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South Wales Borderers Museum: Fact sheets

Fact Sheet No. B6
Words to the Regimental March 'Men of Harlech'

March of the Men of Harlech

Old words (translated from Welsh)

Dauntless sons of Celtic sires whose souls the love of freedom fires; Hark!
Every harp to war inspires on bold Snowdonia's side!
Shall heart rending sounds of woe be heard where Conway's waters flow? Or
Shall a rude and ruthless foe a willing slave here find?

From the hill and valley, from the mountain hoary
From Plinlimon's haughty brow, around your prince ye rally!
Harlech! From thy frowning tow'rs pour forth thy never failing pow'rs rouse
Heroes! Glory shall be yours; March on, your country's pride

Now to battle they are going, every heart with courage flowing,
Pride and passion over flowing in the furious strive
Lo! the din of war enrages, vengeance crowns the hate of ages,
Sternly foe with foe engages, feeding death with life!

With their lances flashing, warriors wild are crashing,
Through the tyrants serried ranks, whilst onwards they are dashing
Now the enemy is flying, trumping on the dead and dying
Victory aloft is crying, Cambria wins the field.


Modern Words used by the Regimental Band

Tongues of fire on Idris flaring, news of foe-men near declaring,
to heroic deeds of daring, call you Harlech men

Shall the voice of wailing, now be unavailing,
You to rouse who never yet in battles hour were failing,
His our answer crowds down pouring swift as winter torrents roaring,
Not in vain the voice imploring, call on Harlech men

Groans of wounded peasants drying, wails of wives and children flying,
for the distant succour crying, call you Harlech men.

Loud the martial pipes are sounding every manly heart is bounding
As our trusted chief surrounding, march we Harlech men.

Mothers cease your weeping, calm may be your sleeping,
you and yours in safety now the Harlech men are keeping,
ere the sun is high in heaven they you fear by panic riven shall like frightened
sheep be driven, far by Harlech men

Short the sleep the foe is taking, ere the morrows morn is breaking,
They shall have a rude awaking, roused by Harlech men.


Special words created for the film 'Zulu' in 1964

Men of Harlech stop your dreaming
Can't you see their spear points gleaming
See their warrior's pennants streaming
To this battle field

Men of Harlech stand ye steady
It cannot be ever said ye
For the battle were not ready
Stand and never yield

Form the hills rebounding
Let this war cry sounding
Summon all at Cambria's call
The mighty force surrounding

Men of Harlech onto glory
This shall ever be your story
Keep these fighting words before ye
Cambria (Welshmen never) will not yield

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