Fading away like the stars in the morning Losing their light in the glorious sun
Thus shall we pass from this earth and its toiling, Only remembered for what we have done
Thus shall we pass from this earth and its toiling, Only remebered for what we have done
Horses and men, ploughshares and traces, The line on the land and the paths of the snn
Season by season we mark nature 's graces. Only remebered for what we have done
Next Lot. Hunter colt. Half thoroughbred, half draught
His draught mother had a night of passion with a thoroughbred, just like mine did
No, seriously, looks as if he might have some speed when he gets older
Who'll start me off? Lieutenant N icholls, you've a fine eye for a horse
- Will you start me off at thirteen? - l will, Mr Carter: thirteen guineas
- What do you think, father? - He's a prospect, this one
Can l have him? Can you buy him?
Fourteen...
- Fifteen - Thank you, Mr Allan
Sixteen... Seventeen...
- Seventeen. Mr Allan - Eighteen
- Eighteen. Lieutenant Nicholls? - Nineteen - Twenty
- Twenty. Lieutenant Nicholls? - That's my limit
Then it's still with Arthur Narracott at twenty guineas. Twenty guineas bid b y Arthur Narracott
- You're sure, Leutenant Nicholls? - l'm out
Twenty guineas, anyone?
Then congratulations, Arthur, it's another good purchase, worth every penny. Going once, going twice...
- Twenty-one - Father?
Ted Narracott bids twenty-one
- Here we go, some Narracott strife - What are you doing, father?
- John Greig, a pint says that horse is Arthur's - Thomas Bone, if Ted's drunk, it's Ted's
- Arthur? - Twenty-two
- Come on, Ted! - Twenty-three
Twenty-four... Twenty-five...
Twenty-six, Arthur?
- Your pockets deep enough for this, Ted? - Plenty
Twenty-six! For a hunter colt that's the highest price this season
- Twenty-seven - Twenty-eight
- Father, we're here to buy a calf - Shut up, son
- Perhaps it s a calf, Ted, it's got four legs and a head - lt's a horse, Ted, don't let that cider tell you different
- l know what it is. Twenty-nine - Thirty
- Thirty-one - Thirty-two
Gentlemen! Thirty-two guineas for a hunter colt. No one in Devon's paid more this year
l don't need to remind you that full payment is required as soon as the hammer falls
- Are you suggesting l'm not good for it? - No, Arthur, l am not suggesting that
- Your brother though... - Hear that, poor Ted? You're not good for it
- l'm good for it alright. l know a prize when l see one - You couldn't see through a adder
- Poor uncle Ted, he couldn't see through a ladder - Come here and say that, Billy Narracott
- Not in my auction l - Easy, Ted
Lot fifty-four: hunter colt with Arthur Narracott at thirty-two guineas
Thirty-three... Thirty-four... Thirty-five guineas...
Thirty-six... Thirty-seven... Thirty-eight...
- Thirty-nine guineas - Arthur?
- Don't stop now, Arthur - He's all yours
With Ted Narracott at thirty-nine guineas
And for a hunter colt, that's unheard of in perhaps the whole of England. Going once, going twice, gone!
- A pint, Thomas Bone - Fatherl
Thirty nine guineas. Count it
- But that's the mortgage money - Don't tell your mother
So you've spent your mortgage money on a foal?
- Poor Ted. What farm's he going to keep it on? - M y farm, Arthur, the one l bought
You and that boy should be working the family farm, the Narracott farm
And you'll be back on it soon enough if you keep paying money like that for hunter colts
Don't pretend you didn't want this horse. You just couldn't keep up
Say moo, Ted, and the calf will follow you home
Father, let me do it
- He's behind you, Uncle Ted - Shut up, Billyl
Get home! Lads!
Ted? What in the name of hell are we gonna do with that? Ted?
Say something, Ted. He's not even a proper farm horse is he?
- He's half thoroughbred, half draft-hunt er - Shut up, son
l know he's a hunter, what good's a hunter to us? Can he pull a cart or pay the mortgage?
