Hadriani   MCMLXIX (original) (raw)

When the far flung Roman legion

Those as �rookies� here arriving

Ruled the world, with iron hand,

As trained soldiers were �passed out�.

Conquest brought them to the region

Centurion tank and armoured carrier

Known to them as �Cumbria�s Land.�

Bren guns, sten guns, PIATs, too,

Northward cross the Tweed they sallied

Spitfires roar near sonic barrier

Where they met the doughty Scot.

Where the Roman eagle flew!

Driven back, their ranks soon rallied

Men from every allied nation

On this ever - hallowed spot.

Drilled where Hadrian used to train;

Led by Hadrian � famous warrior-

Learnt new skills in preparation

Here they built a mighty Wall

For assault on France again.

As the most effective barrier

Victory came and Hadrians settled

To the raids from painted Gaul.

Peacefully to routine fare;

This the start, then, of our College

Hussars� horses highly mettled

On this wild and wind � swept site,

Pranced about the barrack square!

Roman soldiers seeking knowledge,

Trade by day and Prep. By night !

But some Minister of vision

How they loathed this northern station!

Chose it as a R.E.M.E. College,

Standing frozen on the wall.

And the War Office made provision

How they cursed the Scottish nation!

For the spread of modern knowledge

Who prevented their recall

To fitters � gun, VMs and others

To their homeland, where their fellows

Brought from Scotlands furthest straths,

Nightly joined in orgy glorious,

Torn from arms of loving mothers

Or with wild applauding bellows

Here to learn the joys of maths!

Cheered, as lions were victorious

Though at first success came slowly

O�er the Christian Martyrs, weekly,

Soon a sense of pride arose

While they shivered wet and weary

From beginnings poor and lowly

Northward, through the darkness bleakly

Carlisle�s name illustrious grows.

Peering o�er the landscape dreary.

Cups were won for hockey, shooting,

Shields and spears they nightly burnished

Cricket, running, rugger, too:

Crouching frozen on their �pits�.

Colleges on equal footing

In their barracks, Spartan � furnished,

Soon the might of Hadrian�s knew!

Moaning sadly, �We were �nits�

Boxing and athletic meeting,

To have joined the Roman legion,

Pipe and Brass and Corps of Drums,

As apprentice charioteer

Every College risks a beating

To be posted to a region

When to Hadrian�s it comes,

Where the State controls the beer!�

Trade results and education

Not for them a two years� training

Fav�rably compare with most.

Followed by a posting home,

A/T. from this happy station,

But the prospect of remaining

�We�re the greatest!� proudly boast.

All their service far from Rome.

Lowland fells and Scottish heather

Training grounds beyond compare

Bracing winds and Carlisle weather,

So down through the passing ages

Snow � clad slopes and champagne air!

Hadrian�s flourished on its own;

No other camp throughout the land

Wrote its name in History�s pages

Could match Carlisle in any way:

Long e�er Aborfield was known!

The �Q� brief passed � new barracks planned �

But alas ! the Roman nation

Building to start without delay!

Was besieged by savage foes,

A rosy future stretched ahead

Legions left their northern station �

Until a bitter blow revealed

O�er the wall, the wild wind blows.

That Hadrian�s camp was doomed instead

Towers and stonework swiftly crumble

To move, en bloc, to Arborfield!

Pillaged by marauding bands;

And so, ere long, this ancient site

Farm � carts on the ramparts rumble;

Will once more rumble to decay

Desolate the College stands!

And Hadrian�s eagle soar in flight

Till the war lord, Hore � Belisha,

While sprawling Spiders rot away!

Built a fresh camp on the site,

Yet all who served here must ensure

For the newly � formed militia

Carlisle�s traditions never fade

Who restored this Country�s might.

But through the years unchanged endure

On the ground the spiders sprawling

In memory of the part She played,

Sprang up swiftly, strange and stark.

In training them as craftsmen skilled

Came recruits from dawn to dark.

And sportsmen worthy of the name.

So the College, once more thriving,

Their debt to Her will be fulfilled

Echoed to the sergeants� shout.

If they preserve Her honoured name!