William "Molly" Malone's Life Celebrated In A Song
William "Molly" Malone's Life Celebrated In A Song
Submitted by Jeremy Cooper, Levin
On 8 August 2005 the NZ Government and people are to formally honour Lt. Col. William "Molly" Malone by the extraordinary act of unveiling a Commemorative Plaque in the Grand Hall at Parliament Buildings; Exactly 90 years (to the day) after his death on Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli.
Among those celebrating the occasion will be Levin song-writer Jeremy Cooper, a grandson of Robert Young, protégé of William Malone, who as commander of the Auckland Battalion, first advanced on Chunuk Bair when in 20 minutes over a 100m distance, 300 NZ soldiers were cut down by Turkish fire.
The lyrics of the song follow. Click on THIS LINK to play the song in MP3 format .
Malone of Chunuk Bair
Words and music: G Jeremy Cooper
Copyright 2004, Key A
Intro instrumental A.D.A.E.A.D.A.E.A
CHORUS 1
William Malone, "Molly Malone"
Will you do what the
Generals say?
Will you lead your men to hell
Place
them under shell
Will you take Chunuk Bair
today?
1.
Politician, farmer, lawyer, husband,
father
Lieutenant Colonel William Malone by name
Led
the Wellingtons, the most capital of sons
Battalion
worthy of immortal fame.
2.
At the age of 56, to
Gallipoli was dispatched
ANZAC Cove, April 25, 1915
A
digger of some note, Commander at Quinn's Post
Respected
and loved by his men
3.
Stalemate three months later,
Generals in despair
Hemmed in everywhere
We'll attack
at Suvla Bay, with diversions all the way
NZ Infantry
Brigade take Chunuk Bair
* CHORUS ONE
4.
First
Battalion to attack, Auckland led by Robert Young
From
Apex to the Pinnacle (100 metres)
But in 20 minutes
flat, they had lost 300 men
And were pinned down by
Turkish fire.
5.
Generals told Malone, "Wellington's to
go"
"No I'll not lead my men to die,
We'll attack by
night not day,
And take Chunuk Bair that way
Then
there'll be no suicide."
6.
Mutiny at hand, Generals
gave way
Wellingtons took the top next early morn (8
August)
Held their position until relieved
Though
shelled by friend and foe alike.
CHORUS 2
William
Malone, Molly Malone
Didn't do what the Generals did
say
But you led your men to hell
Placed them under
shell
And you took Chunuk Bair your way.
7.
Now
to the end of the beginning of the start
William George
Malone was killed, (by shrapnel)
Only 10 percent of 700
Wellingtons
Returned unscathed
8.
Though the
heights were quickly lost,
And many lives it
cost
Nationhood freely flowered that day,
As soldiers
of Empire, Kiwi ANZACs went to war
But returned as New
Zealanders
9.
And our heroes like Malone, will never
fade away
Living on in our hearts and minds
forever
* CHORUS 2
CODA:
Wellington's took
Chunuk Bair their way
New Zealand took Chunuk Bair….. Our
Way….
ENDS