CANADA'S 1st LINE SAVIOURS
The Soldiers

The soldiers sat in the back of the truck
Two days rats and spare socks in a ruck
We had no rifles just shovels and picks
digging fire breaks we had to work quick

The whole battalion, six hundred of us
Went up to the site by truck or by bus
Alberta was burning the General told us
As officers dismounted down from the bus

We dug all day until the change of the wind
Our coveralls tore and our boots they got singed
We hit the water and followed the creek
blanket rolls at the church, was where we would sleep

they gave us new boots and new coveralls too
and back to the fire-line we marched two by two
at the end of the week the down pours they came
saving thousands of trees - thank God for the rain!

We packed up our picks and our shovels too
And back to Calgary went the fire crew
Prison breaks, floods, ice storms or fire
Canada's troops are not just guns for hire!

©Copyright 26 December 2003 by William H.A. Willbond MSM, CD

• rats: hard rations (canned and/or dried meals, ready to eat)
• ruck: large pack or rucksack