GRANDDAD
Granddad went to sea when he was just 14.
He left the hungry city streets behind.
There was no one left to call him ‘son’, nowhere to call home
So, he sailed right out of Newcastle to see what he would find.
Square meals from the galley, rum for every hand
And the bells to tell you how to spend your time.
Climb the rigging, hoist the sails
Keep your watch as well
And the cat-o-nine tails waiting if you dare step out of line.
Life was never easy but he learned this lesson well:
Secure your ship and shipmates then look to yourself
It’s the only way to live your life in peace on land or sea.
Ten years in the Royal Navy when the Great War came to sea
Three times torpedoes took him down.
Sailors in the water, save the ones you can
And carry on tomorrow though many good men drowned.
Deep diving in the water they cleared away the mines
Until all boats could safely come and go.
He settled back in England where you could hear the Bow Bells chime
As the war faded into the past he watched his family grow.
Life was never easy but he taught his family well
Secure your ship and shipmates then look to yourself.
It’s the only way to live your life in peace on land or sea
The war seemed just a memory when it started once again
His family safe but bombs destroyed their home.
To the land of Cymru, they found a welcome there
And this weary man and family could finally settle down.
That’s where I came to know him when I was just a boy.
A quiet man, unbroken by the past
“Live in peace. Speak the truth. Keep heartache to yourself.
If you can count your friends on one hand, your life’s been truly blessed.”
Life is never easy but I learned his lesson well
Secure your ship and shipmates then look to yourself.
It’s the only way to live your life in peace on land or sea.
© Linda Bandelier 2021
Granddad went to sea when he was just 14.
He left the hungry city streets behind.
There was no one left to call him ‘son’, nowhere to call home
So, he sailed right out of Newcastle to see what he would find.
Square meals from the galley, rum for every hand
And the bells to tell you how to spend your time.
Climb the rigging, hoist the sails
Keep your watch as well
And the cat-o-nine tails waiting if you dare step out of line.
Life was never easy but he learned this lesson well:
Secure your ship and shipmates then look to yourself
It’s the only way to live your life in peace on land or sea.
Ten years in the Royal Navy when the Great War came to sea
Three times torpedoes took him down.
Sailors in the water, save the ones you can
And carry on tomorrow though many good men drowned.
Deep diving in the water they cleared away the mines
Until all boats could safely come and go.
He settled back in England where you could hear the Bow Bells chime
As the war faded into the past he watched his family grow.
Life was never easy but he taught his family well
Secure your ship and shipmates then look to yourself.
It’s the only way to live your life in peace on land or sea
The war seemed just a memory when it started once again
His family safe but bombs destroyed their home.
To the land of Cymru, they found a welcome there
And this weary man and family could finally settle down.
That’s where I came to know him when I was just a boy.
A quiet man, unbroken by the past
“Live in peace. Speak the truth. Keep heartache to yourself.
If you can count your friends on one hand, your life’s been truly blessed.”
Life is never easy but I learned his lesson well
Secure your ship and shipmates then look to yourself.
It’s the only way to live your life in peace on land or sea.
© Linda Bandelier 2021