Anonymous Ulster - The Forgotten Army (Song about the British Fourteenth Army in Burma WW2 VJ Day)

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THE FORGOTTEN ARMY

The "Forgotten Army" refers primarily to the British Fourteenth Army, which was a multi-national force that included units from the British Army, Indian Army, and various Commonwealth nations. It played a crucial role in the Burma campaign against Japanese forces during World War II. Despite its size and importance, it was often overshadowed by other military operations in Europe, leading to its designation as the "Forgotten Army".

The primary Irish regiment involved in the Burma Campaign during World War II was the 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, but it's important to note that many other Irish and Ulstermen served in various regiments during the Burma campaign. The lyrics of this song are based on the firsthand accounts of Ulstermen who fought in Burma and recorded in the book ‘The Sons of Ulster’ but is intended to honour all those soldiers who served to ensure they are never forgotten.

"When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today".

GUITAR CHORD PDF DOWNLOAD:
https://pdfhost.io/edit?doc=e8c4e916-5d25-4fd9-86ce-adbf6ebb1140

LYRICS:

[Chorus]
The Forgotten Army of the longest land campaign
Oh, Burma you were nothing but strain, drain and pain

[Verse 1]
They attacked front and rear at the same time
So, we had to form boxes to defend our line
We threw grenades at any noise we did hear
The poor oul’ jungle faced the brunt of our fear

[Verse 2]
This enemy was different, wouldn’t be taken alive
Think I saw one POW between forty-two and five
We would have been better off doing that as well
As being captured by them was a vacation in hell

[Chorus]
The Forgotten Army of the longest land campaign
Oh, Burma you were nothing but strain, drain and pain

[Verse 3]
The conditions were just as deadly as the Japs
Burnt so many calories between all the scraps
Lack of sleep and food, not much from the stores
Just malaria, leach bites, jaundice and jungles sores

[Verse 4]
Heavy marching with a seventy-pound load
Living of your own fat in that terrible abode
Watched your friends flame of life just flickering away
Many flames out when you woke the next day

[Chorus]
The Forgotten Army of the longest land campaign
Oh, Burma you were nothing but strain, drain and pain

[Verse 5]
It a steady battle, spent all night going up hills
When you got to the top they were waiting to kill
Then up another hill, the very next night
The same thing again, another bloody fight

[Verse 6]
Every village you came, they were waiting there too
And when they moved out, they left a suicide crew
Held you up long enough, until you killed them all
And they kept this up, until the atomic bombs did fall

[Chorus]
The Forgotten Army of the longest land campaign
Oh, Burma you were nothing but strain, drain and pain