In his memoir, frontman Biff Byford said it was inspired by the Falklands War, although it contains references to other conflicts, particularly the Vietnam War and World War I. In the UK it is believed to be true that the Falklands War of 1982 was fought principally at the behest of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for the ignoble purpose of securing her re-election, a tactic that proved successful. Byford made it clear in his book that he hated Thatcher for reasons related to domestic policy, in particular the way she smashed the power of the miners and (in his view) decimated mining communities. His father was a miner who had lost an arm in an industrial accident, and Biff himself served a short stint in a coal mine. This song talks about the casualties of war, and how people have plans for their future but then take the call to war and die fighting for their country; remaining forgotten. The song leaves a lasting impact as it laments the forgotten soldiers, emphasizing the human cost of war, and calls attention to the physical and emotional wounds inflicted upon the brave individuals who fought while encouraging reflection on their current whereabouts and the legacy they left behind.
In his memoir, frontman Biff Byford said it was inspired by the Falklands War, although it contains references to other conflicts, particularly the Vietnam War and World War I. In the UK it is believed to be true that the Falklands War of 1982 was fought principally at the behest of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for the ignoble purpose of securing her re-election, a tactic that proved successful. Byford made it clear in his book that he hated Thatcher for reasons related to domestic policy, in particular the way she smashed the power of the miners and (in his view) decimated mining communities. His father was a miner who had lost an arm in an industrial accident, and Biff himself served a short stint in a coal mine. This song talks about the casualties of war, and how people have plans for their future but then take the call to war and die fighting for their country; remaining forgotten. The song leaves a lasting impact as it laments the forgotten soldiers, emphasizing the human cost of war, and calls attention to the physical and emotional wounds inflicted upon the brave individuals who fought while encouraging reflection on their current whereabouts and the legacy they left behind.