When the Tigers Broke Free

Most of them dead, the rest of them dying
And kind old King George sent Mother a note
There was frost in the ground
They were all left behind
And no one survived from the Royal Fusiliers Company C
In a drawer of old photographs, hidden away
And my eyes still grow damp to remember

When the tigers broke free

When the forward commander was told to sit tight

When he asked that his men be withdrawn
And the Anzio Bridgehead was held for the price
Held back the enemy tanks for a while
And the Generals gave thanks as the other ranks
It was, I recall in the form of a scroll
When he heard that father was gone
With gold leaf and all
And that's how the High Command
It was dark all around
Of a few hundred ordinary lives

His Majesty signed with his own rubber stamp
And I found it one day