need help with translation "Minatogawa Chrysanthemum on water poem" cup

[Volker62]

the kanji on the on the cup's back " Ota"?

 

perhaps can somebody help me to translate the Kanji, Poem? on this beautiful WWII cup

 

 

Thank you in advance!

[Bugyotsuji]

小井戸 Koido in Hagi, a pottery.

 

菊水 Kikusui chrysanthemums and the river emblem, recalls Minatogawa Jinja, Lord Kusunoki, and the Chinese legend of loyalty, inter alia. 
 

On the front it says 歩兵 Hohei in the gourd, meaning footsoldiers.
The gourd may refer back to Hideyoshi…(?) but maybe overthinking it.

[xiayang]

The cursive is beyond my abilities, but the line at the bottom reads:
 

第三聯隊 = 3rd regiment

[Bugyotsuji]

Ah, thanks Jan. Nowadays one would write Rentai as 連隊.

歩兵第3連隊 - Wikipedia

 

[Volker62]

many many thanks

 Gentleman!

 

[lonely panet]

Volker , would you be a sake cup collector??

[Volker62]

 

 

 

 

 

an opportunity purchase Neil

[SteveM]

Possible to get another picture? There is a bit of glare that is making it difficult to make out some of the first lines. Well, all of them are difficult to make out, but maybe another angle/picture would help. I'm guessing it is an inscription to someone on the occasion of their retirement from that regiment - the cups would have been a gift for anyone attending the retirement party. I'm thinking there is a name in the writing (義和 - Yoshikazu?) that is currently obscured by a bit of glare. 

[k morita]

Hi, Steve,

軽き身に、重き義務をば、勤めあげ、故郷へ帰る、今日ぞ嬉しき。

[SteveM]

Very nice - I now see this on other, similar mementos.

 

A young man,

is given a burdensome duty,

sees it to its completion,

and then returns home,

Today is joyous.