A Bomb Disposal Sapper's Lament

We are the R.E. Bomb Disposers,

Enlisted for the war
And for many months we lay about
til life becomes a bore.
Then Jerry came along
To break our sweet repose
We now go round from place to place
His dud ones to dispose.
Some people think theyre filled with sand
And are dropped about for fun
But theres nothing ruddy funny
About any Nazi Hun.
We have to wake up early
To thwart Adolfs little tricks,
To find out which are acid ones
From those whose clockwork ticks.
There is one job we are proud of,
Amongst our many calls
When Davies and his merry men
Saved Britains great St. Pauls.
We dont kid ourselves were heroes
cos we sometimes get the blues,
especially when we get a bomb
thats got an awkward fuze.
And if we get it out alright,
We do a little grin
But if we dont - thats just too bad
And they inform our next of kin.

Attributed to Sapper Walter Cornish, No 9 Bomb Disposal Company, RE (Birmingham/Coventry) cir