The Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) was a corps of the British Army. At its renaming as a Royal Corps in 1918 it was both a supply and repair corps. In the supply area it had responsibility for weapons, armoured vehicles and other military equipment, ammunition and clothing and certain minor functions such as laundry, mobile baths and photography. The RAOC was also responsible for a major element of the repair of Army equipment.
“The Forgotten Letter”
1. Don’t go to the ‘Pictures’ or ‘Concert hall’,
But stay in your billet tonight,
Deny yourself to your pals that call,
And a Good long letter write.
Write to the Dear ones left at home.
Who sit when the day is done.
In the even’s twilight cold & grey,
And dream of the absent one.
2. Don’t selfishly scribble ‘Excuse my haste’,
I’ve but little time to write,
Les their anxious heart should yearn as they think
Of many a bygone night;
When they lost their needed sleep & rest.
And every breath was a prayer.
That God should keep their loving son
Through life in His tender care.
3. Don’t let them feel that you have no need
Of their love and counsel wise,
For the heart grows very sensitive
When sorrow has dimmed the eyes.
Remember, comrade, your mother’s words
As you entered the ranks with delight
‘Good-bye’ and ‘God bless you’ my dear brave boy
And ‘Don’t forget to write’.
4. Now I wonder if ever you give a thought
As with comrades you daily unite
To the anxious suspense you may have caused
By neglecting that letter to write.
I know that ‘tis well to have comrades true
Who make your pleasures gay
But they have but half the thought for you
That your mother has to-day.
5. So tell them what you intend to do
Let them and your pleasure wait
Lest the letter for which your mother has longed
Be a day or an hour too late
For with loving heart she waits at home
With cheeks tear-stained & white
Longing to hear from her soldier son
Who perhaps has forgotten to write.
