RAF version not found in "Airman's Song Book," 1967, C. H. Ward-Jackson and Leighton Lewis, nor in "Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant Major," 1973, edited by Martin Page.

A version of the song appeared in print in 1868, in the form of "The Twelve Apostles," Notes and Queries, Dec. 26, '68, p. 600.

Lyr. Add: THE TWELVE APOSTLES
"H. H.;"

Twelve, twelve apostles,
Eleven arch-angels,
Ten ten commandments,
Nine bright shiners,
Eight Gabriel angels,
Seven were the stars of heaven,
Six broad waters,
Five tumblers on a barrel,
And four gospel writers.
Three three divers,
Two two lily white boys
One is one and all alone,
And evermore shall be so.

"H. H." adds, .... It was the repetition that, as a child,, pleased me-..."