<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">A Battle-Song</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Sons</span> of Britain, old in fame,</p><p class="line">Heirs of an immortal name,</p><p class="line">Strike, because the danger's near,</p><p class="line">Strike for all ye hold most dear;</p><p class="line">Plunged in combat, whelmed with strife,</p><p class="line">Strike for liberty and life!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Sons of Britain, ye know well</p><p class="line">How the clarion trumpets swell</p><p class="line">When, like some tempestuous star,</p><p class="line">Flares the oriflamme of war!</p><p class="line">If it summon you to strife</p><p class="line">Strike for liberty and life!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Will ye bear the Teuton heel</p><p class="line">Crushing down your Commonweal?</p><p class="line">Will ye not avenge the wrong</p><p class="line">Europe hath endured so long?</p><p class="line">Stay the tyranny and strife,</p><p class="line">Strike for liberty and life?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Hark! they mutter in their sleep,</p><p class="line">All those heroes of the deep --</p><p class="line">Nelson, Rodney, Hawkins, Drake,</p><p class="line">All who fought for Britain's sake,</p><p class="line">Fought and died that such as we</p><p class="line">Might strike for life and liberty!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Ye, who answer Honour's call</p><p class="line">To strive, to conquer, or to fall --</p><p class="line">Ye who call yourselves the sons</p><p class="line">Of Marlboroughs and Wellingtons --</p><p class="line">Claim your heritage of strife,</p><p class="line">Strike for liberty and life.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Straining upwards to the light,</p><p class="line">Striving ever for the right,</p><p class="line">Sons of Britain, dauntless stand</p><p class="line">For God and King and Fatherland.</p><p class="line">Join the battle, face the strife,</p><p class="line">Strike for liberty and life!</p></div><p class="byline">W. L. COURTNEY</p><em>Daily Telegraph, August</em> 27, 1914</body></html> · Great War