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Poem Written in 1941 by Jack H. Butters, CPO1 RCN (Ret'd)

Entitled: Navy Life: in Memory of Walter Handcock (deceased 1957) 

 Have you ever stood on a bridge at night?
 Not the bridge o'er a trickling stream but the bridge of a gray destroyer
 shallow drafted and narrow of beam, have you ever peered away through the
 darkness with rain and spray sore eyes cursing the fate that brought you to
 reach for so high a prize.
 Have you ever worked in a galley stove top full of tumbling pans swearing a
 seven bell breakfast will be with the also rans.
 Have you ever stood watch in an engine room weighed down by the noise and
 the heat, but knowing it is you the ship depends on if the enemy we meet.
 If you have you will not doubt me of the story I have to tell of the men who
 leave home love and comfort for a modified form of Hell.
 They sweat to the core in the tropics, freeze to the bones at the poles they
 wrest with the mighty combers that hunger for human souls.
 These are men ordained by God that what we say may come true.
 Give us this day our daily bread.
 Thank Him, but give sailors their due.
 
 Jack H. Butters, CPO1 RCN (Ret'd)

Note: Chief Butters was a young stoker, age 18, when he wrote his poem. He is a Sackville Trustee and and active member of the Sackville mess.