STORMING OF THE DARDANELLES BY THOMAS DORAN

STORMING OF THE DARDANELLES

 

We talk of Irish regiments, no wonder why we do,

The Dublins and the Munsters, you’ve heard about those two;

You can see by many papers how Irish blood it tells

The way those famous regiments fought at the Dardanelles.

 

On the 25th of April, when we did make a start,

We were singing Tipperary, a song that reached our hearts;

The ships were packed with khaki lads, such spirits they did show

To the cry Are we downhearted? We quickly answered No.

 

We got then into our small boats, this way we were to land,

Then every Tommy could be seen with a woodbine in his hand,

There were boys from Tipperary, from Cork and County Clare,

And the boys from County Dublin and the Short Grass, that’s Kildare.

 

The Turks they were prepared for us, as one and all could tell,

For about one thousand yards from land we were met with shot and shell;

There were bodies floating through the sea and hundreds on the sand,

But the Turks they suffered terribly when we fought them on the land.

 

The wounded moaning mercy, it was an awful sight;

Those who got badly wounded were wishing for the night,

And when night came our stretcher boys had lots of work to start,

Collecting bodies, legs and arms, the sight near broke their heart.

 

The Turks were then retreating, their numbers lost were large;

Our officers say Dublins! We’ll have a bayonet charge.

The charge was done, the Turks they run, our lads in ringing cheers,

I can’t forget those Irish boys – the Dublin Fusilliers.

 

Before I go, I tell you, be proud and give three cheers.

For those brave fighting Irishmen – the Dublin Fusilliers.

 

Pte. Thomas Doran, 1st Battn., RDF.

 

Private Thomas Doran, the Harbour, Naas, was wounded in the Dardanelles while serving with 1st Battn. RDF. He was shipped to a hospital in Exeter, where he penned a tribute to the Dublins titled ‘Storming of the Dardanelles.’