Sgt MacKenzie – We Were Soldiers

2018 marked the 73st anniversary of the end of WW2 and the 43rd anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. This has been used as a tribute to WWI and WWII troops as well as used in the movie We Were Soldiers.

Lyrics:   Lay me down in the cold cold ground where many before have gone. When they come I will stand my ground. I will not be afraid. Thoughts of home take away my fear. Sweat and blood hide my veil of tears. Once a year say a prayer for me. Close your eyes and remember me……….

This was inspired by the death of Joseph MacKenzie’s wife and in memory of his great-grandfather, Sergeant Charles Stuart MacKenzie, who was bayoneted to death in WWI at the age of 35.

“To the best of my knowledge, and taken from reports of the returning soldiers, one of his close friends fell, badly wounded. Charles stood his ground and fought until he was overcome and died from bayonet wounds. On that day, my great grandmother and my grandmother were sitting at the fire when the picture fell from the wall. My great grandmother looked, and said to my grandmother “Oh, my bonnie Charlie’s dead”. Sure enough a few days passed, and the local policeman brought the news – that Sgt. Charles Stuart MacKenzie had been killed in action. This same picture now hangs above my fireplace. A few years back my wife Christine died of cancer, and in my grief I looked at his picture to ask what gave him the strength to go on. It was then, in my mind, that I saw him lying on the field and wondered what his final thoughts were. The words and music just appeared into my head. I believe the men and women like yourself who are prepared to stand their ground for their family – for their friends – and for their country; deserve to be remembered, respected and honoured. “Sgt. MacKenzie”, is my very small tribute to them.”

— Joseph Kilna MacKenzie quote  Via Wikipedia.

 

This is the Sgt. MacKenzie song with both original Scottish version and English translation.

Uploaded by Trentacus.