Off Caps for Sgt David Raikes

[Epsilon minus]

WW2 Bomber Crew finally laid to rest today
BBC News - WWII bomber poet David Raikes is finally laid to rest (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23343677)
Sgt Raikes (Pilot) was also a fine poet
One’s waking eyes sought out the empty beds,
And ‘Damn’, you said, ‘another kit to pack’;
I never liked that part, you never knew
What privacies your sorting might lay bare.
I always tried to leave my kit arranged
In decent tidiness. You never knew.
But that is past. The healing river flows
And washes clean the wound with passing years.
We grieve not now. There was a time for tears,
When Death stood by us, and we dared not weep.
Let the seas close above them, and the dissolving deep.

God Bless you Sgt Raikes and your brave crew

[SOSL]

So close, so sad, so brave.

[strake]

Lot of dust here in France with this heatwave...keeps getting in the eyes.

Rest in peace with your mates son.

[smujsmith]

Let it be hushed

'These men knew moments you have never known,
Nor ever will; we knew those moments too,
And talked of them in whispers late at night
Such confidence was born of danger shared.

We shared their targets, too; but we came back.
Lightly we talked of it. We packed their kit,
Divided up such common useful things
As cigarettes and chocolate, rations stored
Against a rainy day that never came.'

David Raikes

RIP comrade, your service was a beacon to the likes of lesser men like me.

[Tankertrashnav]

It was particularly touching that Sgt Raikes' younger brother was there for the ceremony - he said it was very important that his brother and crew had a final resting place at last.

As an ex Rock I have to commend the RAF Regiment burial party, who did an excellent job, but then we'd have expected nothing less of them. Noticed a lance corporal in the party - they are popping up more and more frequently now, but it still looks odd.

[Epsilon minus]

Some other poetry quotes from David Raikes would be nice.