The mortgage... tell me you paid the mortgage? Oh no, Ted, how m uch?
- Thirty-nine guineas - What?
- Thirty-nine guineas - Thirty-nine? The pair of you should be locked up
- l didn't do it - You didn't have nothing to do with him buying this horse?
- l bought him . l thumped Arthur - What?
- l wiped the floor with him - What are you talking about?
- Oh no... You never bid because your brother did, Ted? - No, l wanted him
A horse like that, Ted, what were you thinking? What are we going to do?
You'll think of something, Rose. But l got the better of Arthur
Will you do something to quiet that horse. Ted!
Calm down, boy... calm down now
You, young man, were supposed to be keeping a watch on your father
- l couldn 't help it, it happened so quick. He shouted at me - Come here
- What are you doing? - Smelling your breath
- l haven't been drink ng - J ust as well . l can 't whop h m, but l can whop you
- Look how he holds his head - l don't care how he holds his bloody head
R ght Albert... So, we turn bad business into good
We can't sell him straight away 'cos we'd get what, twenty guineas for him? So we bring him on, feed him up
- We can k eep him? - Till he's grown, and then we se him
That's our only wa y t o turn profit on him, right? And you are going to be in charge of bringing him on
That means all chores: feeding, grooming, mucking out, exercise. You, all of it
As for paying the mortgage... God help us
lf you hear strange noises from the house, don't worry
lt's just me killing your father
She's all right. She's my mother, if you hadn't guessed
Right. Let's mak e a start, then
lt's all right... You don't need to fear me. l'm not going to hurt you
There you go... Go on, then
When was the last time you were fed? l bet you haven't had a thing all day
Come on, boy...
Come on, l won't hurt you
lt's oats, look. Mmm... good oats
Come on, you knucklehead. l know you want it
All right, suit yourself
Go on, get yer nazzle into that. Good boy!
l bet you're missing your mother. First time away from her, l bet
Look at you...
First time without your mother but you're not alone, see? l'm here
lt's all right...
What's your name then? What do you reckon What shall we call you?
Ranger? No. Howard?
Hey! Howard the horse?
Joey?
You lik e that one, eh? Joey?
You like the sound of that? You do, don't you
Hello, Joey. Hello, Joey boy
When l whistle like that, you always know it's me, Albert
That's a good start, Joey. That's a good start
And l'll wager a hat full of gnineas Against all of the songs yon can sing
That soe day yon 'll love and the neut day you'll lose And Winter will tnrn into Spring
And the snow falls, the wind calls, And the year tnrns ronnd again
And like Barleycorn who rose from the grave A new year will rise up again
But there will come a tie of great plenty. A tie of good harvest and snn
Tlll then put your trust in tonorrow my frlend, For yesterday's over and done
Ploughed, sown, reaped and mown And the year turns round again
And like Barleycorn who rose from the grave Anew year will rise up agaln
Which one? Which hand? Wh ch hand is it?
There! Good boy
Hello? What's that? Do that again
Way up, boy!
Way up, boy... that's tl
Phoebe arlse, a gleam in her eyes And the year turns round again
And like Barleycorn who rose from the grave Anew year will rise up agaln
Come on, Joey l You ready for a ride?
- Up here father - Where?
Wait, father, they'll come. Every morning they...
- There! - Bleeding hell
See how he growed up? He looks like a proper hunter, don't he?
Let's see how he goes, first. Looks aren't everything
Aren't you a beauty?
- Arthur - Morning, Ted
- What're you doing here, Arthur? - On my way to the v age
Then you took the wrong path
Just seen Albert tearing up the countryside on that horse, Ted . You must be about ready to sell him
- M ight get back what you paid for him, if you're luck y - l've no need to sell him
What, a horse like that? He's only good for riding, ain't he? Nothing but a plaything for young Albert
- He's more than that. l can work him - Work him?
