The Banks of Sicily - Robert Lovie with Pipe Major Bill Hepburn Jnr.

[@frankbateman7439]

Dad served as a combat engineer at El Alamein 7th Armoured div, Guards Armoured Brigade.

[@delhatton]

well done

[@BrianWMay]

Having heard this poignant song rendered by the McCalmans, I've been trying to find out more about it. My dad went through the desert and up through Italy with Kittyhawk fighter bombers, so shared many of these guy's experiences. The music and the lyrics fit together so well. Thanks so much for posting this version, the melody on the pipes is peerless.

[@johnhutchison2268]

This is such a beautiful version of this emotive song. My father Bill Hutchison was a combat sapper that fought from El Alamein to Bremervorda. I am on a journey to retrace the Division’s footsteps from Africa to Germany. This clip will follow me on this path

[@davidmaclean2239]

My uncle (Rab Kirk) left his mining job and joined the Scots Guards soon after the start of WW2 and, after a few months in the dungeon at the Tower of London (for a misguided wink at a pretty woman while he was on guard duty) was packed off to Messina to eventually join the fighting on the mainland. This song always makes me think of him. The pretty woman was the then Princess Julianna of the Netherlands.

[@tomgreene1843]

A great story ....my own grand uncle fought in WW1 and is buried in Egypt he joined the Royal Iirish Rifles and came from the Irish midlands and had moved to Belfast.

[@shirleyhowley4721]

My father in law was there too ,its a very emotive song ,he sang it for us sometimes! 🤦‍♂️

[@FlipnZeke]

Lovely! I had the misfortune to have auto-subtitling turned on when I listened to it the first time, and it made a nonsense of the lyrics. Much better without that.