The Meekatharra Hero – by A E Wallace

The Meekatharra Hero

Rise up you noble warriors
Australia’s boldest sons;
And stand at ease a moment
Behind Australia’s guns.
For we’ve just unearthed a hero
Who should commandeer the cake,
Who, alone and unassisted
Killed a deadly twelve inch snake.

Talks of Roosevelt in the jungle
And his tales of blood and gore.
How he killed a boa-constrictor
With his trusty forty-four;
It will pale away to nothing,
And it makes a fellow shake
When he hears of Wiltshire’s battle,
With a deadly twelve inch snake.

Twelve inches! Just remember
It would take a man of grit
and the makings of a soldier
To cause the death of it.
(Hogans Ghost) ! It makes me wonder
What’s the brand he had to take
Before he opened fire upon
That awful twelve inch snake.

When they paint this hero’s picture
In some classic gallery;
Thought it won’t be on exhibit
For the likes of you and me,
Lords and Earls will stand before it
(And I bet it makes them quake),
Gazing on the picture
Of Wiltshire and the snake.

A E Wallace

(Punlished in the book ‘Meekatharra, The End of the Earth’, by P R Heydon)

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My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

Comments

  1. Corinne Young says

    That is a great story about the 12″ Someone will laugh about such A small snake. It may be small but it’s got hell of a bite.

  2. David Archibald. says

    Very interesting…thankyou ?.

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