THE COLOURED DIGGERS MARCH

[Maureen Clifford]

THE COLOURED DIGGERS MARCH

They came together once again in the coloured diggers march.
No longer relegated to the back.
They proudly held their line and held their heads up high,
and together headed out on the attack.
They had never understood why, when they were prepared to die
and their blood flowed red, wherever it was spilled.
On Anzac Day put to the back, can't march with whites your skin is black.
Yet they had fought for our flag and many were killed..

They had fought on many fronts and they had fought in many wars.
Did it just as tough as their white digger mates.
They fought just as bravely and died just as bravely too
but returned to old injustices and hate.
No soldiers settlement blocks, were granted to these men.
No membership to local RSL.
And in Anzac day processions they were put right at the back.
Hardly a country treating heroes well.

They lie in unmarked graves, with no headstone on their tombs
and their names appear upon no memory wall.
The wars have ended they've returned once more to their country,
to communities where nothing has changed at all.
And some whilst fighting overseas, fighting for king and country
returned to find their children had been taken,
and the money that was paid to every Aussie fighting man
had been withheld from their families not forsaken.

Now again this year they proudly marched and took their rightful place.
The coloured diggers march has come to stay.
Harrys Pie and Peas Van down at Wooloomooloo
put on a feed to chase hunger away.
At long last we have had a Nations Sorry day
that has been long overdue I do perceive.
Two little words that meant so much to many such as these
should be just the start to heal the hurts we see.

For he had fought in every war from the Boer to Iraq
at Paaschendale, and Villiers in Vietnam's attack
and no one every said, you can't fight mate you are black
he was just a soldier with a gun who was watching his mates back.

Maureen Clifford © 2009