Alan Allport's website

Friday, 8th February, 1946

This is an entry in a year-long project to post-blog the demobilisation experience for British servicemen at the end of the Second World War. See here for an introduction to the project and here for a brief overview of the demobilisation process.

Blast from the Past: Demobbed (Leslie Crossley & Eric Carlton, 1919)

I’m in my dear old ‘civvies’, and I’ve wished them all goodbye
The colonel said ‘so long old bean’ And a tear fell from his eye
The Adjutant saluted me, gave me his hand and said ‘Good day’
The Quartermaster drank my beer and gave me ten years’ pay.

In vain the Sergeant-Major moaned with hand upon his heart
“I never thought when I met you, that we should ever part!”
The canteen man chalked me a pint; the cook said I looked ‘grand’.
‘Abide with Me’ and ‘Rest in Peace’ they played upon the band

So it’s no more darned ‘Reveille’ and ‘Come to the Cookhouse Door’
Fall in men to do CB for the duration of the war
It’s farewell to Church Parades, to mess fatigues as well
I’ve finished killing nasty Huns and wishing them to Hell

And when I go out for a walk without a pack, what luck!
To forming fours I say ‘napoo!’, and so will my ‘old duck’.
When it comes to gas attacks I’m ‘parley-vouing’ – what!
Because I’ll the gas I’ll cotton to is a penny in the slot!

Monday, 28th January, 1946

This is an entry in a year-long project to post-blog the demobilisation experience for British servicemen at the end of the Second World War. See here for an introduction to the project and here for a brief overview of the demobilisation process.

A blast from the past: Demobbed (Austin Hurgen, 1919).

The moment my time in the army was over
I made for the shortest and quickest way home
At Calais I jump’d on the boat bound for Dover
And there at the station I met a relation
My father and brother
And Fido with muzzle
The Ford car, and dear old mother too

When Douglas Haig said he could manage without me
I pack’d up my medals and called on Foch
He thank’d me and kiss’d me and said how he’d miss me
And asked me to tea, but I said I was so shy
So would he excuse me?
For Lloyd George was waiting
To pay me for having done my bit.

Have you ever been demobilized?
Have you ever been politely shown the door?
Have you ever known the joy of being absolutely free
When you gaze on sergeant-majors without awe?
I have been a nut in private life
Little flappers' hearts I’ve broken by the score
In a breach of promise case
I paid up to save my face
But I’ve never been demobilized before!

Wednesday, 26th December, 1945

This is an entry in a year-long project to post-blog the demobilisation experience for British servicemen at the end of the Second World War. See here for an introduction to the project and here for a brief overview of the demobilisation process.

I'm Coming Home (Marge M. Follmer, 1945)

Sitting in his tent alone and far away
The words just wouldn’t come tho’ he had so much to say
His thoughts were in a whirl trying to write his only girl
Dearest one, he began:

I’m coming home dear
The war is over
I’m sending a cablegram

Tell the kids
Dad’s OK
And he’ll soon be home to stay

What a glorious day it will be
Keep a smile on your face for our first sweet embrace
I’ve been away so long

The world again is free dear
I’m happy as can be dear
‘Cause I’m coming home to you.

(Happy Boxing Day!)

Tuesday, 25th December, 1945

This is an entry in a year-long project to post-blog the demobilisation experience for British servicemen at the end of the Second World War. See here for an introduction to the project and here for a brief overview of the demobilisation process.

Twenty-One Miles From Blighty: Cyril Fenn & Lester Barrington (1945)

The soldiers were marching
to the front in Germany
And as they marched they were singing
this song with which you’ll all agree:

When we’re twenty-one miles from Blighty
Twenty-one miles by sea
Twenty-one miles from Blighty
Oh what a day that will be
There’ll be the missis waiting
Or maybe a sweetheart see
When we’re twenty-one miles from Blighty
Twenty-one miles by sea!

And when I get to Blighty
No more a-roving for me
I’ll sit beside the fire
And drink me cup of tea
And when the kids say ‘dad’
And climb up on my knee
I’ll think of twenty-one miles from Blighty
Was far enough for me!

A Merry Christmas to All/Both/Our Reader(s)!

Monday, 10th December, 1945

This is an entry in a year-long project to post-blog the demobilisation experience for British servicemen at the end of the Second World War. See here for an introduction to the project and here for a brief overview of the demobilisation process.

I'm Coming Home for Christmas 'Cos I'm In Group 24. Johnny Ash (1945)

 

In Europe and in Asia

I’ve now’t to do all day

Except to polish buttons

And draw my blinking pay

But as the time draws nearer

To that all-eventful day

I sing this little ditty

And this is what I say:

 

I’m coming home for Christmas

Put the holly round the door

I’m coming home for Christmas

‘Cos I’m in Group Twenty-Four

If Mr. Isaacs lets me

Then I’ll be right through that door

I’m coming home for Christmas

‘Cos I’m in Group Twenty-Four

 

I’ll hand my kit in carefully

To make sure it’s all there

‘Cos if I’m in Group Twenty-Four

It has got to be all square

And when I kiss Sarge goodbye

And he sends me on the way

I’ll say ‘Goodbye, dear Sergeant

‘Cos I’m in Group Twenty-Four to-day.’

 

And when I get my civvies

In blue or black or grey

I’ll look like Mr. Eden

Or the owner of Dante

This time there’ll be no Oxford bags

Or wags or gags to boot

‘Cos I’ll be just plain Mister

And I’ll no gang gie’a hoot ...

Wednesday, 21st November, 1945

This is an entry in a year-long project to post-blog the demobilisation experience for British servicemen at the end of the Second World War. See here for an introduction to the project and here for a brief overview of the demobilisation process.

Blighty Bound (1945) - Herbert Andrew Jr. and Geoffrey Blackmore:

 

‘Tis three long years ago

since I sailed from Blighty’s shores

To fight in foreign lands across the blue

And I left my love behind just hoping she’d be true

And now my dear at last I’m coming home to you ...

 

I’m sailing on the next boat for Blighty

I’m sailing on the next boat for home

Gee! How do I feel?

Can’t imagine it’s for real

To be on my way

This very day

To that land across the foam

 

Oh! The hours seem like days

And the days seem like years

But I don’t care what time we take

Just as long as it’s Blighty Bound

For I’m sailing on the next boat for Blighty

And coming home to you, sweetheart ...

Thursday, 11th October, 1945

This is an entry in a year-long project to post-blog the demobilisation experience for British servicemen at the end of the Second World War. See here for an introduction to the project and here for a brief overview of the demobilisation process.

I Wanna Go Home: The Demob Song (Sid Ridley & Syd Alldridge, 1945)

The blokes what’s in the Forces
From the country town and city
Where e’er they be
can join with me
And sing this little dittie:

I wanna go home
I wanna go home
I think this war is a frightful bore
‘Cos there’s no place like home
I’m saving my pay
For a holiday
I want to see the wife and kids
And the bloke that owes me quids
I’ll book a house down by the sea
And ask old Winston home to tea
I’ll tell the sergeant what to do
And say to Naafi, toodle-oo!
And when I’m back in Lambeth Way
There won’t be any need to say:

I wanna go home.