A quote from the poem "Recessional" on a War Memorial Tablet inside Kirk Maughold in the village of Maughold. (
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The quote: "LEST WE FORGET" is the refrain of "Recessional". (
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The phrase is often added to the poem "For the Fallen" but did not form part of the original Robert Binyon's original composition of this ode. (
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The phrase as used by Kipling is derived from the Deuteronomy 6:12 in the King James Version of the Bible: "...lest thou forget...". The full line in the Bible is: "Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage."
Set out below is the full text of Kipling's "Recessional":
"God of our fathers, known of old,
Lord of our far-flung battle line,
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine —
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
The tumult and the shouting dies;
The Captains and the Kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
Far-called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe,
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard,
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And, guarding, calls not Thee to guard;
For frantic boast and foolish word—
Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord! (
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This memorial tablet for those who gave their lives in WWI can be found on the southern wall inside Kirk Maughold.
The full text of the dedication is shown below:
"LEST WE FORGET
THIS MEMORIAL
SERVES TO COMMEMORATE
THE SACRIFICE OF
THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THIS PARISH
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN TWO WORLD WARS
AND IN
SUBSEQUENT CONFLICTS
SO THAT WE MIGHT BE FREE.
THEIR NAMES ARE TO BE FOUND
ON THE WAR MEMORIAL
SET IN
THE BEAUTY OF GOD'S ACRE
SURROUNDING THIS CHURCH.
THEIR WORK DONE,
MAY THEY REST IN PEACE.
NYN OBBYR JEANT OC,
DY GOW AD FEA AUNS SHEE."
NYN OBBYR JEANT OC, DY GOW AD FEA AUNS SHEE is the Manx Gaelic translation of the preceding English quote. (
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