I learned this in the Royal Artillery in 1951. I've been singing it ever since (I've recorded it twice) and still find it powerful and moving. It was the first traditional song I ever heard 'in situ' and it started off my love of British traditional music. I too was told that it was a punishable offence to sing it publicly in the army. Last week I sang it at the Darlington Folk Workshop, where it wrought it's magic once again. A great song.