The mention of daisies and coyotes in the Sahara is all part of folk tradition. We don't look too closely at the content. He is 'British' but he gave his life for 'England'. Such inconsistencies we can overlook.

Country music was widely popular in Britain from the 20s onwards and we find lots of examples entering our folklore. For instance the anthem of my local rugby team has been since the 20s 'Ole Faithful' and practically everyone in west Hull can sing it.

The Burma/Kohima version mentioned above has 6 of the 7 stanzas.

In the 'Voice of the People' series volume 8 is an Irish version which on the face of it seems to be set in the struggle for independence of 1916, but of course if the above is true it must have been written in retrospect.

Down in the Town of old Bantry, sung by Tommy McGrath, recorded at Ross, Waterford, in 1965, by Reg Hall & Jimmy Power.

Oh 'twas down in the town of old Bantry
Where most of the fighting was done
'Twas there that a gallant Irish soldier
Was shot by a Black-and-Tan gun.

As he raised himself up on his elbow
As the blood from his wound did run low,
Then he turned to his comrades beside him,
And these are the words that he said:

"Won't you bury me out on the mountain,
Where I can see where the battle was won?
Won't you bury me out on the mountain
With my face turned to God's rising sun?"

So they buried him out on the mountain,
On his cross that lay facing the sun
They wrote "Here lies a true soldier
That was shot by a Black-and-Tan gun."

And now we are back in old Dublin
With our victories over and won.
Won't you pray for the comrades you've buried
Under God's rising sun?