Britain's Call

The following beautiful little patriotic poem was composed by Frederick herendeen, of Chicago, son of Charles Herendeen, of the Charles Herendeen Milling Co., who spent his boyhood days and reached manhood in Aylmer. The poem was sent to the St Thomas Times by a friend of publication:

The Englishmen speed homeward to the

call,

Nor business cares, nor sweetheart’s

arms, nor all

Can keep them from their Motherland

in need.

For ‘duty first' has always been their

creed.

Their Motherland in need, that cry

enough

What matter if the road be long and

rough,

And what though death lurks certain at

the end,

Their Motherland has called, they must

defend.

From California’s coast to China’s shore

From Iceland’s frosty ring, they flock

to war,

No land too wild, no sea too rough to

face,

For England needs her children in their

place.

From Canada and India they

come,

From stately mansions, from the lowest

slum,

For Britain’s glory and the Union Jack.

And when the war is over, though the

cost

Be frightful, though Britannia mourn

Her lost,

She can at least raise up her head again

And say, ‘I thank Thee, God, my sons

are men.’

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Published December 11, 1914 in the 

Aylmer Express Newspaper

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