Joshua Dyer, aged 14 was tasked at school to write a poem for Remembrance Day 2019. An hour later, without any help he produced the following poignant poem.
One Thousand Men Are Walking
One thousand men are walking
Walking side by side
Singing songs from home
The spirit as their guide
they walk toward the light milord
they walk towards the sun
they smoke and laugh and smile together
no foes to outrun
these men live on forever
in the hearts of those they saved
a nation truly grateful
for the path of peace they paved
they march as friends and comrades
but they do not march for war
step closer to salvation
a tranquil steady corps
the meadows lit with golden beams
a beacon for the brave
the emerald grass untrampled
a reward for what they gave
they dream of those they left behind
and know they dream of them
forever in those poppy fields
there walks one thousand men
Joshua Dyer – 2019 (aged 14)
Since the release of the poem Joshua Dyer has received a letter from the office of The Duke of Edinburgh thanking him for “producing such a moving and heartfelt piece of creative writing”. Joshua has also attended BBC Hereford & Worcester to pre record for the Sunday Show and received offers from RAF High Wycombe and the NHS Mental Health Veterans Conference in Lincoln to read out his poem for Remembrance.