2015 marks the Centenary of the ill fated allied invasion of Gallipoli in which almost 600,000 Allies and Turkish soldiers were killed. Included in the British Forces were the men who formed 1/6th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. These men were drawn mainly from Bury, Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale, Todmorden and what is today Greater Manchester. It is to the memory of the men of both sides and the recognition of their sacrifice this blog and the Reading The Century events have been facilitated by the Rochdale Co-operative Members Volunteer Group.
Local Area Roll of Honour

'Ave I Got a Blighty Wound?

‘Ave I got a Blighty wound. Can you send me ‘ome?
I think it is Blighty wound; I’ve not the strength to roam.
Me pins won’t now support me,
an me toes are black and blue,
I know at least one’s missin’
there’s a big black toenail too.

Oh tell ‘em it’s a Blightly wound so they can send me ‘ome,
and I can see mi ma and pa an’ my old dog, Jerome.
I want to see ‘is languid eyes,
an smell ‘is musty fur.
Just tell ’em I can’t cope no more,
I cannot go… out there.

Please God make it a Blighty wound, so they will send me off,
back to mi town in Lanky and the smoke that meks ya cough.
Mi ‘eart just wants to be there,
and to see the mill and pit,
to be back ‘ome where I belong,
not ‘ere where life is…  

© Andrea Sarginson
April 2015
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