- He can plough - Plough? l'd lik e to see you get him to plough
E verything l do on this farm eats you up, don't it?
l think the t me has come to buy my little brother a dr nk
- Father? - Don't you worry, Billy. We're having that horse
Easy, boy! Whoa! You were born for that, Joey. Born for it
What's that? We were born for each other
Sopp y bugger. Come on, let's get you in
l'll groom you up all shiny like a polished table. Shiny as a smile at a wedding
You like that, don't you?
- And how are the chickens doing, A bert? - Hello, mother. The chick ens? The chick ens are grand
- You didn't feed them, did you? - l will. l promise, after supper
No need, l've done it for you . They were half dead. But that's all right, as long as Joey's in the peak of health
And he is... You've done well with him
- l am proud of you, son - Thanks
- And you've come on and all - Get off
Well, come in. Supper's ready. And wash your hands
l'll find a way to k eep you . So l will. We'll never sell you . l 'll find a way
Good night, Joey, good night
Come on then, Joe y, let's get this collar on you
Don't mess me about
All right, you choose: kind words or cruel whip. Choose cruel whip and l'll whop you till you're bleed ng
Right then, have it your way
Take that... and that...
- Calm down, Joe y... Back up - You bastard!
- Get out of my way - No
- Give me my whip - No
- Then you fetch me my gun! - Ted l
- That beast attacked me - He was whipping him
- He's got t o be collared - Collared?
- He's got to p ough - What are you talking about?
Plough, Rose. plough
But Ted, he's a hunter. Albert's brought him on and now he's ready to se
- Yes well, he's going to plough - How m uch have you had to drink?
- l've made a bet - What?
- A good bet - Oh no
- With Arthur, Rose, that's right - Ted! How much is at stake?
- Well if l win... - You won 't
- The price we paid for him, thirty-nine guineas - What if you lose?
- l'll w n - Answer me, Ted . lf we lose?
- The horse - No, father. That's not fair
- A bet's a bet. That horse will plough - B y when?
- B y Plough Wednesday - A week?
He won't plough in a week, or a year. lt's a r ding horse
Save yourself the trouble and hand him to your brother now
- Stupid, stupid bet - Don't you dare talk to me like that
You stop itl Ted stop itl
That animal has to plough or l 'll shoot the damn thing and Arthur can have him dead
Calm down there, boy. Calm down, now, Joey...
- Albert, you have to t each that horse to plough - No, l will not. lt'll hurt him
No? Right. Then Arthur can have him with a bu et in his head
- Ted l - You' have to shoot me first
A l right. l'll teach him to plough
- l 'll do it - You will?
- B y Plough Wednesda y? - We you can't do it, can you?
You'll teach him to win my 'stupid bet'?
Good . So that's that. The boy'll teach him to plough, and it'll all be all right, Rose
Why does he always have to get so drunk?
- l hate him - l beg your pardon?
l do. And l tell you, l'll be ready for him next time. l took his whip off him . l'm stronger than 'Poor Ted'
Albert Narracott, you dare call your father that again or raise your hand to him...
...and l'll whop you harder than you can bloody imagine
- He shames us ma, he shames us - That's enough l
That man has fought and worked for everything we have, everything
So he likes a drink. That's why we own this bloody horse
But when you say that you hate him or he shames us you sound just like your U ncle Arthur
And you don 't know nothing l Your uncle thinks your father's weak 'cos he didn't go off to South Africa to fight
What he never says is that Ted had to stay to look after the Narracott farm, and he did it well
Then he got out from under his brother and he struck out on his own here, for me
He's not 'Poor Ted'. He's never run away from a thing in his life
Not a fight, or a drink, or me or you
So we stick by him, and we bloody love h m
- All right? - Yes, mother
All right. You're growing up, but he's your father. So no more of that talk and no fighting
- Agreed? - Agreed
Good lad . Now how in hell are you going to teach a hunter to plough in one week...
...and make your uncle wish he'd never been born?
- l don't know how. l'll just have to - You will
- And if l do... We must k eep him if we win - Keep him?
You've got t o give up the plan to se Joey, and if we get to k eep him l won't row with father
l'll talk to him, but not now. Tomorrow, after his second pint...
