The Old Barbed Wire

Defensive barbed wire was used extensively in both World Wars. These remnants formed part of the extensive beach defences that were erected along Newburgh beach in 1940, in anticipation of a German invasion.

In the First World War the regimental singsong was a much favoured pass-time, and morale builder among British soldiers. Singsongs were also widely used to ease the tedium and weariness of the route march. The fear and loathing of the barbed-wire entanglements of the Western Front featured in many of these war songs sung by the British. The ditty The Old Barbed Wire is typical in the way in which it dealt with the much dreaded barbed wire in a black humoured and flippant manner.

If you want to see the old battalion,
I know where they are.
I know where they are.
If you want to find the old battalion,
They're hanging on the old barbed wire.
I've seen 'em, I've seen 'em,
Hanging on the old barbed wire,
I've seen 'em,
Hanging on the old barbed wire.