The broken Church Bells of Hermanville sur mer Church.
rang out on D. Day.
The first joyous Bells of freedom to ring out
in France since the Nazi occupation.
Freedoms Bells".
Normandy. 6th of June.
The Summer of 44
Veterans! Now that we are old and frail.
Our gift of Freedom, still prevails.
On Englands green and pleasant land
No foreign troops have laid their hand
Listen! Hear the Bells of Hermanville?
We who fought there, hear them still.
Across the years, our memories saved.
Of fine young men, who's lives they gave.
No song of lark, there, in darkened sky.
In front of Caen, we all came to die.
In high golden corn, our wounded fell.
Some burned to death, for Freedoms Bell.
Pegasus Bridge, came under fierce attack.
Our friends are dead, No! don't look back.
Listen? Is that the English Bells we hear?
From across the sea, to drown our fear?
For Mother Earth claims those that fall.
With soft Norman earth, to cover all.
For what lay ahead, fear gripped my soul.
For the guns must be paid, a human toll.
Pounded in our Norman orchard here,
While men went mad, and died in fear.
Tell me? is that the call of Freedoms Bell?
Or is it the harsh strident chimes of Hell?
On darkened, late, Mid-summers night.
With restless dreams, before dawns light.
Familiar faces gather, call my name.
"Come! for Freedoms Bell, lets fight again"
Then into battle, with troubled dreams.
Watch men die, scream, curse, blaspheme.
For we, who are old, the guns still roar.
And long forgotten, young voices call.
Searching mortars, for humans seek.
To maim and kill, and wounding's wreak.
Hear the screams of men, in mortal pain?
Are those the Bells? That dread refrain?
Now Freedoms Bells, are muted, still.
Our hopes and dreams are not fulfilled.
We, still live the years of mighty deeds.
And grieve for our fallen, our wounded bleed.
Who will ring the Bell of Freedoms song?
When we are gone? When we are gone?
Brian Guy.
Sapper.
246 Field Company R.E. Eighth Brigade.
Third British Infantry Division.
Monty’s Ironsides!