The first being as I expected it to be. This book was originally going to be tilted `Heroes` and was changed by Dan Collins at the insistence of the contributors who genuinely do not see themselves as Heroes when in reality that is exactly what they are. Someone always has to get the medals and the mentions in dispatches and a true soldier that has fought for his life with the best human beings he will ever meet will always feel a sense of unworthiness do to his professionalism and knowing that the man next to him will always be watching his back and would never leave him alone on the battlefield dead or alive . That is why once having served in a War zone the men around you are truly `Brothers-in Arms` in every sense. Having a personal interest in military matters I knew about a great deal of the events that had occurred in Iraq & Afghanistan but for the vast majority of the British public this book would be a true eye opener I highly recommend it and wont spoil any of the particular stories of amazing gallantry and Heroism of the highest order of the British armed forces. Sniper One just totally blew me away from page one to the last, I read all 350 pages in two days and was disappointed only because I had finished the book. I can confidently say that this is the best military book that I have ever read to date, there is no doubt that the sometimes colourful language is written by a Squaddy that Squaddy being Sniper Sgt Dan Collins. As was literally ducking behind my sun bed at times whilst imagining the ferocity of the fighting that Dan and his colleagues with the 1st Battalion The Princess Of Wales had to endure in the murderous dusty oven of the then relatively unheard of town of Al Amarah. Its no exaggeration to say that they were literally fighting for their lives at times and this is reflected in the readers need to flick to the next page and see if they made it. For there not to have been many more casualties in the combat is totally unbelievable due to the fact that it is true and not some fictional Chris Ryan or Andy McNab book. There is one really funny part in the book, that’s how British soldiers get through every day as well as the odd porno mag, by ripping the piss out of each other, as I have discovered civilians just don’t get it and take it very personally when in the forces it goes with the territory and you just have to have a quicker wit and a sicker sense of humour. One of the lads found time in a lull in the fighting to join a dating site on the internet and literally fell in love with the girl of his dreams and even arranged to meet her on leave, he relished showing his mates photos of her who was a well known celebrity his mates had copied from a lads mag. His on going love affair had been with own mates and the lad was truly gutted when he found out, not to say a little embarrassed as he had told them all about his sexual preferences . I would imagine this guy will be traumatised by this and not the fighting for the rest of his life. I bust out laughing and got some funny looks from some German holiday makers when I read this part.
After deleting the hundreds of junk mails from African bank managers offering me millions of dollars I sifted through them careful not to delete a genuine one. Luckily I managed to read one from a French TV company that would like to make a documentary about modern day poets, they said my writing reminded them of the great Wilfred Owen which is extremely flattering, I admit I have a very long way to go to be mentioned with the greats like that, however there can be only one Wilfred Own and there can be only one Tony McNally the passage of time dictates this, a poet can only write from his of her own heart and should never try to emulate any one else as this would be detrimental to your own work.
Here is a couple of poems I wrote whilst on holiday to the amazement of my partner who wondered why I hadn’t wrote anything happier , she may have a point?
Bayonets
Stillness calm and peace envelopes the misty valley
A thousand young bodies lay strewn like a bloody jigsaw puzzle
So many broken bayonets
Blooded they have made there mark
Wolves are feeding well today
Howling at the moon
Licking the broken bayonets
Statistics
The sun switches off in Iraq tonight
Load up your weapons
Were in for a fight
The sun rises slowly in London today
Corrupt politicians feast drink and lie for their pay
“Contact wait out” screams over the net
RPG`S and rockets a deadly constant threat
Bullets hit young Smith ripping away his right shoulder
In London an MP has lost his white folder
“Pairs fire and manoeuvre” The British advance
SA80 rounds make the enemy dance
They reach young Smith his pulse is week
His zap number is sent
Chances are bleak
In London the minister lights up his cigar
Saunters of to the comfort of his 24 hour bar
Young Smith dies in Basra
19 years never older
In London there is joy
They have found the white folder.
© Mack (RG) The thoughts of a Falklands War Veteran.
Rogue_gunner_32_alpha@yahoo.co.uk
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Great poems, loved "Statistics", what did she think 'happy' had to do with poetry or any creativity? Will look in to the books.
ReplyDeleteI keep coming back to your page because my brother also fought in the Falklands (RN). He, like your friends, also died before his time but from Motor Neurone Disease at an ungodly age. I wish you and your brothers-in-arms strength and peace. As an aside, the public don't always sit on the sofa watching soaps. They do, once in a while, get riled and, I know it's a cliche, the worm will turn. Everything passes and we shall make our voice heard.
ReplyDeleteIm sorry about your brother, after going back to the Falklands this year I can tell you that his part in the liberation of those Islands was worth it when you see those men woman and children living in peace,
ReplyDeleteMack.