Bluey, Jack and me

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the British surrender of Singapore when approximately 130,000 allied troops became prisoners of the Japanese Army.

Of that number, 17,000 were Australians, mainly from the Eighth Division AIF.

A further 3500 Australians were taken prisoner during the war in the Pacific.

Nearly 8000 of those captured died, were murdered or killed, while suffering years of unimaginable hardship, starvation, torture and degradation at the hands of their captors.

Many more died soon after returning home.

However, never had the world seen a finer example of that inherent, almost indefinable something that makes all true Australians unique.

That special something we call mateship.

One bit me for the makings, the other needed a light,

that was how I met these blokes, if memory serves me right

and though the years have flown away I never will forget

the mates I made that day over a lousy cigarette,

because then we boarded a ship leaving Circular Quay

and sailing off to fight the war went Bluey, Jack and me.

It was less than thirty years since our fathers earned their fame

and every man amongst us swore we'd uphold that name,

for while our cobbers were serving almost every where

we were going to be the mob to stop the japs "Up There".

As part of the Eighth Division went "The Dreadful Three"

yes, that was what they called us then Bluey, Jack and me.

Now history shows there was something wrong with our leader's plan

and how most of us became the prisoner's of Japan.

For years we stuck together determined we would live

giving to one another all we had that we could give,

that was not unusual and looking back it's plain to see

dinkum mateship saved the lives of Bluey, Jack and me.

You can talk about your pals and chums even comrades too

but you never saw the likes of the friendship that we knew.

The other blokes in the camp who came from a different land

used to think we were brothers they could not understand:

mateship built Australia, it is how we are born to be,

then they had never seen mates like us, Bluey, Jack and me.

We cared for one another sharing our scraps of bread,

I still remember Bluey bathing my fevered head

and how those crazy skeletons saved my worthless hide

by doing my share of work - if you couldn't work you died.

Jack declared, "There'll be none of that for The Dreadful Three!"

That was how we lived for years, Bluey, Jack and me.

So we battled on together through torment, pain and hell,

surviving in a manner simple words could never tell

till at last the war was won and on that glorious day

I recall how those who freed us turned their heads away;

they could not bear to look at, no they couldn't bear to see,

the almost dead who greeted them with Bluey, Jack and me.

Now I'm searching in my heart for the words I'd like to say,

while Bluey marched on years ago we're burying Jack today,

but as I see that soldier raise the bugle to his lip

I have to quickly close my eyes and seek a firmer grip

because between their graves there's a plot reserved for me,

and I know it wont be long before once again we're three.

While I'm sure they wait in heaven, if perchance they've gone below,

mate that makes no difference because where they've gone I'll go!

Though I trust The Lord in his wisdom will readily agree

mates like us should stay together throughout eternity

and He would never separate the famous 'Dreadful Three'

'cause I reckon we might have earned our keep - Bluey, Jack and me.

Email, 1 Apr 2012

Vic Jefferies, St Huberts Island