It's a thrill for me to have two of my early songs mentioned on Mudcat. Thank you, Michael and I hope you are well. High Spen's Tommy Young was based on a 1983 article in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle about Thomas Young VC, a Durham Light Infantry soldier and stretcher-bearer in World War One.

Tommy Young

He lived through two world wars,a thin frail old man
Though he had the cause you'd never hear him moan
No different to many others there he'd hauled coals down the pit
An ordinary working chap was High Spen's Tommy Young
When war broke out in France, Tommy signed up straight away
There was no way he'd miss the chance to make the Kaiser pay
He wore his uniform with pride but was wounded on the Somme at High Wood
Just another soldier lad was High Spen's Tommy Young
He lost companions, so many men were slain
A generation sacrificed but neither side could gain
On grey stone crosses their names can still be read
Husbands, fathers, sons and friends the fallen Durham dead

Returned half fit but not too soon his section under fire
He heard the cries of comrades coming from the mud and wire
Nine times he crawled out from the trench, nine times in broad daylight
Nine times he brought men back again High Spen's Tommy Young
When Tommy Young was granted leave kids ran in the streets
Flags and bunting hung from trees women stood and cheered
"I'd love to have a pint or two and a walk through fresh green fields"
He couldn't understand the fuss High Spen's Tommy Young
"I'm nee hero", he told the crowds that came
"It happens all the time doon pits, it's just the bloody same"
His cross and ribbon an honour nothing more
For Tommy never cared about his courage in the war.

Peace found Tommy underground hewing at the coal
Far below where sudden sounds spread fear among the bold
But dust would have the final say in Tommy's working life
He supervised the pithead baths High Spen's Tommy Young
"A land that's fit for heroes" fine words that Lloyd George used
An empty politician's phrase for men who were abused
He spent the last days of his life alone in an old folks' home
Nobody there knew who he was High Spen's Tommy Young
"I'm nee hero" he told the man that came
"It happens all the time doon pits, it's just the bloody same
His cross and ribbon an honour nothing more
For Tommy never cared about his courage in the war.