Jack Ashore - Ladysmith Poem by Cicely Fox Smith

Ten thousand British, twenty thousand foe;
Boers on a hilltop, shelling all they know:
Navy men with navy guns, quick and cool to aim,
Fit and fresh from off the seas to play at Tommy's game.
On shore, off shore, a man in fighting trim;
Jack ashore and Jack afloat, it's all the same to him,
Jack afloat and Jack ashore, the same thro' thick and thin,
On the sea and off the sea, he always fights to win.

Bluejackets cheery, hearty, true, and strong,
Come to fight for England and bring the guns along.
Lords of all the outer deep, bold in word and deed,
Full of fight from off the seas to help in Tommy's need.
On shore, off shore, a man in fighting trim;
Jack ashore and Jack afloat, it's all the same to him,
Jack afloat and Jack ashore, the same thro' thick and thin,
On the sea and off the sea, he always fights to win.

Silence of the hilltop, guns that shell no more,
Show that Jack the sailor's a man of war ashore.
Here's to him by land and sea - men and guns and all -
Hearts of oak from off the seas to come at Tommy's call.
On shore, off shore, a man in fighting trim;
Jack ashore and Jack afloat, it's all the same to him,
Jack afloat and Jack ashore, the same thro' thick and thin,
On the sea and off the sea, he always fights to win.