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About of ARNHEM BATTLE

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by lemasson (U14657654) on Friday, 22nd October 2010

  Hello
  
  Lonnie DONEGAN sang a song entitled "RED BERETS" composed by Peter BUCHANAN.
  
  This song is about ARNHEM battle and the courageous paratroopers who fought there.
  
  My request is about the lyrics of this song.
  
  If one of you want to help me he will be welcome
  And if you need the song I can send it too in MP3.
  
  Last but not the least I live in Dunkirk.
  
  [Personal details removed by Moderator]
  Thank you so much for any kind help
  
  Regards
  
  Licette

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Triceratops (U3420301) on Saturday, 23rd October 2010

  Hi Licette,
  
  It's track number 23 on the album Lonnie Rides Again Plus,it is available on Amazon and might be available in your local record store.
  
  
  here's a free listen,
  
  
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by lemasson (U14657654) on Saturday, 23rd October 2010

  Hi
  Thank you for replying.
  I knew this Lonnie Donegan album.
  I have it and it's not the song I'm looking for but only the lyrics or the trascription of the lyrics.
  If you can help me it will be great
  
  Thank you very much
  Regards
  Licette

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Saturday, 23rd October 2010

  Triceratops
  
  Not that this will help Licette's quest, but was this song Donnegan's penance for his cover version of "The Battle Of New Orleans"?
  
  LW

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Triceratops (U3420301) on Sunday, 24th October 2010

  Hello Licette,
  
  I've transcribed the sog as best I can;
  
  A forest of crosses,near fair Anhem stand
  and written there well to the fore.
  Is "O stranger when passing please say short prayer
  for the men who the red berets wore"
  
  Chorus;
  Red berets,freedom berets
  covered all over in blood
  Red berets,red red berets
  Lying where brave men had stood
  
  In September'44 with hard eye and grim jaw
  the warriors took off from Grantham field
  In Dakotas the flew,and though none of them knew
  their young lives they'd soon have to yield
  
  They landed with rifles,small arms and grenades
  and fought against fifty ton tanks
  From Nijmegen they had hoped reinforcements would come
  but four days soon shattered their ranks
  
  repeat chorus
  
  In the church Major Lonsdale collected his men
  from the pulpit he spoke from the heart
  "Dear comrades we've orders to fight to the last
  so good luck now we have to part"
  
  In Ter Horst tiny house sheltered two hundred men
  all wounded and ten to a bed
  While the water supply was an old pump nearbye
  which was soon to be seen running red.
  
  repeat chorus
  
  There were few who survived,but though many had died
  the safety of freedom was sealed
  And at Arnhem they sleep,while their brave names we keep
  in the church of St Martins-in -the-Field
  
  repeat chorus and end.
  
  
  Best Wishes.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Triceratops (U3420301) on Sunday, 24th October 2010

  Hi LW,
  
  I would imagine LD recorded The Battle of New Orleans for two reasons....Sales and Money.
  

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Sunday, 24th October 2010

  Triceratops/Licette
  
  Having now read Triceratop's transcription, I realise I have heard it before, but I hadn't realised it was Lonnie Donegan.
  
  I think the lyrics are based on a poem - but I can't find it, so can't be certain.
  
  As to "Battle of New Orleans", I agree the primary motive was commercial. It was a No. 1 hit in the States for Johnny Horton, so a cover version in UK was obviously worth a try.
  
  My aging relatives tell me, though, that despite its popularity, the song caused complaints because of its subject matter.
  
  The following year, around the release of "Sink the Bismark" (Pursuit of the Bismark in the US), Horton released a song of that name, which may or may not have been part of the official publicity, and stated he hadn't meant to cause offence with BoNO and hoped this would balance things. (You can get the song as a download. (It is slightly bizarre at this distance in time - the opening lines "It was May of 1941/And the War had just begun.").
  
  I wondered if Donegan was intending some similar gesture. On the other hand, he may simply have known or met some veterans and wanted to include a tribute.
  
  My father, a Donegan fan, doesn't know. Perhaps some other fan might know?
  
  Cheers
  
  LW

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by lemasson (U14657654) on Sunday, 24th October 2010

  Hi Dear Triceratops
  
  Thank you for the lyrics
  
  Thanks to you I've got additional info as GRANTHAM FIELD, Major LONSDALE and TER HORST.
  
  I've got this from the net and I set to those who are interested in:
  
  "The Old (Lonsdale) Church, Oosterbeek
  This church, on Benedendorpsweg, was rebuilt to a smaller design in 1947 as it had suffered badly due to German shelling. It was one of the oldest Churches in Holland. It was here that the troops gathered after the 19th September, and were rallied by Major Lonsdale, second in command of 2 Para. Remnants of 1, 3 and 11 Para, plus South Staffs, Borderers and Glider Pilots here formed β€œLonsdale Force”. Major Lonsdale addressed the weary troops from the pulpit, giving a rousing speech.
  
  The Church and Lonsdale force formed the eastern base of the Perimeter at Oosterbeek.
  
  There were also 3 Guns of the 1 Light Regiment RA, dug in firing at the rear of the church. Across the polder is the River, where the famous evacuation took place.
  
  This is one of the most evocative places around the Oosterbeek β€œCauldron”. The gallant defence here sums up much of the Arnhem Battle. As it says on the Airborne memorial on the lawn β€œNOT ONE SHALL BE FORGOTTEN” .
  
  Inside the church (not open very regularly) are various Airborne linked artifacts.
  
  A few meters west of the church is the Kate Ter Horst House. This is the house Captain Martin asked if he could set up his Regimental aid post in, on 18th September. The house was featured in the 1945 film about Arnhem, β€œTheirs is the glory”.
  
  During the rest of the battle numerous soldiers were brought here, to be attended to by the medics and also by Kate Ter Horst herself, who was seen by many as an angel. Over fifty men died here and most were buried hastily in the surrounding gardens until later being moved to the CWGC Oosterbeek Cemetery."
  
  Regards and best wishes
  
  Claude
  
  

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by Triceratops (U3420301) on Monday, 25th October 2010

  LW,
  
  I can't find anything about the Peter Buchanan mentioned in the OP.Lonnie Donegan's bio says he started his National Service in 1949,maybe he had met some Arnhem veterans.[and his father was not a dustman]
  
  Johnny Horton's Sink the Bismarck song has turned up on youtube.
  
  
  
  and this one,[some of the other posters might not have heard BoNO]
  
  

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• Message 10

  , in reply to message 9.

  Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Tuesday, 26th October 2010

  Triceratops
  
  I think he probably just did the tune.
  
  Donegan was a Glasgow lad, and there were a fair number of Glaswegians in 1 Abn Div, not least in the ranks of the KOSBies, so he might have picked it up evenn earlier.
  
  Unless it's in a memoir or interview somewhere, suppose we won't find out.
  
  As to "Sink The Bismark", what an amazing song. It deserves to be better known.
  
  As it is the 70th anniversary next May, I must remind everybody then. I'm sure WAFU would be grateful.
  
  Cheers
  
  LW

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