They pushed us back from Alor Star, from Kedah to Collier Quay. Those yellow heathen bastards who came in from the sea. With planes and tanks to for their support they came through in their waves. At the army which was never defeated. the army that was betrayed.
The order came to hold them back, their advance to delay, So that reinforcements could be sent to help to win the day. There was never a man disheartened, not one of them dismayed. The army which was never defeated that army that was betrayed.
They held till their guns were hot and worn, then retreated and held again Till the order came to spike all their guns, And bury the dead where they lay, This army which was never defeated the army that was betrayed.
Fifth column and sabotage all the way through Ipoh, Jitra and down through Malav, Snipers, dive bombers, suicide squads, day after day after day. Men were falling from sheer fatigue, their nerves were shattered and frayed. The army which was never defeated, the army that was betrayed.
Fight til you die, the next order came, soon the skies will be black with planes. So they fought and they died looking up to the sky, With a praver that was always in vain, The army which was never defeated, the army that was betrayed
Back in England they cursed us "you cowards they cried You've thrown our empire away" and they hoped that not one would survive So they would never hear us say "We are the army which was never defeated, were the army that was betrayed.
Arthur Lane. Composed in anger June 1942
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