I'd like to share this.
Written by Archie Menzies, a British Soldier who served with the Royal Engineers from 1939-46.
CASUALTIES WERE LIGHT
Our attack was most successful,
We landed during the night,
Opposition met was feeble,
Our casualties were light.
Such is the kind of news we hear,
In broadcasts on the air,
The news announcer reads the words,
Without the slightest care.
But that attack included one,
Who perished in the fight,
Included was this soldier in
"Our casualties were light".
It happened as he stormed a post,
That held up our advance,
He died so that the main attack,
Would stand a better chance.
"Killed in Action", was the verdict,
His number, name and rank,
Are carved upon a wooden cross,
Beside a river bank. Laurence Binyon
His wife received a telegram,
Commencing "We regret",
And 'ere she finished reading it,
Her eyes with tears were wet.
Her husband gone, her future too,
Alone she has to fight
The world, yet she was told
"Our casualties were light".
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)