Back in June 1940 so history books say a young suburban fellow named Ronald Wade raised up his hand and enlisted his name to fight the good fight of the day the battalion moved north training next on the course Wangaratta proud to call them their own and they moved on together .. to camp Bonegilla while the Strathmore was waiting at bay
The battalion embarked and sailed off on their way bound for Tobruk, Guinea and El Alemain and the souls of these brave men were never the same as they carried the wounded and slain and as shells pounded down with death felt all around young Ronald's demeanour retained and with drinks all around those boys painted the town just to celebrate waking that day
And the rats wouldn't stray they kept fighting and their spirits march on to this day with the enemy scared every rat was prepared to lay his life down for a mate
The men charged on forward as battlefields raged Rommel was stunned as they dug in again
they fought side by side but their fate was unchanged their chances were slipping away and the enemy's tanks blew but one man to hell our mate Rover never would tell the story of how he survived on that day as he watched eight comrades as they fell
And the feeling of being marched into that camp was like being dragged down to hell with a last swing of faith Ronald's chains were replaced with a gruelling crawl to friendly faces with a keener forehand and fine rhythm this man made his way back to his homeland though the telegram said our mate Rover was dead here stood that tough little bastard
Cross the sea .. through the war old mate is back on our shores things they'd seen .. fights they'd fought Rover out-roved the war
And the rats wouldn't stray they kept fighting and their spirits march on to this day now the good fight was won all those brave men were sung as the heroes that helped save Australia