"A Plea from the trenches"

This is the text of the poem included with Joe's letter: 

Having read an English paper the writer was prompted to write the following lines and has called it

"A Plea from the trenches"

Away out in Flanders,
By compass norlwest
There's Tommies aye thousands
who're doing their best. 

There's thousands more wanted
Now where's all the boys
Who profess to be British
And the Hun do despise. 

If you'd only seen
The damage they'd done,
You'd surely be vexed. 

The more men we get
And the shorter the war,
Surely that's satisfaction
That's worth fighting for. 

For the homes of old England
come Harry and Jack,
Get the little job over
And the pack on Your back. 

We've tried to persuade you
To do your own share,
And pull at the wheel
With the boys who are there. 

Compulsion is imminent
With us you'll agree,
If you don't do a bit
For the land of the free. 

There's plenty of men there
Who've left comfort and home,
It's just as much your job
And still you lie prone. 

If the Huns come to England
And blow up our towns
Would you still shirk your duty
And stand there like clowns ?

We ask you this question
The answer is plain,
Now don't let us have to
Implore you again. 

You may play at your football
And many such games,
Still a thought about duty
Never enters your brain. 

There's nothing to fear,
Every Christian knows,
We can't escape death
When our time comes I s'pose. 

You sing Rule Britannia
And God Save the King,
Britannia won't rule
If you stop there and sing. 

Just singing the song
Won't break down the Hun,
Now take up the rifle
And join in the fun. 

Don't delay till tomorrow
It may be too late,
Come join us today,
And decide Fritz's fate. 

To be called a shirker
Is indeed a disgrace,
Come join the new army,
Have not that in your face. 

I'll detain you no longer
With this little plea,
But roll up in thousands
And do your duty.