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