Rudyard Kipling and Afghanistan: The Young British Soldier

Brandon : Canada | Sep 11, 2009 at 6:41 PM PDT

By northsunm32

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The British fought two bloody wars in Afghanistan in the 19th century 1838-1842 and 1878-1880. Rudyard Kipling who supported British Imperialism wrote a poem about war in Afghanistan titled "The Young British Soldier"" as with the Soviets much later the British were eventually driven out by they are back now helping the US under NATO auspices as are other nations such as France, Germany, and Canada. Kipling is perhaps best known for his Jungle Book and children's stories but he wrote many poems. The whole poem can be read here. This is just the last two stanzas:

If your officer's dead and the sergeants look white,
Remember it's ruin to run from a fight:
So take open order, lie down, and sit tight,
And wait for supports like a soldier.
Wait, wait, wait like a soldier . . .

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
So-oldier ~of~ the Queen!

northsunm32 is based in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, and is an Anchor for Allvoices.

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