling tragically for many years searched the battlefield for his sons body, wrecked by grief and guilt for obtaining through influence his sons commisiion.His sons body was never found in Kiplings life time. Kipling worked for the Imperial War Graves Commission established in 1917 as Literary Advisor. His most significant contribution to the commission was his selection of the biblical phrase ' Their Name Liveth For Evermore ' which can be seen in all British Commonwealth war grave cemetaries. In 1923 on request from the Irish Guards he wrote a comprehensive history of the regiment during the First World War.
belts
There was a row in Silver Street that's near to
Dublin Quay,
Between an Irish regiment an ' English cavalree;
It started at Revelly an' it lasted on till dark:
The first man dropped at Harrison's, the last forninst
the park.
For it was :- ' Belts, belts, belts, an' that's
one for you! '
An' it was ' Belts. belts, belts, an that's done
for you! '
Oh buckle an' tongue
Was the song that we sung
From Harrison's down to the park!
There was a row in Silver Street - the regiments
was out,
They called us ' Delhi Rebels, ' and we answered
' Threes about '
That drew them like a hornet's nest - we met them
good an' large,
The English at the double an the Irish at the
charge.
There it was:-' Belts. . .
There was a row in Silver Street - an' I was in it
too;
We passed the time o' day, an' then the belts went
whirrau!
I misremeber what occurred, but subsequint the
storm
A Freeman's Journal Supplemint was all my uniform.
O it was:-' Belts. . .
There was a row in Silver Street - they sent the
Polis there,
The English were too drunk to know, the Irish
didn't care;
But when they grew impertinint we simultaneous
rose,
Till half o' them was Liffey mud an' half was
tathered clo'es
For it was:-' Belts. . .
There was a row in Silver Street - it might ha'
raged till now,
But some one drew his side-arm clear, an nobody
knew how;
" Twas Hogan took the point an' dropped; we saw
the red blood run:
An' so we all was murderers that started out in fun
While it was:-' Belts. . .
There was a row in Silver Street - that put down
the shine,
Wid each man whisperin' to his next: ' Twas never work o' mine! '
We went away like beaten dogs, an' down the street
we bore him,
The poor dumb corpse that couldn't tell the bhoys
were sorry for him
When it was:-' Belts. .
There was a row in Silver Street - it isn't over
yet,
For half of us are under guard wid punishments to
get;
" Tis a merricle to me as in the Clink i lie:
There was a row in Silver Street - begod, I wonder
why!
But it was:-' Belts, belts. belts, an' that's
one for you! '
An' it was ' Belts, belts, belts, an' thats done
for you!
O buckle an' tongue
Was the song that we sung
From Harrison's down to the park!
Dublin Quay,
Between an Irish regiment an ' English cavalree;
It started at Revelly an' it lasted on till dark:
The first man dropped at Harrison's, the last forninst
the park.
For it was :- ' Belts, belts, belts, an' that's
one for you! '
An' it was ' Belts. belts, belts, an that's done
for you! '
Oh buckle an' tongue
Was the song that we sung
From Harrison's down to the park!
There was a row in Silver Street - the regiments
was out,
They called us ' Delhi Rebels, ' and we answered
' Threes about '
That drew them like a hornet's nest - we met them
good an' large,
The English at the double an the Irish at the
charge.
There it was:-' Belts. . .
There was a row in Silver Street - an' I was in it
too;
We passed the time o' day, an' then the belts went
whirrau!
I misremeber what occurred, but subsequint the
storm
A Freeman's Journal Supplemint was all my uniform.
O it was:-' Belts. . .
There was a row in Silver Street - they sent the
Polis there,
The English were too drunk to know, the Irish
didn't care;
But when they grew impertinint we simultaneous
rose,
Till half o' them was Liffey mud an' half was
tathered clo'es
For it was:-' Belts. . .
There was a row in Silver Street - it might ha'
raged till now,
But some one drew his side-arm clear, an nobody
knew how;
" Twas Hogan took the point an' dropped; we saw
the red blood run:
An' so we all was murderers that started out in fun
While it was:-' Belts. . .
There was a row in Silver Street - that put down
the shine,
Wid each man whisperin' to his next: ' Twas never work o' mine! '
We went away like beaten dogs, an' down the street
we bore him,
The poor dumb corpse that couldn't tell the bhoys
were sorry for him
When it was:-' Belts. .
There was a row in Silver Street - it isn't over
yet,
For half of us are under guard wid punishments to
get;
" Tis a merricle to me as in the Clink i lie:
There was a row in Silver Street - begod, I wonder
why!
But it was:-' Belts, belts. belts, an' that's
one for you! '
An' it was ' Belts, belts, belts, an' thats done
for you!
O buckle an' tongue
Was the song that we sung
From Harrison's down to the park!
Background picture, how the Victorians saw the ' Drunken Fighting ' Irish.
