BLUEY JACK AND ME

[Vic Jefferies]

This year marks the seventieth anniversary of the fall of Singapore and in response to a request I received I thought I should post this:

With the British surrender of Singapore in February 1942, approximately one hundred and thirty thousand allied troops became prisoners of the Japanese Army. Seventeen thousand of that number were Australians, mainly from the 8th Division, A.I.F.
A further three and a half thousand Australians were taken prisoner during the war in the Pacific. Nearly eight thousand of those captured died, or were killed, while suffering years of unimaginable hardship, starvation, torture and degradation at the hands of their captors. Many more died soon after returning home.
However, never had the world seen a finer example of that inherent, almost indefinable something that makes all true Australians unique. That special something we call mateship.

BLUEY, JACK AND ME

One bit me for the makings the other needed a light,
that was how I met these blokes if memory serves me right
and though the years have flown away I never will forget
the mates I made that day over a lousy cigarette,
because then we boarded a ship leaving Circular Quay
and sailing off to fight the war went Bluey, Jack and me.

It was less than thirty years since our fathers earned their fame
and every man amongst us swore we’d uphold that name,
for while our cobbers were serving almost every where,
we were going to be the mob to stop the Japs “Up There.”
As part of the Eighth Division went ‘The Dreadful Three’
yes, that was what they called us then Bluey, Jack and me.

Now history shows there was something wrong with our leader’s plan
and how most of us became the prisoner’s of Japan,
but somehow we stuck together, determined we would live,
giving to one another all we had that we could give,
that was not unusual and looking back it’s plain to see,
dinkum mateship saved the lives of Bluey, Jack and me.

You can talk about your pals and chums, even comrades too,
but you never saw the likes of the friendship that we knew,
the other blokes in the camp who came from a different land
used to think we were brothers, they could not understand:
mateship built Australia it is how we are born to be,
then they had never seen mates like us, Bluey, Jack and me.

We cared for one another sharing our scraps of bread,
I still remember Bluey bathing my fevered head
and how those crazy skeletons saved my worthless hide
by doing my share of work - if you couldn’t work you died.
Jack declared, “There’ll be none of that for The Dreadful Three!”
That was how we lived for years, Bluey, Jack and me.

So we battled on together through torment, pain and hell,
surviving in a manner simple words could never tell,
till at last the war was won and on that glorious day
I recall how those who freed us turned their heads away,
they could not bear to look at, no they couldn’t bear to see,
the almost dead who greeted them with Bluey, Jack and me.

Now I’m searching in my heart for the words I’d like to say,
while Blue marched on years ago, we’re burying Jack today,
but as I see that soldier raise the bugle to his lip
I have to quickly close my eyes and seek a firmer grip,
because between their graves there’s a plot reserved for me
and I know it wont be long before once again we’re three.

While I’m sure they wait in heaven, if perchance they’ve gone below,
Mate, that makes no difference because where they’ve gone I’ll go!
Though I trust The Lord in his wisdom will readily agree,
mates like us should stay together throughout eternity
and He would never separate the famous ‘Dreadful Three’
‘cause I reckon we might have earned our keep - Bluey, Jack and me.

© Vic Jefferies.

[Heather]

Vic that is a lovely, poignant poem. The photos or footage of skeletal POWs (or Jews in the death camps) is something you never forget. My grandmother's cousin was one that died in a POW camp in Singapore.

A beautiful story of mateship Vic.

Heather

[Maureen K Clifford]

Told with your usual skill and sensitivity Vic - it is a top poem - can't help but be moved by it.

Cheers

Maureen

[Vic Jefferies]

Thank you Heather and Maureen. I am more than a little disappointed that there hasn't been more said in the press and by the government in relation to this being the seventieth anniversary of the fall of Singapore and the beginning of so much suffering for so many Australians.

Vic