Near Martinpuich that night of hell br Two men were struck by the same shell, br Together tumbling in one heap br Senseless and limp like slaughtered sheep. br br One was a pale eighteen-year-old, br Blue-eyed and thin and not too bold, br Pressed for the war not ten years too soon, br The shame and pity of his platoon. br br The other came from far-off lands br With bristling chin and whiskered hands, br He had known death and hell before br In Mexico and Ecuador. br br Yet in his death this cut-throat wild br Groaned 'Mother! Mother!' like a child, br While the poor innocent in man's clothes br Died cursing God with brutal oaths. br br Old Sergeant Smith, kindest of men, br Wrote out two copies and then br Of his accustomed funeral speech br To cheer the womanfolk of each:- br br br 'He died a hero's death: and we br His comrades of 'A' Company br Deeply regret his death: we shall br All deeply miss so true a pal.