...but before his fourth
You're not a bad lad, Joey, are you? Next time, you kick Ted Narracott in the head, see if that sorts him out
That was devilish stupid, wasn 't it?
Lf you want t o surv ve, you'll have to earn that you're never to kick anyone ever again
Mother was joking about next time you kick father. No next time. Never kick anyone ever again
Now l'm going to teach you to plough and you're going to learn. Understood?
Then we can be t ogether forever, which is how l believe things are meant to be
What do you think of that? You believe that, too, don't you?
We've got seven days, Joey. Seven days
Day One The collar
lt's all right this. lt's just a bit of old leather
lt's all r ght. Here we go. N ce and eas y...
Stop thatl You're going to have to learn to take it
l'm ta k ng to the draught horse part of you, the calm, sensible part
Let's try and eave the thoroughbred part of you out of this
Easy, now...
That's itl Good lad l Well done, Joeyl
lt's of a brisk young ploughboy, He was plough ing on the plaln
And hls horse it stood down in yonder shade
lt was down in yonder glade he went whistling to plough, And by chance there he met a pretty maid
Day Two Ploughing bridle and reins
And oftimes they wandered unto the yonder glade And contented they lay amidst the shade
And the sweet bells they did ring And the nlghtingale did sing
All for the plough boy and his tender maid
All right, Joey. Feel me, boy. And round to the left...
And round to the right...
Now straight for me
Day Three Today you're going to pull me, Joey
But when her cruel parents they dld cone to know That her love he was ploughing on the plain...
...they sent for the press-gang And they pressed her love away
And they sent him to the war to be slain
lt's easy this, Joey. Back up for me
But when he was upon the sea, His love on England's shore
He swore by every star that rose on hlgh He would never to the ploughing go...
...lest she be at hls side Together and forever by and by
Day Five The plough
Walk on...
You ain't even trying!
Day Seven You still haven't bloody ploughed yet
Look, you don't know, so l'm going to have to do the knowing for you
The rest of your life depends on this. So get set to pull straight
- Are you sp ying, Billy Narracott? - Waiting for father
- l didn't say it like that, you little runt - Me? You're the Narracott runtl 'Poor Billy'...
Enjoy your ast few minutes with that horse
Bad as your fathers
- He started it - That's enough
What're you pla ying at, Billy? You don't have to prove nothing to Albert
This bet is as safe as a mouse in cheese. Let the horse plough from here...
- To... - To T mbuktu, eh Arthur?
- Here - No, to here
- Split the difference - All right, to there then
That ain't the difference. To here
- Agreed? - Agreed
You can see my stake, Arthur, standing right there in front of you
- Where's yours? - Thirty-nine guineas, here
- John Greig, that horse won't plough - Thomas Bone, l agr ee, that horse won't plough
- All right everyone? Albert, when you're ready - Good luck, the pair of you
Whoa l False startl
- He's right, false start. The plough hasn't cut yet - lf the Reverend says so, we go again
Round goes the wheel of fortun Don 't be afraid to rlde
There 's a land of milk and hony Waits on the other slde
There 'll be peace and there 'll be plenty You'll never need to roam
When we go rolling home, when we go rolling hone
Well done, Albertl And well done, Joeyl Well done, both of you
That was a miracle, lad. Good work. You keep looking after him and he'll always keep looking after you
How did you do that? What a beautiful boy What a team we make!
Albert and Joey together forever
Father, you said he was mine. You said he'd never do it
- Clear and sheer fluke - Not true, Arthur. Albert won fair and square
Eh ook, Arthur. Your money in my hand
You all know what that means. The Kaiser has refused to withdraw his armies from Belgium
We are now at war with Germany
These are the last bells you'll hear until the war is ended
All men in the Yeomanry raise your hands. We are now being mobilised
We must turn ploughs into swords and go over there with the regular army...
