SATURDAY 26 FEBRUARY - Amazing Grace

3RRF Reunion Grace - 26 February 2011 - 20 Years On

In light refracted by the desert's heat,

Proud Warriors shrink to a couple of feet.

Inside pressed in their metal cave,

3rd Fusilier hearts are fighting brave.

Braver yet in the other theatre - Deilinghofen.

our lovers' lips fall silent - often.

Both they and we struck a bargain with our fears.

"you can do what you will - we are Fusiliers".

There now is the breach; the die is cast,

Beside it 2 figures are standing fast,

Adj and the CO - Minden rose & hackle

"On my Up, a Pirbright salute" Andrew Ford's comms were heard to cackle.

100 hrs or were they days? All still lay ahead,

Ere they were done, 9 friends slept in their black & crimson bed.

Battlegroup sped forwards; now Objective Steel,

20 years behind us; it's distant but very real.

V-R, Broadbent, Larpent, Kiddie, Nelson, Pearce, and Alec Bain.

Who would not be ready, to do it all again?

Kempster, Long & Duxbury, Davina, Anne & Sue,

Edmonds, Jordan, Kevin Haugh, some Queen's Own Highlanders & You.

Who walked beside us from "Kiddie Cove" to sunny Al Jubail?

The Lord that calls each one of us to go the extra mile.

Who brought us back to lovers' arms, but He whose gentle kindness will wake us with a smile.

So fill the cup & drain it without a frown.

And thank him that he'll never ever, EVER let us down.

ADRIAN POLLARD - Regimental Chaplain, 3 RRF, 1990 - 1992

Location:London