To the soldiers who made the stand at Dunkirk
They died those men from the British Isles
on the battle-torn beach of Dunkirk.
Bereft of cover, food and sleep,
with foe in front and backs to sea.
Their stand was made ever gloriously.
Amidst gory sand such valiants fell.
No dirge nor bugle to sound farewell.
Yet right was earned by all to dwell, in that Valhalla!
Refuge for all brave men.
Written by Patrick E. Sinnott
a soldier of the regiment of South Lancs.
fought at Dunkirk, Normandy/France, Belgium, Holland, Germany during WW2.
He survived and continued his post-war military career with the RASC/RCT
until retirement. Died 13/03/1994
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Laurence Binyon 1914
This reunion happened on 3 November 2010 in the middle of the Southern Indian Ocean and it stretched out over several days. Never would I have thought that we would meet again some 9,000 miles (14,480 kilometres) from where we were first thrown together. The place a beautiful island called Mauritius.