On 15 Apr 12 - 11:55 AM above, guest Barbara said her grandfather sang a song called LOUSY SHIRTS, so I went looking with Google for "lousy shirts." I found the following song which contains the phrase "lousy shirts," but not so prominently, I think, that one would take it for the title.

From Lieutenant Owen William Steele of the Newfoundland Regiment by David R. Facey-Crowther, (McGill-Queen's University Press, 2002), page 66, at the head of a chapter titled "Suvla Bay (19 September 1915 – 5 December 1915)." I don't think the title of the chapter is meant to be the title of the song, but no other title is given.

In the night they let us wander.
There was no one sent to meet
Till we found some empty dugouts
Where to rest our weary feet.

Airplanes dropped bombs upon us.
Shells went screeching overhead.
Shelter from the rain was asked for.
"There is none," the staff all said.

Then the order came to dress up,
To get picks and shovels from HQ.
They brought back no bloody shovels
And I fear the story is true,
For they raided and stole puddings,
Pinched the general's turkey too,
And of Christmas cheer they gave us
Bulley beef and biscuits few.
No tobacco, rum or pudding.
Did we grumble?—Wouldn't you?

All our lousy shirts and jam tins,
O'er the parapet did throw.
Did the staff complain about it?
No! They chucked it long ago.

Capt. Wilson says we are dirty.
Armstrong's views are just the same,
So we are never downhearted.
What is dirt compared to fame?

Song composed for the Dardanelles Companies
(Tune: What a Friend We Have in Jesus)