<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">A Song in Praise of the Army Service Corps</h1><h1 align="" class="head"><em>Tune</em>--" The Minstrel Boy to the War has gone "</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">THE A.S.C. to the war have gone,</p><p class="line">At the base at Havre you will find them,</p><p class="line">Their shining spurs they have girded on,</p><p class="line">But they left their bayonets behind them.</p><p class="line">" What's the sense," cried the A.S.C.,</p><p class="line">" Of taking to France the damn things?</p><p class="line">Their only use, it seems to me,</p><p class="line">Is to open the infantry's jam-tins."</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The A.S.C. were driving by</p><p class="line">When a German shell came over.</p><p class="line">At once, determined to do or die,</p><p class="line">They one and all took cover.</p><p class="line">Their letters home made much of that shell,</p><p class="line">And the guns that the Huns turned on them,</p><p class="line">They did not mention that the pip-squeak fell</p><p class="line">At least a mile beyon' them.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Then thank the Lord for the A.S.C.,</p><p class="line">The pride and joy of the nation,</p><p class="line">Who bring our bacon and jam and tea,</p><p class="line">And our Maconochie ration.</p><p class="line">Here's good luck to the A.S.C.,</p><p class="line">Though if they'd never come, boys,</p><p class="line">I bet we'd all get strawberry,</p><p class="line">Instead of apple and plum, boys.</p></div></body></html> · Great War