In a South Devon church

There is a memorial

Remembering

William Bastard

A soldier of the Great War

Who died at Ypres in October 1914

Aged just twenty-three

I feel the sadness of his parents

Who lost their beloved son

Before he had even matured

I have very little time for the leaders

Of this terrible period

They were so careless with life

In the chaos of war

Another son another brother

Another husband another father

They cared but did not really care

A bigger picture on a blank canvas

There are so many memorials

Such as this one in churches countrywide

Names on blind stone gradually being forgotten

Brave soldiers led by fools for no earthly reward