"it's a sucky-blanket dream that belittles the horror of war by denying its terrible reality."
No - it does not - it deals with war in retrospect - nothing wrong with that, nor is there anything wrong with sentiment - sentimentality maybe, sentiment is a human reaction.
Bogle treats the subject from another point of view altogether, with his 'Waltzing Matilda' - both have their merits.
The problem with Willie McBride is it is oversung by people who don't give a **** one way or the other.
Your sneery dismissal of 'peacenic folkies who, at least make an effort to make their views known, is an indication that your own activities are (once more) confined to the armchair and your poppies - easier to knock something down somebody else has built than build something yourself (again)