Written for the Higher Walton Lads.

For England’s Freedom. Written for the Higher Walton Lads.

FOR ENGLAND’S FREEDOM.
Written by request, and sold in aid of Comforts for the Higher Walton Lads.
We often think of the days gone by, those happy days of yore, The bright and happy times we spent, before this awful war, When all our hearts were free from care, when peace with us did reign, Oh! how we wish and how we long for the good old days again.

In 1914, on August 4, the day we all remember, And the Kaiser’s boast that he would be in England by September; And the lads of Higher Walton, with valiant heart and true, With England’s noble sons did go, to fight for home and you.

Who can explain those last goodbyes, when loved ones had to part, Now these same lads their duty duty do, with brave unflinching heart Round Belgium’s shattered homesteads, in countries o’er the sea, They suffer hardships, risk their lives, to keep the homeland free.

And oft when the foe is fierce and strong, and oft when death seems nigh. A vision of the homeland comes straight before the eye; The dear familiar homestead, a dear and grey-haired mother Or perhaps a wife he left behind, or a father, sister, brother,

Or perhaps it may be the dear old Church he attended since a boy. Or the dear familiar Sunday School, which has been his pride and joy, Or perhaps a kind old vicar, whose strong and guiding hand Had given him strength and courage to make a noble stand.

Yes, some of these lads have fallen in a strange and distant land, No loved ones near to say goodbye, no mother near at hand To kiss her dying son farewell, to hear his yearning cry Oh mother! mother! ere his soul did speed beyond the sky.

Dear friends, we now do realise, the sorrow war has brought, And for the lads who do their best let’s help them as we ought, God grant the victory to our arms, protect these lads so true, And bring them soon if it be His will, to their homes and friends and you.

May 16, 1916.

M. WILDING.
Walton-le-Dale.

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