<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">In Memoriam: <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/><span class="smallcaps">Flight-Sub-Lieutenant Warnerford, V.C.</span></h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">O'ER Southern seas the Homeland message speeds</p><p class="line">To one of Briton brood and Indian birth-</p><p class="line">Child of the mystic sun and throbbing earth,</p><p class="line">Who holds rich revel in adventurous deeds!</p><p class="line">Mid spray and foam his spirit waxes strong;</p><p class="line">Till, fired by Duty's clarion peal on high, </p><p class="line">He dares with Daedal wing to mount the sky,</p><p class="line">And shoal the aerial element along;</p><p class="line">Zealous in act ; courageous for the fray,</p><p class="line">While glory points the steep abysmal way -!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">For Man had winnowed from the fan of Time</p><p class="line">The boon of Flight to vault the dizzy stars</p><p class="line">To yoke the winds, and-urged by forceful Mars</p><p class="line">Scale the vast heavens in endless upward climb:</p><p class="line">And lo ! with ireful tears Britannia saw </p><p class="line">Prussia's gaunt Vampire lap the infant blood, </p><p class="line">And mock the sanctity of Womanhood</p><p class="line">Blighting with licence Truth's supernal law:</p><p class="line">The Trident shook, and from the farthest main</p><p class="line">Loomed Empire-sons to venge the victims slain!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Earth, Air, and Ocean, vied in service true </p><p class="line">While justice pleaded mid the baneful strife </p><p class="line">Then rose the world, with grim battalions rife </p><p class="line">And Warneford in the vanguard proudly flew ! </p><p class="line">Bold was his conquest ; deathless is the </p><p class="line">Of how in azure field he smote the foe, </p><p class="line">And hurled the haughty reptile far below </p><p class="line">Down to the fiends-foul-writhing in its shame </p><p class="line">Blind as a meteor, burst upon the night, </p><p class="line">When lost in gloom it dips its fiery flight!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But Fate grew envious of a peerless deed</p><p class="line">Outvaunting Jove armed with the lightning brand</p><p class="line">"Shall dareful fledging thus with puny hand</p><p class="line">Challenge the ancient might to gods decreed?</p><p class="line">Time heard, perturbed, and sealed an early doom</p><p class="line"> Ere Youth full-blossomed to the sunny skies!</p><p class="line">Desist, false Time !---Deeds flout thy centuries</p><p class="line">Fame smiles undying o'erthe hero's tomb </p><p class="line">And nobly as he gave his mortal breath,</p><p class="line">The laurelled Warneford conquers Time and Death!</p></div><p class="byline">Frederic Iriving Taylor.</p></body></html> · Great War