“Come on Betty pull yourself together.

Crying isn’t going to do anything.

James is gone you need to live with it.”

I remember the times when I used to,

Sit and cry about James.

I still do now.

If only I could see him,

Why isn’t life like Catherine Cookson books-

Romantic, loving and adventurous.

Instead it’s boring, lonely and heartbreaking.

But I need to tell the world a secret,

A secret that has never been told,

And it needs to be put at rest.

Aged just 19 I was married.

To the most wonderful man ever.

Then war broke out,

And my dearest James had to go off and fight.

I waited 7 years for his return,

But he never came.

Finally I gave up.

My dearest James is gone.

How I miss his personality,

And his highly polished boots.

I will never sew on a button,

To his work shirt again.

No one will ever replace him.

He is unique.

So now I shall die,

A sad lonely old dear.

By Rebecca Reay.   Dedicated to my 5 great great uncles who died in the First World War.

Private Newrick Crow, 8163, Northumberland Fusiliers, died on 18^th September 1916.

Private Ralph Crow, 27/107, Northumberland Fusiliers, died on 6^th September 1916.

Private Thomas Crow, 18750, Northumberland Fusiliers, died on 26^th October 1917.

Private Ben Brunson, 19537, Yorkshire Regiment, died on 13^th July 1916.

Lance Corporal Walter Edmed, 204476, Durham Light Infantry, died on 14^th April 1917.

return