The Wessex anti-submarine crew's lament....

Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
CharlieOneSix
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 5004
Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2015 12:58 pm
Location: NE Scotland
Gender:
Age: 79

The Wessex anti-submarine crew's lament....

#1 Post by CharlieOneSix » Thu Nov 02, 2017 1:08 pm

The following was written by one of our number, Ron Gent, for the final reunion in June 2016 of 815 Squadron aircrew and engineers, 50 years on from when the Squadron disbanded and we handed our Wessex HAS Mk1 anti-submarine helicopters back.

To be sung to the music of "Bless'em all! Bless'em all!"

Lower the Ball! Lower the Ball!
The proud and the humble and tall
We caused much commotion, when we scoured the ocean
Looking for subs, bless ‘em all.

Lower the Ball! Lower the Ball!
Day and night we answered the call;
Subs dived for cover, when we hit the hover
So cheer up me lads, bless ‘em all.

Lower the Ball! Lower the Ball!
And tho’ the thing looks rather small
When it starts pinging, the subs stop their singing
And turn and run deep, bless ‘em all.

Lower the Ball! Lower the Ball!
Now Wessy’s reduced to a crawl
Aged and weary, his eyes all bleary
His rotors beginning to stall.

Let’s go home, one and all,
We’re weary and in a freefall,
The subs raise a cheer, while we down a beer
And desperately try not to bawl.

House the Ball! House the Ball!
We’re away to our slippers and shawl,
No more night flying cos we are retiring
And shutting up shop! Bless us all!
The helicopter pilots' mantra: If it hasn't gone wrong then it's just about to...
https://www.glenbervie-weather.org

User avatar
CharlieOneSix
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 5004
Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2015 12:58 pm
Location: NE Scotland
Gender:
Age: 79

Re: The Wessex anti-submarine crew's lament....

#2 Post by CharlieOneSix » Thu Nov 02, 2017 1:17 pm

A Ron Gent classic cartoon........

img011.jpg
img011.jpg (252.7 KiB) Viewed 389 times
The helicopter pilots' mantra: If it hasn't gone wrong then it's just about to...
https://www.glenbervie-weather.org

User avatar
FD2
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 5110
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2015 10:11 pm
Location: New Zealand
Gender:
Age: 76

Re: The Wessex anti-submarine crew's lament....

#3 Post by FD2 » Fri Nov 17, 2017 4:30 am

CharlieOneSix
Do you remember a little rivalry between the 'pingers' and the 'junglies'? There were some talented people like Andy Lovesy who wrote music or adapted exisiting ones to be sung after mess dinners or other excuses for a piss up! :-bd

FAA Song 2.jpg
FAA Song 2.jpg (170.89 KiB) Viewed 361 times
FAA Song 1.jpg
FAA Song 1.jpg (125.65 KiB) Viewed 361 times

Post Reply