It was just before dawn One miserable morning in black '44. When the forward commander was told to sit tight When he asked that his men be withdrawn. And the generals gave thanks as the other ranks Held back the enemy tanks for a while. And the Anziel bridgehead was held for the price Of a few hundred ordinary lives. The kind old King George sent Mother a note When he heard that Father was gone. It was, I recall, in the form of a scroll With the gold leaf laid on. And I found it one day, in a drawer of Old photographs in the way. And my eyes still grow dim To remember His Majesty Signing in his own rubber snout. It was dark all around, There was frost in the ground When the tigers broke free. And no one survived from the Royal Fusiliers Company C. There were all left behind, Most of them dead, the rest of them dying. And that's how the high command Took my Daddy from me.