A FAMILY TRADITION

I joined the Queen's Own Rifles when I was just a boy
Leaving Ottawa behind me, on to Calgary I'd deploy
'Twas my first soldiering adventure, riding four days on a train
Amazement at the vastness of the wheat fields and the plains

I saw the distant Rockies as I stepped down off the train
I could see the snow capped beauty, they were 50 miles away
Then I traveled to the Depot where a soldier I would be
where I learned about the Regiment, the QOR of C

Great Grandpa was a Rifleman, and Grandpa was one too
Our family fought in the Crimea and we served at Waterloo
In India during the Mutiny and in China at Fort Taku
Great Gramps, a Sergeant in the Buffs, safely he came through

It was an ancient family tradition to be a uniformed Rifleman
Serving Queen and Country and protecting the home land
Then our battalion went to Germany so far across the sea
I went to places where my Dad served with the Infantry

Grandpa William Willbond, 2nd Battalion - Royal Irish Rifle Regiment
Fought in India and Afghanistan, where his youth was spent
My dad, William Henry Willbond, was with the Ottawa GGFG
Suffered wounds in action, then came home to mom and me

I am William Henry Albert Willbond, of the QOR of C
from a Rifle Regiment family - sixth generation Infantry
When they disbanded my Rifle Regiment I asked the question why?
They just gave me a badge, and I ended up, in the P.P.C.L.I.!

The Patricia's are a wonderful bunch and I was a very proud, proud guy
To serve out my days in the Pickley Ways of the PPCLI
They disbanded my AIRBORNE Regiment and the QOR of C
Farewell thoughts of my Rifle Regiment, and the AIRBORNE Infantry!

QOR of C: Queens Own Rifles of Canada
Buffs: Royal East Kent Regiment
GGFG: Governor General's Foot Guards
PPCLI: Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

A FAMILY TRADITION

©Copyright January 17, 2005 by William H.A. Willbond MSM, CD