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Infantry Training on Hipswell Moor

By CliffBowes

18 June 2007

Risedale Beck is a small stream that runs across Hipswell Moor, an army training ground, through Catterick Garrison and the village of Hipswell where I live, joining up with the River Swale a few hundred yards away. It rained heavily all Thursday and Friday last week flooding several areas around here and the small beck became a raging torrent.
A seventeen year old recruit, on exercise on Friday was carried away in the beck and his body was found downstream about 48 hours later.

He wanted to be a soldier.
One day perhaps wear stripes
On the camo suit he wore with pride.
Now he lies on a mortuary slab
Waiting at ease for that final ride.

Early to bed, early to rise
Off at dawn on exercise.
A beck to cross, it flows in spate.
A voice calls out, ‘Get across it lads’.
The youngsters didn’t wait.

Three of them stumbled,
Eager hands grabbed two.
But he was carried away in the spray.
Down the beck, under the flow,
Not found for over a day.

His pack was heavy
His uniform new.
Risedale Beck was running fast,
Cutting a channel, deep and wide,
Over Hipswell Moor so vast

Goodbye young soldier,
Rest with the heroes.
For you too were also brave.
But died in vain – to what intent?
A teenagers’ premature grave.

Reviews

Written by Fledermaus (3506 comments posted) 18th June 2007

Not less honourable than if he had died in battle. Perhaps more honourable even, for he died without blood on his hands, in combat with mother nature herself.
Over here the media are upset because the first Dutch soldier was killed in Afghanistan. What a surprise if you send those boys to war.... What did they expect, that they are on holiday, building sand castles?

A good poem. It has an interesting structure, but flows very well.

Written by Phil (7001 comments posted) 18th June 2007

Liked this Cliff. It had a folksy feel to it. A little too raw to sing in the local pubs just yet, but in a few years, who knows?

Phil

Written by maipenrai (784 comments posted) 19th June 2007

I read about this tragic event, sad to say a lot of soldiers have died whilst on exercise over the years.
a good write.
Bernie

Tragic waste!
Written by Talisker (1336 comments posted) 19th June 2007

Good read Cliff.

The pacifist in me screams - no more wars, no more armies, no more waste of young life

:sigh

Oli

Written by stevetroster (1601 comments posted) 19th June 2007

Enjoyed, if one can!

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