Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Towards the end of his life William (Bill) Leyshon and his wife Joan, mum and dad, moved from the family home at Taylor Street, Kiama, to the Bluehaven Retirement Village on the hill at the end of the main street.
From their balcony there was a clear view of the Memorial Arch at the entrance of Hindmarsh Park.
This poem captures some of his wartime experiences and laments the loss to ‘development’ of the sight of ‘my arch’.


Memorial Arch Kiama

My arch has gone now,
New building blocked.
With morning cup, looking
Down on park and Arch.
Memories would rise again.

Our first Moresby night.
While others cowered,
Shortie and I stood watching
Three black bomber shadows
Droning among the stars.
Then, woump, woump, woump.
Their bombs exploding.
Jack shook a futile fist.
“You rotten bastards.”

And Al - Nambucca -
On a spur off The Track,
Dropping trees for a clearing
For our temporary camp.

I still feel the grip
On The Pup’s left arm,
Scalpel an forceps gouging
To get the fragment out.
No painkiller there.
Two stitches and a bandage.
Doug smiled at the M.O.
And said “Thank you, sir.”
He was only eighteen.

They have all gone now,
And so has my Arch.
I have but a short time,
And, then,
Who will remember them?

William (Bill) Leyshon
NX70131

William (Bill) Leyshon was a prolific poet and his body of work included a number of poems about his wartime experience.

This poem was written on 29/04/1998, four days after ANZAC Day, with memories still fresh from ‘fifty ANZAC Days’.

ANZAC Day 1998

Here in their old cigar-box
Lie my five medals of war.
Dulled by time, their ribbons frayed,
From fifty Anzac Days.

There was a night
When under Moresby stars,
I watched Jack’s shining eyes,
As three, droning shadows
Dumped loads of bombs,Upon the quivering earth.

There was a dawn,
With bright eyes twinkling
Jack grasped my hand.
Then on the DC3 flew out
To the then disputed strip at Wau.

Then Peace, and at St Marys
I stood by Jack
When he was wed,
And all was sparkling eyes,
And smiling lips.

Now death has dulled Jack’s eyes,
And Time my crammed brain crumbles.
But for a few brief moments
I am young again,
Beyond Koitaki, heading for ‘The Track’.
I joke with Doug, and Al, and Jack,
All keen of eye, and with no doubts.

Here in their old cigar-box
Lie two stars, and three round ‘gongs’.
I’ll buy new ribbons, shine
The medals bright - Tomorrow.

William (Bill) Leyshon
NX70131


The following two were written during the war and have a different mood.

ANZAC Day 1942

They sailed away
And gave to us “Lone Pine”.
A heritage to keep,
Remember!

Now we today
Here stand in battle-line,
Like those before - who sleep
Forever.

William (Bill) Leyshon
NX70131


God Send The Dawn

I hunger for the simple things
That I have known before.
The horror that this struggle brings,
These foreign fields and sights of war;
This acting of a murder’s role.
This thirsting for the chance to slay,
Have graven sorrow on my soul.

I shall go back to my home some day.
To rest in the sun of that sleepy land.
To be soothed by the sound of the surging sea
And thrill to the touch of the toilworn hand
That rocked my cradle and slaved for me.
When that day has come, I shall be reborn;
Until then, it is night. God, send the dawn!

William (Bill) Leyshon
NX70131
11.2.44