ANZIO Digital Coming Home by The Soldiers

by Baron Halpenny, LincsMag Editor-in-Chief.
Date: 5 December 2009

Coming Home by The Soldiers - Lincolnshire Magazine - LincsMag.com

On 7 December 2009 Sgt Major Gary Chilton, 41, Sgt Richie Maddocks, 37 and Trooper Ryan Idzi, 24, who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, will sing the National Anthem in front of the Queen at Blackpool's Opera House Theatre for the Royal Variety Performance.

But they will not be able to appear in full military regalia.

An MoD spokeswoman has explained that when they are performing they are of course earning money and as she stressed, nobody is allowed to use the Queen's uniform for that. Though one can argue that some politicians have been using the queen’s uniform for their own ends, or more to the point, the people that wear them!

Also, let us not forget that civil servants at the Ministry of Defence shared performance bonuses totalling more than £47 million this year (2009), and at a time when soldiers serving in Afghanistan are complaining of equipment shortages.

The MoD said that the bonuses to around 50,000 staff, would average less than £1,000, but smoked screened around reports that some senior officials may be receiving as much as £8,000. These are remember only bonuses, and not their large salaries for senior officials.

The lowest-paid Army privates earn £16,681 a year, with a six-month tax-free operational allowance of £2,380 if they are posted to Afghanistan. Just remember the dangers they face and the disgustingly low compensation if they are wounded.

So not being able to wear their military regalia is a bit of a shame really for the lads, as they are singing the National Anthem, which I would have thought, would have been all the more reason to wear their uniforms. A sign of pride in the country and military. I understand the rules, but if the money is donated to charities, then I cannot see the issue and a special one off exemption could have been obtained, if they had wanted.

The lads, known simply as The Soldiers, released their album “Coming Home” on 6 October 2009, which was recorded during breaks in their duties. Proceeds will go to charities such as the Army Benevolent Fund, Help For Heroes, the British Legion and other groups which support their colleagues.

As Lauren John, writer for music.co.uk, put it, “You only have to turn on the news, to realise any cause supporting the work the armed forces does is a worthy one, but if you choose to buy this album, you’ll get the full force of 3 talented singers too.”

All the album's contents are cover versions apart from title track Coming Home, which celebrates those who have made it back and remembers the fallen. It was written by Jake Hook, Nick Patrick and Jeff Chegwin and produced by Nick Patrick, who has worked with classical singers Russell Watson and Katherine Jenkins, for The Soldier's first album.

The band's cover versions include He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother by The Hollies, Eric Clapton's Tears In Heaven and Lennon and McCartney's With a Little Help from my Friends.

The lads have already built up an impressive fan base to date, with almost 30,000 fans following them on their Facebook page.

The Lyrics for you to sing to this moving song are as follows, though when you listen to them sing in the latter part of the song, "loves" seems like "arms" and one or two other differences are noted, so maybe the lyric sheet was slightly different for the lads. In any case, enjoy the fine words...

Every soldier who gave their life lives forever
Every soldier who fought the fight echoes in our minds
All the wounded and the brave
The ones God couldn't save
We salute your courage

Coming home with pride (Coming home with pride)
Coming home with heads held high ( Heads held high )
Coming home from lands afar
Coming home (Coming home) to your loves

All those heroes who defend our flag will live on forever
All the heroes, both young and old , that soldier on to unknowns
From across this changing world we live in the hope
That you come back home

Coming home with pride (I'm coming home with pride)
Coming home with heads held high
Coming home from lands afar
Coming home to your loves

I'm coming home

(Coming home) I'm coming home with pride
Oh, Coming home with heads held high
( Coming home ) Coming home from lands afar
Coming home, Oh, to your loves
Coming Home from lands afar
Coming home ( I'm coming home ) to your arms
I'm coming home to your arms

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