Long after the shadow of war is fled br And the last battle is fought br Men will remember the Little Ships br And the great things they wrought. br br We shall tell over with laughter and tears br The homely names they bore - br They, not meant for the baptism of fire br And the grim uses of war. br br Paddler, dinghy and sailing barge br br Eagle br and br Queen br and br Belle, br br And the humble Marthas of the ports br That have no name to tell. br br Let us remember them and their men br Who asked not fee nor fame, br But all they knew was a job to do, br And they spat on their palms and they came. br br They dared the hell of the shell-swept dunes, br The hell of the bomb-torn tide, br They cared not a damn if they sank or swam, br Nor yet if they lived or died. br br Home they came from that coast of death, br Each with her tale of men, br Stayed but to set them ashore - and so br Back to hell’s mouth again. . . . br br Therefore, while England’s cliffs shall stand, br And the Channel tides do roll, br Let us remember the Little Ships - br How on the Day of the Little Ships br They saved an army whole.