The Beaches of St Valery lyrics

It was in 1940, the last days of Spring.

We were sent to the Maginot line,

A fortress in France, built to halt the advance,

Of an army from a different time.

But we were soon overrun, out-thought and outgunned.

Pushed further back every day.

But we never believed high command would just leave us.

So we fought every inch of the way,

'Til the 51st Highlanders found themselves back

On the banks of the Somme one more time.

It still bore the scars of that war to end wars.

The old soldier's scars deep in their minds.

But we couldn't stay long for the Panzers rolled on

As the battle raged west t'wards the sea,

Until on June the 10th when sapped of all strength

I entered St. Valery.

And all I recall is the last boat leavin'!

My brother on board waving and calling to me

And the Jocks stranded there wi' their hands in the air

On the beaches of St. Valery.

So I huddled all night in a hammered old house

As the shells and the bullets rained down

'Til just before dawn our hopes were still strong

For we moved to the beach from the town

But the boat that had left on the day we arrived

Was the only one that we'd ever see

An' with no ammo or food we had done all we could

So we surrendered at St. Valery.

And all I recall is the last boat leavin'!

My brother on board waving and calling to me

And the Jocks stranded there wi' their hands in the air

On the beaches of St. Valery.

When I returned at the end of the war,

From the Stalag where I'd been confined,

I read of the battles the allies had fought,

Stalingrad, Alamein, and the Rhine.

And with pride in their hearts people spoke of Dunkirk

How defeat had become victory

But nobody mentioned that Highland Division.

They'd never heard of St.Valery.

No stories no statues for those that were killed.

No honours for those who were caught.

Just a deep sense of shame as though we were to blame,

Though I knew in my heart we were not.

So I've moved to a country I've come to call home

But my homeland lies far o'er the sea.

I will never return while my memory still burns

On the beaches of St. Valery.

And all I recall is the last boat leavin'!

My brother on board waving and calling to me

And the Jocks stranded there wi' their hands in the air

On the beaches of St. Valery.