[naturalman1975]

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

[RaceBannon]

the only decent reponse...given 125 years ago!

[sima_yi]

the only decent reponse...given 125 years ago!

Hear, hear!

[vortec94]

I knew Tommy would be in the first few responses. Guess I been lurkin’ too long. And....and, don’t misunderstand I was ready to post it.

[Pollster1]

The only decent response would be to boycott that pub permanently. I hope today’s Brits have the humanity to do so.

[zeugma]

As Kipling’s words show, this is nothing new. Tommy would do well to take note, as should outraged citizens.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I read the thread and thought of the Kipling poem. You beat me to it.

[ASOC]

A tiny bit more checking show -

A red-faced spokesman for The Bull, which dates back to 1890, admitted that soldiers had been banned from the big historic 19th century pub.

He said: “This was a mistake.

“We absolutely welcome the armed forces into The Bull and we apologise for any offence caused to the soldiers.”

“We are talking to the team members involved and clarifying that we welcome the armed forces into the pub.”

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/4635772/Pub-bans-army-war-heroes.html#ixzz2BkVGdr4y