Poem on the promotion of Francis Xavier Andrews
October 1916. Typewritten, found in a copy of 'Poems of the Great War' published in London in 1914
F.X.A.,
Drake Battalion, R.N.D.
B.E.F.
October, 1916
'He's enlarged his metal helmet,
Takes a bigger size in hats,
Scorns to sleep in foetid cellars
Does not now adopt stray cats.
No! he's walking with the brass hats,
Yes, hobnobbing with the brass hats,
Takes the air now with the brass hats,
Just as Drake would, were he here.
Do not criticise his raiment,
There are rents, not small nor few,
See where gaily sprout the whiskers,
Note the collar, far from new!
But it's what the field affords him,
Quite the best the field affords him,
Only these the field affords him,
As 'twould Drake were he but here.
Named as Drake was in the past days,
Clad in khaki now, not blue,
Fighting still beneath Drake's banner,
Gaily "seeing England through":
Clink the glasses, shout "to Francis",
Our best wishes are for Francis,
All our love goes out to Francis,
Drake's descendant, Drake d'you hear?
Sleeping somewhere, does your spirit
Brood above these sons of yours?
Do your fingers hang suspended
O'er the drum you beat of yore?
Drake arise and give the signal,
Wake once more and give the signal,
Beat the wild and mighty signal,
Drake they're waiting! Drake d'you hear?
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Thanks to Charles Cox for finding it and to Roy Swales of the Fleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset, BA22 8HT for identifying FXA as Francis Xavier Andrews, RNVR. Originally Drake Battalion, he was for some months 1917-1918 Staff Captain of 189 Brigade of 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. He was severely wounded in the German assault on 25 March 1918 and spent several months in hospital, losing his right leg. He started as a Temporary Sub Lieutenant and ended as a Temporary Lieutenant Commander RNVR.
The poem is obviously a 'roast' read at the mess party given on his promotion. Could it be based on the popular poem "Drake's Drum" by Sir Charles V Stanford who wrote it in 1904? Listen to it as sung by Peter Dawson