<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Lieut. John Richardson."<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/><span class="smallcaps">1893-1915<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/> Killed in Action</span></h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">THINE was no pedant's zeal: the Mother-tongue</p><p class="line">Taught thee high dictates of thy Fatherland, </p><p class="line">The call no patriot-heart can e'er withstand </p><p class="line">Tore thee from lays by ancient poets sung. </p><p class="line">Well didst thou learn the lore, to thee endear'd, </p><p class="line">Of that young warrior who with dragons fought </p><p class="line">And conquer'd-steadfast, selfless, unafear'd</p><p class="line">"Better is Death than Life with self-scorn fraught."</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Not less thy courage, though thy scholar-soul </p><p class="line">Illum'd thy trench with mystic runes-the hope </p><p class="line">That solac'd in his plight our oldest ScôÙp </p><p class="line">Whose song is wrought on Britain's golden scroll. </p><p class="line">No greater meed wouldst thou, no prouder fame: </p><p class="line">In "Albion's England" is enshrined thy name!</p></div><p class="byline">I. Gollancz.<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/> King's College, London</p>(The <em>Observer</em></body></html> · Great War