...to sort the Kaiser out and be back in time for tea
Then hoorah for the Scarlet and the Blue With the helmets a-glltterlng in the sun
And the bayonts flash like lightning To the beating of a military drum
Volunteer horses this way, sequestered horses that way
Men with mounts this way, men without that way
Old soldiers up to the age of forty-five this way, new recruits that way. Blacksmiths wanted
Horses, fine horses, bring them along, your country needs them, too
And we pay fair. Forty pounds for a trooper's mount, one hundred pounds for an off cer's
- How much? - One hundred pounds, Ted, for the right horse
That would be a fine horse, one that deserves an officer on its back
l was once a jolly ploughboy l was ploughing of the fields all day
When a sudden thought came to my mind...
Who wants the King's shilling? Join up, join up. Enlist here. Attestation forms over here
Billy Narracott, you're nineteen? Over here. Good lad
Old soldiers up to the age of forty-five? Form a line
John Gre g and Thomas Bone, morning l You signing as troopers?
- Yes, sergeant - Good men
You get a shilling, l get sixpence, and everyone's happy
Repeat after me. l swear by Almighty God...
That l will remain faithful... etcetera, you know the oath
Look, the oath ends 'So help me God'? Well ad d this: 'And G od help the Kaiser'
Because he's going to need help 'cos we're going to run him right out of Belgium, right back into G ermany...
...then right through Germany and out the other side, wherever that is
Here, Billy, l 've something for you
This knife was your grandfather's. He carried it in the second Afghan war, and then it was mine, in the Boer War
We both served to safeguard the Em pire and we both surv ved. Now t's yours, the third Narracott to own it
You take good care of it and it'll take good care of you
And if ever you have cause to use it, me and your grandfather will be guiding your hand. Well, goodbye
Sign here, Trooper Narracott. You will be orderly to Captain Stewart, over there
And l've leaved behlnd ny Molly She 's the girl that l adore
And l wonder if she 'll thlnk of me...
Come on, Joey. l know l ain 't Albert. Come on, you bugger
And the bayonts flash like lightning To the beatlng of the military drum
- Captain N icholls? - Yes
- E dward Narracott, sir - Volunteering him?
- l'm doing my bit, sir. l paid a record price for him - Yes l remem ber
And now he's the finest horse in the parish. J umps like a hunter, goes lik e a racer
Yes l've seen his pace. What did you name him?
- Joey, sir - Hello, Joey. Hello boy
- Officer's horse, l'd say - You would, would you?
And no more will l go harvesting, Or gatherlng the golden corn
For l've took the good Klng's shilling And l'm off, and l'm off, and l'm off
No splints, no curbs, good feet and t eeth. Sound as a bell, sir
- That's right M r Cart er - A hundred pounds, then
- One hundred pounds - Thank you, sir
Not bad, eh Arthur? l couldn't see through a ladder, now l k eep making money out of him . lt's not 'Poor Ted' now
- Fatherl - Albert!
- He's sold Joey t o the army? Joey's my horse - A hundred pounds
- But he's mine, l won the ploughing - Steady on, young man
- He's sold him to the army - A hundred pounds, Rose
- You said you'd speak to him, you promised - Ted, what are you doing?
- So he agreed - No, l didn't agree
- A hundred pounds - Father, please
l promise l'll never defy you again and he'll never kick you ever again
No, he's never kicked me
- Yes he did - Shut up, boy
That means he's not right for the army, don't it? He's got a nasty streakl He kick ed me
Young man, come over here
That's an order. Come
- Now, then . Albert, s it? - Sir
Has Joey kick ed you? Has he? And has he a nasty streak?
- He is spirited, but that's the best thing about him - l thought so
- lf Joey's going l'm go ng too. l'm volunteering - How old are you?
- Nineteen - ls that the truth?
