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| Murray Fraser with a fellow LAC (Leading Aircraftman), St. Thomas, Ontario, 1941 |
Three Cheers for the Man on the Ground
Wherever you walk, you will hear people talk,
Of the men who go up in the air,
Of the dare-devil way they go into the fray;
Facing death without turning a hair.
They'll raise a big cheer and buy lots of beer,
For a pilot who's home on leave.
But they don't give a jigger
For the flight mech or rigger
With nothing but "props" on his sleeve.
They just say "nice day" and then turn away,
With never a mention of praise.
And the poor bloody erk who does all the work,
Just orders his own beer,
And pays!
They've never been told of the hours in the cold,
That he spends sealing Germany's fate.
How he works on a kite, till all hours of the night,
And then turns up next morning at eight.
He gets no rake-off for working till "take-off,"
Or helping the aircrew prepare.
But whenever there's trouble, it's "quick, on the double,"
The man on the ground must be there.
Each flying crew could tell it to you,
They know what this man's really worth.
They know he's a part of the RAAF's heart,
Although he stays close to the earth.
He doesn't want glory, but please tell his story,
Spread a little of his fame around.
He's one of a few, so give him his due,
Three cheers for the man on the ground.
Source: Royal Australian Air Force,
http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/4270/letters.htm
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| "Knobby" Clark and Murray Fraser, Britain, 1945 |
