Hi,
Does anybody know who wrote the poem "MacDonald's Sword"? or when it was published? or in what publication it was published?
Hector MacDonald fought at Amajuba (Majuba) during the First Anglo-Boer War (1880-1881). His bravery was so conspicuous that General Joubert gave him back his sword, an event which the poem commemorates (see below). He enlisted in 1871 the 92nd Gordon Highlanders at Fort George. He rose rapidly through the noncommissioned ranks, and had already been a Colour Sergeant for some years when his distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy during the Second Afghan War led to his being offered either a Victoria Cross or a commission in his regiment, he chose the latter. This was an extremely rare honour (7 January 1880). He was quite a character, an incredible man.
The poem follows...
The campfire was red on our faces but despair in our hearts was black
We'd fought, we'd fought, we'd failed - they had beaten us back and back
Our country's flag and her honour to us had been given in trust
Her honour we'd lost on the mountains; her flag we'd dragged in the dust
Ah, many a comrade lying still on that stark hillside
We envied with bitter longing, would to God we had also died
Sweeter were death than capture, sweeter were death than shame -
The shame that our pride had yielded to a foe of despised name
And our captain gave his sword up; its blade tonight was dim
The sword his comrades gave him to show their pride in him
He gave it up in silence, but we knew his heart
Could guess the wild regretting, the bitter pain and smart
To yield his sword is an anguish that cuts a man full sore
But his had a sting still keener, for he gave it up to a Boer
They took it too, in silence that sternly quiet band
And read the honour that won it as they passed it from hand to hand
Then spake their leader in words low and plain
"We take not the sword of a brave man". And they handed it back again
Many a sun o'er Majuba, since then has risen and set
Many a year has fleeted since Boer and soldier met
The winds of life have scattered them, scattered them wide and far
Those men from down the mountain now carry a heart=deep scar
But wherever our paths may wander, wherever our winds may blow
To us who stood round that campfire that faded to long ago
No scornful speech may be uttered of the Boer, nor contemptuous word
For as long as life is in us, we'll remember - McDonalds's Sword.
The first couple of lines of the last verse suggest the poem was written several years after the event. MacDonald's sword was actually handed back, but as I understand it, a couple of Boer's forced him to give it up. They was fighting over who should have the sword when Joubert noticed the commotion. Having witnessed MacDonald's bravery, Joubert gave back the sword to it's rightful owner.
Thanks in anticipation
Dave
