Lyr Add: Arnhem Battle. Autumn '44

Subject: Arnhem Battle. Autumn '44
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 10 Nov 01 - 04:26 PM

But first a poem by one of the children who every year ,at the war cemetery at Oosterbeek, deck each airborne soldier's grave with flowers.


AIRBORNE
(Pieternel Ondeswater)

Long ago he was fighting for me
I am eleven years old now and I will thank him
by laying flowers on his grave.
I wish he could say to me "Thank you."

Long ago they all have been fighting for us
though they had nothing to do with us.
They defended our houses.

But near the bridge at Arnhem it was going wrong.
Many had been killed and my soldier
was one of the victims.
I wished I could give more thank you flowers.

You gave your life for our freedom,
Thank you my soldier.


PROMISES, BROKEN AND KEPT
(Keith A of Hertford)

Are you going to the Lowlands so fair?
Arnhem city to Oosterbeek town,
Remember me to one we sent there,
Where the red Autumn berries fell crushed to the ground,

Tell him we'll send him in massed batallions,
Arnhem city to Oosterbeek town,
To fall on the foe and scatter his minions,
Where the red Autumn berries fell crushed to the ground,

He answered You sent us by one and by twos,
Arnhem city to Oosterbeek town,
While the camps of the enemy rang with the news.
Where the red Autumn berries fell crushed to the ground.,

Tell him to march to the banks of the Rhine,
Arnhem city to Oosterbeek town,
That's guarded by sick and old men passed their prime,
Where the red Autumn berries fell crushed to the ground.,

He answered, We met the proud SS and Panzer,
Arnhem city to Oosterbeek town,
Artillery, tanks, and the cruel flamen-wurfer,
And the red Autumn berries fell crushed to the ground.,

Tell him we'll answer his every need,
Arnhem city to Oosterbeek town,
All dropped at his feet on swift wings of speed,
Where the red Autumn berries fell crushed to the ground.,

He answered, There came only fire and misery,
Arnhem city to Oosterbeek town,
While our aid was delivered to the hand of our enemy,
And the red Autumn berries fell crushed to the ground.,

Tell him we'll march down the high polder road,
Arnhem city to Oosterbeek town,
With a mighty army to take up his load,
Where the red Autumn berries fell crushed to the ground.,

He answered, We watched where the wide river flows,
Arnhem city to Oosterbeek town,
And nothing there came but ever more foes,
And the red Autumn berries fell crushed to the ground.

Tell him we'll come with flowers and tears,
Arnhem city to Oosterbeek town,
And a thousand sweet children at each passing year,
Where the red Autumn berries fell crushed to the ground.

He answered, You came with your flowers and tears,
Arnhem city to Oosterbeek town,
And a thousand sweet children these fifty long years,
Where the red Autumn berries fell crushed to the ground.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Arnhem Battle. Autumn '44
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 10 Nov 01 - 04:37 PM

It goes to the tune of Scarborough Fair. Like the true love of that song, the airborne soldiers were set impossible tasks.
They wore red berets.
Keith.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Arnhem Battle. Autumn '44
From: Noreen
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 03:40 PM

Thank you, Keith.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Arnhem Battle. Autumn '44
From: Gervase
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 04:43 AM

Excellent, Keith. Thanks for that.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Arnhem Battle. Autumn '44
From: GUEST,Gerry Bates
Date: 16 Oct 02 - 07:18 AM

I've just come across this thread as a result of searching for lyrics for a song called "Red Berets". Believe it or not, it is sung by Lonnie Donegan and is one of the additional tracks on a CD reissue of the LP "Lonnie". The track was previously unissued but is believed to be recorded in 1961. The tune is that of 'Abdul the Bulbul Amir', which isn't as bad as might be thought, with a chorus added.

If anyone is interested in the words I'll transcribe them from the CD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Arnhem Battle. Autumn '44
From: GUEST,Keith A at work.
Date: 17 Oct 02 - 04:47 AM

I would be Gerry, and I suspect Gervase would too.
Thanks.
I have a collection of LD stuff of that time, but never heard of that one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Arnhem Battle. Autumn '44
From: alanabit
Date: 17 Oct 02 - 05:11 AM

I was interested in this because my girlfriend comes from Kleve on the border with Holland, nearer to Nijmegen. Operation Market Garden took four of its five objectives, but stalled at Arnhem, where the crucial Rhine crossing was not achieved. We all know this because we have seen the film "A Bridge Too Far" or read the Cornelius Ryan book.
What most of us overlook, is that effectively the battle had to be fought again the following spring. (Arnhem was in September 1944). The allies spent the winter in Nijmegen and eventually broke through and took Kleve, Wesel and eventually Duisberg. Once that objective was achieved, they were in the Rhürgebiet and German industry was effectively strangled. The end followed quickly on all fronts. Where my personal interest comes in, is that my girlfriend took me up to see the Allied was graves in the Reichswald (woods) near Kleve. You can read the gravestones and see the reward which some six thousand young men got for their victory.
That was sad enough, but I delved into the history a bit and found out a few more interesting facts. The saddest part was probably that as many mistakes were made in the campaign which the allies won as there were in the defeat at Arnhem - inevitably at the cost of more casusalties - Allied, German military and German civilian.
Those who rightly mourn for the loss of military personnel in war can also spare a thought for the civilians. If you walk around the German cemetary, you can see the graves of grandmothers killed alongside their toddler grandchildren in bombing raids or artillery bombardment. There are small, grey oblong stones which record the remains of "Ein Ostarbeiter" - effectively hapless slaves from somewhere in East Europe - whose names nobody knew or perhaps even cared about.
I can only admire the magnificent courage of the men of Arnhem. The more I find out about the war, the more I become aware that it was a tragedy on a scale which neither the politicians, nor the participants - and certainly not me - will ever be able to grasp.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Arnhem Battle. Autumn '44
From: GUEST,Keith A
Date: 17 Oct 02 - 07:46 AM

Unusually, the civillian population were still in place when the (first) Arnhem battle was fought.
Kate te Horst tended the dying and wounded for days when her house became a field hospital.
Many soldiers were hidden for months at great risk to their Dutch hosts, and many long lasting friendships were forged.
It was always moving to see the many Dutch and British veterans and civilians at the annual service in Oosterbeek Airborne Cemetry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Arnhem Battle. Autumn '44
From: GUEST,Gerry Bates
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 07:32 PM

I've been a bit snowed under over the last couple of week and now I'm away for a week but I promise the 'Red Beret' words for early November.