When Your Boy Comes Back to You
WHEN YOUR BOY COMES BACK TO YOU
Gordon V. Thompson
VERSE 1
Keep the lamp of home still brightly burning
Till your boy comes back to you
And although your may oft’ be yearning
For one whose love is true
Bear in mind the day he’ll be returning
So then, cheer up! Don’t be blue!
Ev’ry day you’re far apart you grow dearer to his heart
Till your boy comes back to you!
REFRAIN
When your boy comes back to you
You will keep your promise true
You will watch, you will wait by the old garden gate
Till the regiment appears in view
When your boy comes back to you
And the bands are playing too
Won’t your heart be beating fast
Just to welcome him at last?
When your boy comes back to you!
VERSE 2
Don’t forget to heed this word of warning
It will mean so much to you
Though it’s dark tonight the sun at morning
Will shine with brighter hue
On the boys with glory all the adorning
You will share that glory too!
Wear a bright and sunny smile
Tho’ you wait a long long while
Till your boy comes back to you!
When Your Boy Comes Back To You.mp3PRIVATE JOHN STODDART
Private John Stoddart, a barber by trade, grew up in Melancthon township and Shelburne. He enlisted in 1916 at the age of 23. On August 18 of 1917, he was badly wounded at Hill 70* where he sustained life-threatening wounds. He was aided by stretcher bearers who got him to medical aid. Doctors and surgeons were able to remove much of the shrapnel and bullets but were unable to save his left foot.
Pvt. Stoddart was eventually discharged from active service and sent home. He made the trip from Toronto to Shelburne to visit his family. When the train arrived, he was greeted with a “rousing reception”, which included a large crowd, flags and bunting, and of course the Shelburne Citizens’ Band to provide music. As the train pulled in, they played “When Your Boy Comes Back to You” and “Home Sweet Home”. Pvt. Stoddart remarked to the crowd that he had lost a foot, but that he was glad he had “done his bit”.
In October of 1918, John married Dorothy Phillips from Shelburne with whom he would have two daughters. In the fall of 1918, he also opened his own barber shop in town. Despite ongoing pain from his war wounds, he was very active in the community. He worked as superintendent of the Shelburne Post Office, sang in the Wesley and Trinity United church choirs, was a member of numerous clubs, and served on town Council.
*The battle for Hill 70 was the first time Canadian forces fought under a Canadian commander, Arthur Currie. Occupation of the hill offered a strategic overlook of the city of Lens. The battle for the hill was intense and the cost was high. By the end of the battle about 9,000 Canadians were killed or wounded. It is estimated that 25,000 Germans were killed or wounded.
Excerpts from John Stoddart's Service Record. View the full service record at Library and Archives Canada.
CAMP BORDEN
Camp Borden was named for Sir Frederick William Borden, who was a former Minister of Militia. It was established in 1916 to train members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). The training grounds included 18km of trench to simulate conditions soldiers would experience overseas.
Over the course of the war, thousands of Canadian soldiers would receive their training at the base.
Pictured left: Soldiers training in the trenches at Base Borden, 1916. Source: Huron County Museum & Archives, 2007.0062.200.