I'm very new to this Discussion Forum thing (indeed, I'm very new to the Web) so I'm amazed at the number of responses. I thought it might take a couple of weeks before anyone even saw the question. Thanks to everyone, even the ones that went off at tangents – there's some really interesting bits of info that I never knew I wanted to know. Thanks especially to the ones that actually tried to answer the question; to Guest 23rd for the very useful links to other sites; to Mr Red, yes the Breidden session is always the last Wednesday in the month. Lots of great musicians and singers hand-picked by word-of-mouth. By the way, thanks for your Cresby.com site; to Greg Stephens, hello again, our paths haven't crossed for quite a while. Still Boating? I'm still Taxi-ing.(Contact Rees for PM) Now then, back to the question: - Walrus mentions the Manchester Regiment. Could that be the answer – that these various song references all go back to the Manchester lads? No, for pity's sake, I'm a Yorkshireman! Anyway, it doesn't sound like any of them survived their trip to Culloden. Also, the Scottish connection doesn't seem to fit with the reference later in the song about "I wish that the Hollanders would sink him in the sea". Several versions talk about marrying "in Newcastle when I return again" (That's one reason that I think these songs come from the North-East) but I've never heard one that mentions Manchester. So, although that seems to be the strongest contender so far, I'm afraid we may have to look further.