Lyr Req: Red Berets (sung by Lonnie Donegan)

Subject: Lyr Req: RED BERETS
From: GUEST,biloute
Date: 19 Oct 10 - 07:33 AM

Hi

I'm searching the lyrics of RED BERETS sung by Lonnie DONEGAN
Thanks to you
Claude

Subject: Lyr Add: RED BERETS (Peter Buchanan)
From: GUEST,claude
Date: 25 Oct 10 - 07:36 AM

Hi

Here is info about RED BERETS
1° this link about Major LONSDALE
http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/dickie_lonsdale.htm

2° Other info:
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 "Lonsdale 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 "Cauldron". The gallant defence here sums up much of the Arnhem Battle. As it says on the Airborne memorial on the lawn "NOT 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, "Theirs 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.

3° Lyrics An ode to 1st British Airbone Division On September 1944

RED BERETS

(Peter BUCHANAN)

Guitar and drums intro

A forest of crosses near fair Arnhem stand
And written there well to the fore
Is "O strangers when passing, please say a short prayer
For the men who the red berets wore"

Red berets freedom berets covered all over in blood
Red berets, red, red berets lying where brave men have stood

In September forty-four with hard eye and grin jaw
The warriors took off from Grantham field
In Dakotas they flew whilst though none of them knew
But their young lives they'd soon have to yield

They landed with rifles small arms and grenades
And fought against fifty tons tanks
From Nijmegen they had hoped reinforcements would come
But four days soon shattered their ranks

Red berets freedom berets covered all over in blood
Red berets, red, red berets lying where brave men have stood

In a 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 houses sheltered two hundred men
All wounded and ten to a bed
While the water supply was an old pump nearby
Which was soon to be seen running red

Red berets freedom berets covered all over in blood
Red berets, red, red berets lying where brave men have stood

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 Saint MARTIN in the field

Red berets freedom berets covered all over in blood
Red berets, red, red berets lying where brave men have stood

Regards