Sixteen
Don't you worry about your Joey. He's quite a horse, Albert. You've brought him on well
l've seen you riding him and l've sketched him. l'll show you one day, when all this is over
But now his place is with the army. You're helping us bring this war to a swift end by letting us have him
- And aft er it's over can l buy him back? - Perhaps
- How long w that be? - A few months at most
Whatever happens, you have my word as an officer he will be well cared for
He'll be my mount, Albert, so l'll care for him myself. That's a promise
- Can l say goodbye to him, sir? - Of course you may
Joey. Joey boy. The thing is, that you're going to have to go away with that man, Capta n Nicholls
l want you to do yourself proud
You go and drive those Germans back home, and then you come home
lt will only be a few months. You'll be back by Christmas, you will
He's promised we'll be together again. l promise too
l, Albert Narracott, do solemnly swear that we shall be together again
Then hoorah for the Scarlet and the Blue With the helmets a-glittering in the sun
And the bayonts flash like lightning To the beating of a military drun
And no more wlll l go harvestihg Or gathering the golden corn
For l took the good King 's shllllng And l'm off tonorrow morn
Keep that hundred pounds to buy h m back when the war s over That money s for Joey
never sa d he cou d keep h m Do you want to ose the farm?
T s the way you d d t Your heart must be stone
We re at war, Rose Ar en't we just
Now then You have got to get used to this
Ca m down, Joey t's on y a no se t s not go ng to hurt you
Enough, Joey Don't you run at me Back up
Good boy, Joey You'll do fine You and me both, God willing
Fine horse
Captain Stewart! Good evening Good evening, Captain N icholls Major N icholls
Congratulations, Charles Thank you, Jamie
So you 're a major's horse, eh Joey? Better salute you
He still won't match my Topthorn for speed We'll see about that How are they getting on?
They're a bit snippy Well that won't do Best let them sort it out
We're posted to France in the morning l n the morning it is
So let the men know Yes, sir
Battle orders No polishing Buttons, cap badges, buckles, stirrup irons let them all go dull
We don't want anything to flash in the sun and give us away
lssue ammunition, rations, you know the dri l l We'r e ready for battle, sir
l was pleased with the practise charge t oday Were you far behind?
You felt the heat of Topthorn's breath down your neck Did l?
Fast est horse in the Yeomanry l wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of our charge
My uncle says he's seen men go to pieces when our cavalry bear down on them
We're going to cut a swathe through Fritz, he won't know what's hit him He'll wish that he'd never been born
Well, we're about to discover if that's true, aren't we? Why wouldn't it be?
l'm not casting aspersions on your uncle, but every generation has to discover things for themselves
l don't know, Jam ie there's a lot l don't know
Trooper Narracottl Take Topthorn out into the paddock
Dismiss Sir
Tel l the men to prepare, would you? Reveille at five thirty
Come on, Joey There's Topthorn Sort out who's in charge lf you're going to fight, get it over with
Once we're over there, you'll need everything you've got for Fritz
Come on, Joey
l was once a jolly ploughboy l was ploughing of the fields all day
When a sudden thought came to my mind That l should roam away
No nore to work the harvest fields. Nor hear the skylark sing
For l've joined up to the Arny, l'm a fighting for the King
Then hoorah for the Scarlet and the Blue With the helmets a glittering in the sun
And the bayonts flash like lightning To the beating of a military drun
And no more wlll l go harvesting Or gathering the golden corn
For l've took the good Klng's shilling And l'm off tomorrow morn
And l'll leave behind my Molly, She 's the girl that l adore
And l wonder lf she 'll think of me When the rifles crack and roar
And lf ever l return again And she proves true to me
We 're going to do the churchyard walk And a sergeant's wife she 'll be
My God Don't show any fear or pity This is normal from now on
Jamie Captain St ewart Sir
Pull yourself together We must rally the men Sergeant Carterl Fall the men in
Sir Troop, fall in!
, Sir Troop, fall in!
Troop 'shun! To the front Salute!
Away Stand at ease
Trooper Narracott, lend me your rifle Sir
Trooper Bone, what does this mean? That signal means halt, sir
Yes, trooper That means halt Trooper Greig?
