Return to Wells (next the sea) by Jeff Briggs
A short story of how WW1 affected a family from a North Nofolk village.
In Wells-next-the-sea, to live so happily
In Wells its so lovely back with my family
In this little town of Wells-next-the sea
My true love married me
St Nicholas church is where we tied the knot
Since then she's been my forget-me-not
We lived locally in Dogger lane
Where all the little houses look just the same
We brought up our young family
On basic living, but joyfully
Our daughters and sons they fledged the home
To start families of their own
But nobody knew what was in store
For then came the 1914 war
Our sons enlisted to protect this land
With swords and bayonets in their hands
Sending letters home to the family
Hoping to return, manfully
Our two boys jumped over the fence
One of them falling back into the trench
Buried in mud up to their knees
Fighting hard towards the enemy
Henry scrambled up the muddy bank
A shot rang out hitting Frank
Henry pulled him back to the ground
Muffled cries all around
A year went by without words
Then home they flew, the message birds
They brought us news we wanted to hear
Our boy's were coming home later this year
Across the sea we could see our men
Returning home to their loved ones again
Everyone cheering, shouting with joy
And through the crowd we could see one boy
Only one boy came back to the nest
Carrying belongings close to his chest
With open arms and tears in his eyes
He handed over the memorial prize
Frank didn't make it as he fell to the ground
But I carried him back safe and sound
However it was too late, he died that day
But I heard him whisper, I heard him say
In Wells-next-the-sea, to live so happily
In Wells its so lovely back with my family
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