“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!”
“Tommy” by Rudyard Kipling
Second time I saw this story.
We dont have “all different kinds of cultures” in America. We have American culture.
I enjoy some of the traditions from Italy my grandparents and parents kept. That is not a “culture”. Also, for better or worse they will be gone with the next generation.
My “culture” is speaking English, supporting the troops and the Constitution.
I thought at first I was reading the header incorrectly.
Much to my dismay,I wasn’t.
.
bmp
Knowing Kent, I’d move him for his own safety. The majority despise the military and the mussies would not hesitate to spike his IV.
We saw that kind of behavior here at the end of the Viet Nam war.
I’m offended...at the hospital staff.
They were only affraid that it might offend the MUSIM’s, Well too bad for them.
Oh for crying out loud. This in England? They have fallen to a new low. I say that if the sight of a military uniform offends anybody, let them take their sorry selves to a different medical facility.
Maybe some of those different cultures could stand to be a little upset if they don’t appreciate what’s being done for them.
A lot of the staff in “English” hospitals seem to be of the “Asian” persuasion these days...of course any real English will be upsetting to them and their majority clientele! It’s their country now, after all.
Sickening!!
If the uniform of your host country offends you go the hell where you came from !!!
I’m working with some Brits right now in an exercise. We were at a club on-post, drinking beers, chatting, and one of the NCOs said he’s really amazed at how supportive average Americans are of the U.S. military. Apparently it’s pretty common to be shouted at, called “baby killer” or some such by civilians in the UK if they’re seen in uniform. Sad.
So let them get upset. If the sight of somebody in a military uniform upsets you, the problem is YOU.