I heard Henderson give an explanation of the writing of this song many years ago. As he told it, it was written on the quayside as the trops were emberking for the invasion of Italy and as he was composing the words the Pipes started playing "Farewell to the Creeks" and he picked that up as the rhythm of the poem.

It is also worth noting that the army involved was the core of that army that had fought and died from Crete into North Africa and then back and forth during the desert war. They were battle hardened and knew full well what awaited them on landing and for many this time in Sicilly would be their last.

All the best

Steve