Ode to the Soldier Cook

[Ian E Scott]

This poem is taken from the 29th Field Kitchen Site.

http://www.freewebs.com/29thfieldkitchen/index.htm

With full Credit to 29th Field Kitchen & Red Hackle Magazine

Does anyone know the poet (in red below)?

Poem by 24172184 WO2 (SQMS) J C Hartey
(Taken from the Red Hackle, Black Watch Magazine)

ODE TO THE SOLDIER COOK

From West Berlin to Hong Kong
From Cyprus to Belize
One soldier always will appear,
In heat wave and in freeze
 
He may be old, he may be young,
He may be fat or skinny.
The lads all laugh as he goes by,
The soldier in his pinny
 
He's just the bloke who burns the toast,
Who moans the least and does the most,
Who rises to the cockerels call
And leaves the camp behind them all
 
He feeds the lads on exercise,
From breakfast through to tea
He feeds the chaps in messes too,
So versatile is he.
 
His hat might not be smart like yours,
His shoes may not be bulled.
But don't be fooled by lack of shine,
His senses haven't dulled.
 
From deep inside a sense of pride
Will keep him in the good,
And when he says he couldn't care,
You know he really could.
 
So if your chef's in the field,
Or back at home on his courses,
Be proud to know you're looking at
The backbone of the Forces

[fatcivvie]

in 1971 when i was on tour in Northern Ireland there was a programme on the telly and a man called WILLIE RUSHTON done a short ode to the military cook , i think it was the 30th year of the ACC i might be wrong