Nigel Grumpy, at that time just a lad,

Was taken to Germany by his dad.

Dad could hardly wait to cross the border,

Hoping to encounter proper order.

In the thirties of emblems and of flags,

Of swastikas adorning shopping bags,

The local party crowd would strut their stuff

And Grumpy Senior couldn’t get enough.

He marvelled at their discipline and pride,

Their well-drilled, smart, and spruce, efficient side;

But failed to see coercion had a cost,

In terms of human kindness which was lost.

Nigel’s father, back at Coventry base,

Brought lots of office knick-knacks in his case;

But later, when the bombs began to fall,

His stripped them smartly off his workplace wall.