As you may know, I was in the Royal Green Jackets, now The Rifles, back in the day when dinosaurs walked the earth, and as they say, once a Rifleman always a Rifleman. The Rifles have five regular and two Territorial Army Battalions and they have been involved in the toughest fighting continually since they formed in February 2007. Although they are a new Regiment, they are formed from glorious ancestors and are very proud of their heritage and way of operating. You will have heard of the casualties sustained by The Rifles in the dustbowl of Sangin and elsewhere in Helmand and I have met many of those who have returned home, badly wounded, and who are now recovering in Selly Oak and Headley Court. I have also met some of the families of the Riflemen who have fallen.

So having confessed to being a Rifleman, you will not be surprised to hear that when I heard the song ‘Love Farewell’ I was very moved. It is unusual to hear a song performed by a military band, especially The Rifles who march at 140 paces per minute. The song was inspired by a challenge set to The Band and Bugles by their Colonel Commandant, Lieutenant General Sir Nick Parker, to produce music that would be relevant to, and inspire today’s soldiers. ‘Love Farewell’ was the result. It has been performed this year to audiences from all three Services, including Royalty, to critical acclaim.

The emotive reaction from audiences led The Band and Bugles to realise its potential to generate charitable funds. They asked the world famous folk singer John Tams (also known as Rifleman Daniel Hagman of the 95th Rifles from the Sharpe TV series) to perform the vocal, and he kindly agreed. Together they have produced what I hope you will agree is a superb song, haunting, sad but determined and unforgettable, a true soldier’s song.

Love Farewell is available now on our website as a download and comes with the bonus track ‘Over the Hills and Far away/Sharpe’s Theme’, again immediately recognisable from the Sharpe series. It only costs £1 to download and all proceeds will go to support the wounded. It’s a really simple way to support the blokes and The Rifles. Please buy a copy regardless of your regiment or Service loyalty and then suggest that all your contacts do the same. It would be wonderful if we could top the charts with a download.....And it’s only a quid.

My thanks go to the Band and Bugles of The Rifles and John Tams for this wonderful idea. Love Farewell is dedicated not only to all members of The Rifles and former Regiments who have fallen or been wounded, but also to those who continue to fight; we are thinking of you all.

Bryn Parry, Co founder and Chief executive, Help for Heroes

 

Love Farewell: Trad/additional lyrics Tams arr. Purvey - based on an arrangement by Tams/Coope/Wilson.
Violin Soloist Tracey Simmons

Over the Hills/Sharpe's Theme: Over the Hills Trad arr. Purvey, Sharpe's Theme Muldowney/Tams

Love Farewell has been arranged by Captain Mark Purvey. The Band and Bugles of the Rifles appear by kind permission of Lt General Sir Nick Parker KCB CBE, Colonel Commandant of The Rifles

Help for Heroes would like to thank the Specialist Recording Company and the Henry Wood Hall in London for the free use of their world class facilities and Gloucestershire Media for the use of images.