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Stepping Stones to the Solomons: the unofficial history of the 29th Battalion with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Pacific.
We are the Boys Just Drawn by Ballot
We are the Boys Just Drawn by Ballot
Composed by an officer of the original 29th in May, 1941, just prior to leaving for New Zealand, as a satire on the First Relief, 1st Section, which had just arrived.
Tune: We Are The Boys From Way Down Under.
We are the boys just drawn by ballot, sailing for Fiji,
Eighth Infantry Brigade they call us, sounds bloody awful to me;
BP's, Brigade and Samambula, too, we know we're mugs for coming here to you.
For we are the boys just drawn by ballot, eighth reinforcements are we
Lily white knees on Nandi Bay
The BP's will stay when we're away,
Defending the CSR as before
Like the 29th Battalion did in days of yore.
Note: BP's or Blood Pressure—Officers on the New Zealand Ternporary Staff who wore a scarlet pugaree.