Messmates All

Who will drink a health with me? Drink together, messmates all! To the men who sat aforetime Where we sit to-night; Brothers they, in peace and war-time, Field of sport and field of fight: Scattered now o'er land and sea, Messmates all! Stand up and drink with me! Drink together, messmates all! To the men who lie in glory On the field they won, Beating out an Empire's story, Warring with Napoleon, - Men who died to keep us free, Messmates all! To our brethren far and lone! Drink together, messmates all! To the men who lie forgotten Far from all they knew, 'Mid the jungles dank and rotten, - 'Twixt the sand-glare and the blue; Men who died and made no moan, Messmates all! To the near and far away! Drink together, messmates all! Bound in unity the race is By the sword they drew, Whether in the nameless places, Paardeberg or Waterloo! Years ago and yesterday, Messmates all!