Green Badge

My name is Egan Reilly, I was born in county Clare
I married in the spring of ’39 a lass so fair
We moved to London at her wish, we dwelled in Camden homes
But the Irish Guard they sought to make a soldier of me bones
We kissed goodbye at Euston Square, we swore upon the cross
Should I return alive in spring, we’d celebrate till frost
We vowed should I set foot back on the soil I would defend
We’d go back to our dear Ireland and never leave again
Hell’s bells, slosh the county ale
The rats are in the grain and I can hear the nightingale
Hell’s bells, sing O’Carolan’s dirge
For Ireland I shall try to win the Green Badge of Courage
We set about for Norway as our ladies left to mourn
The mighty 24th brigade, we dressed in British warms
We pushed the Nazi’s back, we let them know we were in town
While Battalion Two went sailing through the Hook o’ Holland Sound
In March of ’43 to northern Africa we sailed
‘Twas there inside Tunisia pints of Irish blood was spilled
But Corporeal John Keneally fired his bren gun from his hip
And as the Germans broke and ran we watched his leg begin to drip
Hell’s Bells, slosh the county ale…
…For Ireland I resolve to win the Green Badge of Courage
Took Anzio in ’44, then we were homeward bound
Our families walked to Camden Loch and met us at the Crown
My wife was there with open arms, so glad to have me home
But she had gained 300 pounds, now she weighed twenty-seven stone
After say a pint or two she took me by the hand
Marched us to our bedroom where so naked she would stand
I kissed her and I told her she looked lovely as the frost
Then she picked me up and hauled me off to win the Victory Cross
Hell’s bells, slosh the county ale…
….By morning’s turn I will have earned the Green Badge of Courage