Here's a poem written by a contributor to my site, Bruce Keattch, who also had a father serving in Stirlings. I've reproduced the poem at his request that it be displayed on this site. I'm happy to do so as it seems to reflect so many personal tribute websites that I have visited.

DAD

MY FATHER WAS MY ONE TRUE FRIEND,
HE STAYED THAT WAY RIGHT UP TILL THE END,
HE'S LEFT ME NOW, WHEN I NEED HIM THE MOST,
HE'S JOINED THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY GHOST.

I SEARCH LIKE MAD TO FIND HIS PAST,
I WANTED HIS MEMORY TO LAST.
HE FOUGHT THE NAZI'S LIKE MANY MORE,
TO SAVE US IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

I TRY TO FIND WHAT HE HAS DONE,
THE LACK OF SUCCESS IS NOT MUCH FUN,
I SEARCH IN VAIN ON MANY A SITE,
BUT I PROMISE HIM THIS; I'LL CONTINUE MY FIGHT.

TO GIVE HIM TRUE PRAISE OF WHAT HE DID DO,
THIS SEARCH MUST NOT END AND MUST CONTINUE,
THE HELP I DO GET I GRATEFULLY RECEIVE,
ESPECIALLY FROM THOSE WHO STILL GRIEVE.

THEY WERE THE MANY, NOT THE FAMOUS FEW,
THEY DID WHAT THEY DID, SO WE CAN DO WHAT WE DO,
I STILL LOVE HIM AND MISS HIM,
SO ONWARD I GO WITH MY VITAL MISSION.

I LOOK AT THE FACT HE'S NO LONGER IN PAIN,
SO THIS QUEST WILL CONTINUE, EVEN IF VAIN.
I OWE HIM SO MUCH, THIS QUIET MAN OF PEACE,
WHO BATTLED WITH OTHERS SO WARS WOULD CEASE.

SO WHAT HAVE WE LEARNT FROM THESE HEROES OF THEN,
POLITICIANS ARE STILL TRYING TO KILL OUR MEN.
WHO'S SIDE ARE THEY ON? I HEAR YOU WONDER,
THEIR OWN, THEY DO IT FOR GLORY AND THUNDER.

"YES, LOOK AT THEM PEOPLE SO BRAVE AND SO STRONG,
STICK WITH ME AND WE WONT GO WRONG.
SO WHEN THE BULLETS GO FLYING AT THE LINES,
WHERE WILL YOU FIND THEM? HIDING IN MINES.

SO NEXT WHEN THEY RALLY "LET'S BEGIN THIS DAMN STUNT!
" SAY "YES YOU CAN LEAD, THIS TIME AT THE FRONT!"
THE FIRST TO GET SHOT WILL BE THE MAN IN THE LEAD,
AND PERHAPS ALL THE OTHERS WILL THEN TAKE HEED.

AND SO TO MY FATHER, I SAY "SORRY DAD"
NO-ONE LISTENED AND THAT MAKES ME SAD,
MY FATHER, MY MENTOR, MY ONE TRUE FRIEND,
WHO STAYED LIKE THAT ALWAYS RIGHT UP TILL THE END.

Copyright. B keattch. 2002