In Memory of.....

[Syd Valentine]

Beach Burial

Softly and humbly to the Gulf of Arabs
The convoys of dead sailors come;
At night they sway and wander in the waters far under,
But morning rolls them in the foam.

Between the sob and clubbing of gunfire
Someone, it seems, has time for this,
To pluck them from the shallows and bury them in burrows
And tread the sand upon their nakedness;

And each cross, the driven stake of tidewood,
Bears the last signature of men,
Written with such perplexity, with such bewildered pity,
The words choke as they begin -

"Unknown seaman" - the ghostly pencil
Wavers and fades, the purple drips,
The breath of wet season has washed their inscriptions
As blue as drowned men's lips,

Dead seamen, gone in search of the same landfall,
Whether as ememies they fought,
Or fought with us, or neither; the sand joins them together,
Enlisted on the other front.

Kenneth Slessor

July 4, 1945

Dear Judy:-

How is my best girl today? Here it is darling, another 4th of July without you, may it be the last next year we be together for keeps. I've had the day off today and all I've done so far is stare out of the window, its a bad day, not raining but looking like at any moment it will. Golly if I were home on the 4th, I'd either spend my time at a ball game or going to a picnic with you with me.

Well that is another thing, I'll have to make up for. Tonight I am going to the Albert Hall in Hesington Bob hope and his Hollywood troupe is going to be there. I imagine this is his only appearance in London as he is heading towards Germany and France. He is my favorite comedian so I am looking forward to seeing his show. Well darling, I'm afraid I'll have to close for now. Take care of yourself. I love you very much and am looking forward to seeing you soon.

Love and Kisses,
George