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Saturday 6 May 1916 - Salonica Poem by Ernest Pillinger

Category World War I: News of men at the Front
Publication
The Evesham Journal
Transcription of article

SALONIQUE

“EEP” of Badsey – better known we believe in that district as Ernest – sends us the following verses from Salonica, where he says, he and his comrades are quite happy and smiling:

There’s a little place out East called Salonique,

Where they’re sending British Tommies every week

When you view it from the sea

It’s a fine sight I’ll agree

And you think you’ll have a spree at Salonique.

When you’re dumped upon the quay at Salonique,

And the smell that meets you there seems to speak.

You begin to feel quite glum,

And to wish you had not come,

For there’s every kind of “hum” at Salonique.

There are nations not a few at Salonique,

But at present it belongs to Mr Greek.

He’s a wily sort of guy.

Doesn’t want to fight. For why?

Perhaps he’s like the Yankees – shy so to speak.

The languages you hear at Salonique

Are as many as the hours in a week;

And if Tommy only knew

Just the swear words of a few

The air would soon turn blue at Salonique.

There are lots of little camps round Salonique,

Filled with French and British Tommies hard as teak

And the Kaiser and his pack

Will find when we attack

There’s a nut he cannot crack at Salonique.

Just a word or two in closing, Mr Greek;

You have treated us as guests at Salonique;

And if you regret we came

And our vires are not the same

Well! It isn’t you to blame, Mr Greek.

If you want to stay a neutral mild & meek,

That is your affair, not ours, Mr Greek;

But whatever you’re about

We know you’ll help to shout

When we’ve wiped the Germans at Salonique.