Author: Banjo Paterson (Andrew Barton)

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With eyes that searched in the dark,
Peering along the line,
Stood the grim Scotsman, Hector Clark,
Driver of "Forty-nine".
And the veldt-fire flamed on the hills ahead,
Like a blood-red beacon sign.

There was word of a fight to the north,
And a column too hardly pressed,
So they started the Highlanders forth.
Heedless of food or rest.

But the pipers gaily played,
Chanting their fierce delight,
And the armoured carriages rocked and swayed.
Laden with men of the Scots Brigade,
Hurrying up to the fight,
And the grim, grey Highland engineer
Driving them into the night.

Then a signal light glowed red,
And a picket came to the track.
"Enemy holding the line ahead;
Three of our mates we have left for dead,
Only we two got back."
And far to the north through the still night air
They heard the rifles crack.

And the boom of a gun rang out,
Like the sound of a deep appeal,
And the picket stood in doubt
By the side of the driving-wheel.

But the engineer looked down,
With his hand on the starting-bar,
"Ride ye back to the town,
Ye know what my orders are,
Maybe they're wanting the Scots Brigade
Up on those hills afar.

"I am no soldier at all,
Only an engineer;
But I could not bear that the folk should say
Over in Scotland, Glasgow way,
That Hector Clark stayed here
With the Scots Brigade till the foe was gone,
With ever a rail to run her on.
Ready behind! Stand clear!

"Fireman, get you gone
Into the armoured train,
I will drive her alone;
One more trip, and perhaps the last,
With a well-raked fire and an open blast;
Hark to the rifles again!"

            *             *             *             *             *

On through the choking dark,
Never a lamp nor a light,
Never an engine spark
Showing her hurried flight,
Over the lonely plain
Rushed the great armoured train,
Hurrying up to the fight.

Then with her living freight
On to the foe she came,
And the rides snapped their hate.
And the darkness spouted flame.

Over the roar of the fray
The hungry bullets whined,
As she dashed through the foe that lay
Loading and firing blind,
Till the glare of the furnace, burning clear,
Showed them the form of the engineer

Sharply and well defined.
Through! They are safely through!
Hark to the column's cheer!
Surely the driver knew
He was to halt her here;
But he took no heed of the signals red,
And the fireman found, when he climbed ahead,
There on the door of his engine, dead,
The Scottish Engineer!

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Type of Poem: Narrative Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem is a striking narrative piece that encapsulates the themes of courage, duty, and sacrifice. It takes the readers into a war scenario, placing an engineer, Hector Clark, into the spotlight, depicting his bravery and dedication in the face of danger. The tone is somber and suspenseful, creating an atmosphere of urgency and danger.

The structure of the poem is organized in a way that unfolds like a story, building tension and suspense as the poem progresses. The use of onomatopoeia, such as the "boom" of a gun, enhances the visceral, sensory experience of the battlefield. Repetition is employed effectively, particularly in the phrase "Hurrying up to the fight," to emphasize the urgency and haste of the situation.

The poem also utilizes vivid and powerful imagery, such as the "veldt-fire flamed on the hills ahead" and the "darkness spouted flame," which serve to create a haunting, war-torn landscape. The use of metaphors, such as the train as an "armoured carriages," speaks to the militaristic theme of the poem. The ending, where the fireman found Hector dead, is a poignant reminder of the sacrifice made by the ordinary people in times of conflict. The poem successfully portrays the heroism of a common man amidst the chaos and destruction of war.