MACHINE GUN CORPS SONG
Sent in By Alan
Simcock
First verse
You’ve heard of Julius Caesar and of great
Napoleon too
You’ve never heard the way we beat the lads at GHQ
There’s still a martial story that was never read before
And that’s the tale of how we got a real machine Gun Corps
THIS gallant Corps was organised with civil war and strife
Such troubles as we had you never heard in all your life
For if we asked for men or guns they simply said ‘We fut
T’was just as f wed mounted gun and left
the shutter shut
(Chorus)
But down in the shell holes spit the little
Vickers guns
Clogged with mud and undermanned, the terror of the Nuns
One day they’ll get the job they want of finishing the war
But GHQ will NEVER, NEVER let then, be a Corps
Second verse
Then GHQ devised a scheme and said what should
be done
To organise the MG Corps with fairness to the Hun
They knew we had a lot of guns and to appease his hate
Suggested ‘that Divisional guns should be reduced by eight
They told us we were Infantry and really mustn’t fight
In Batteries with Barrages, it really wasn’t right
They’d give us clubs or bayonets to fix upon the gun
They said ‘We can’t do more for you in fairness to the Hun’
(Chorus)
But down in the shell holes etc
Third verse
Then up spake Colonel Georgius* the MGs pride
and joy
(He was a most unruly lad, the Corpses oldest boy)
tell you straight, says he, that’s not the way to win the war
You want a lot more guns and men, you want an MG Corps
You must fight your guns in Batteries from a Grand Divisional Pool
Give them fifty bob protractors too, made at the Small Arms School
With these and other blessings of a Centralised Control
We’ll drive the Hun across the Rhine and leave him up the pole
(Chorus)
But down in the shell holes etc
Fourth verse
So off he went to GHQ to reason With the Staff
He argued first, then flattered them and then went onto chaff
But neither method helped at all, the Staff refused to see
Their notions had got crystallised 10,000 BC
He tried again and many times but it was all no use
The Chestertieldian Staff were near descending to abuse
And posted up all round Montreuil George very plainly saw
Machine Guns shall be infantry; they SHALL NOT be a Corps
(Chorus)
But down in the shell holes etc
Fifth verse
One day there was a rumour spread- you couldn’t
call it news
The bravest lads at GHQ were shaking in their shoes
T’was said there might be changes made
before it was too late
Unless SOMEONE woke up to the fact and brought things up to date
They wrote at once to Georgius-they wouldn’t let him speak
They said we’ve had a GREAT IDEA- t’wiII start this very week
Its obvious that Centralised Control all through your corps-
Why couldn't YOU have mentioned it-will win the Blooming war.
(Chorus)
And down in the shell holes spit the little
Vickers guns
Cogged with mud and undermanned, the terror of the Huns
At last we've got the job we want of finishing the war
We're going to have Battalions and a real Machine Gun Corps.
=======================
Copy found in the 'Lindsay Papers' held in the Royal Tank Regiment's
Mitchell Library. In the Royal Armoured Corps Tank Museum at Bovington
*George Mackintosh Lindsay, Rifle Brigade- Capt,
School of Musketry, Hythe and HG BEF MG School, Maj GS02 MGC Training
Centre, Grantham, Bde Maj 99 Infantry Bde, Brevet Lt Col & Chief
Instructor HT BEF MG School, Deputy Inspector MG Units 1st
Army, CO 41 Bn MGS, Col Commanding MGC Foreign Service Group,
Shorncliffe, then transferred to Tank Corps.
NOTE: The History Group
has found the music to the MGC March and this has been arranged and recorded along with the bugle call.
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