He wore twin stripes of gold upon
And empty tunic sleeve;
His eyes were blue, his face so young
One hardly cold believe
That he had seen the death and hate
That make the whole world grieve.

His hair was fair, his eyes were blue,
I thought that I could see
(just when his sunny smile came through)
The lad he used to be:
Dear happy little mothers' lad
Of only two or three.

But when across his eyes there came
A sudden look of pain -
His mouth set very hard and straight,
He was a man again.
He gave his shattered dreams of youth
That England might remain.

I felt hot tears rise to my eyes
When I looked at that lad,
Brave, gallant, shattered, smiling youth-
He gave us all he had;
For youth so fair; so sorely hurt
All England's heart is sad.

He passed me on a crowded street.
We did not meet again;
He showed me in a sudden flash
Our England's pride and pain.
And when all is long forgot
His memory shall remain.