Enemy spotted, sir Enemy spotted indeed
And we shall spot him very soon
We didn't seek this war The Kaiser unleashed this havoc
His minions, his dogs of war, perpetrated those terrible things on your comrades
The enemy who did that are very near, killing and maiming more of them They must be stopped
And you, the Yeomanry, the ordinary worki ng men of Devon, are the men to do it
The finest soldiers in the finest army on earth
Ten miles east of here are the German infantry with very little cavalry protection
Tomorrow we shall charge through them and secure the ground behind
You have each a sword, a rifle, and one hundred and forty rounds
What is more, you have right on your side They are swords of justice and rounds of retribution
Make the Kaiser rue the day! Let every man do himself, his King, his country, and his fallen comrades, proud
Be br ave! ear God! Honour the King!
We are destined to be victorious
Fall in line
What is it, sir? Enemy infantry Open ground
Let's prove your uncle right, Captain Stewart Yes, sir The men are ready
Stand by your horses
Company mountl One, two, three
Easy, Joey Easy now, don't get ex cited We'll get through this all right, don't you worry
Company advance!
They're taking up positions, sir, they've seen us We keep advancing, knee to knee
Trot Gallop Charge!
My God, machi ne gunsl Attacking right flankl Break line!
Machine guns attacking right flank! Fall the men back l
The lambkln in the manger The light upon the lea
The moorland ylelds to glory The shepherds bend the knee
And all are wrapped in grace And all are gifted nirth
Peace walks upon this blessed land Goodwlll upon all earth
You can look, now Happ y Christmas, Albert
A bicycle Thanks Father fixed it up
lt's grand No, really, it is l'll ride it
Well, that's what it's for, Albert: to sit on and ride
You know the Christmas present l'd lik e? You two to look each other in the eye and talk
Oh Arthur Yes
l was in the post office in the village last night, just before closing
Whi le l was there, Mrs Allan said there was a parcel for Albert, from the from over there
And l thought, l could go by that way in the morni ng, so l offered, and it might not get there otherwise
So l asked if l could, and here it is Thank you, Arthur
Who's sending me a parcel from over there? Open it and see
Happy Christmas, Arthur Happy Christmas, uncle Arthur
What is it? l don't know a book
lt's drawings it's Captain N icholls' sketchbook Lookl There's a picture of me and Joey
Well l never A picture of you and Joey? Look he sees him beautiful
There's a letter G o on, then
'Dear Albert Narracott, Major N icholls, who died in action '
'Major N icholls, who died in action today, left you this Yours, Acting Major James S tewart
l would never brought it if l 'd You weren't to know it was bad news
Well, l'll Arthur
Have you heard from Billy? Yes Not for a while
There's been some telegrams received yest erday, i nforming, you know
Thomas Bone, John Greig, Auctioneer Carter Christmas Eve, too
Papers say it's going according to plan l'm not saying it's not
Maybe the village has been unluck y l'm right behind our boys
So am l Billy'll be back Oh, he will, he wi l l
ln my day they didn't have these machine guns we keep hearing about
l n your day? That's right, Ted ln my day, when l fought for the Empire
Come in t o the house for a cup of t ea, Arthur We were just about to have one
Were we?
lt's not your fault, Rose
You bloody men
He was riding Joey What did you say?
N icholls Major N icholls was riding Joey when he died
You don't know he was riding him when he 'l n action', it says
We'll have t o wait and see He promised he'd look after him
Can you just shut up about your bloody horse? Half the men in the village are dead
l'm sorry, son Come here l don't know what to be saying
He might be all right
l've a little something for you Wait
Well then, Albert Come on, then, come on then, lad
lt's only a silly little thi ng
Albert?
Ted, he's gone!
Narracott? Sir?
You're rid i ng Joey in this charge Sir
Stop shaking You'll unsettle the horses
Here, have a tot of rum
Your horse he belonged to your fam i ly, didn't he?
To my cousin, sir Albert Then he'll look after you, Narracott
No he won't Pull yourself together
l mean the horse is just the horse, sir lt's my father and grandfather who will be guiding my hand, sir
That's the spirit Mount u p Narracott
Company, mount! One, two, three
That's our guns destroying their wire Do you hear me?
When we charge, head for the gaps in the wire and give them cold steel
Where are the gaps, sir?
Where are the gaps?
l can't see no gaps
Jump the wire!