Spash after splash the shells bombarded the waves as the metal hulk ploughed its path through the sea.
All standing as men but mostly boys.
To the left explosions a platoon now lost, not far to go the beach was in sight.
A thud and a shudder as the bow hits the shore.
The door drops forward in a hail of lead.
Front ranks fall slain were they stood.
Lieutenant shouts forward as his head comes off.
Running and crawling sand in their eyes, climbing over their brothers now dead.
Whistles blowing and explosions all around.
They climb in the crater the last one formed.
"Get off the beach" was all that was heard.
But get to where?
As the bullets hailed.