Tommy Atkins, 2008

The turning away of a serving soldier by a hotel in the comfy Home Counties is reminiscent of Rudyard Kipling's cri de coeur:

"I went into a public- 'ouse to get a pint o' beer,

The publican 'e up an sez, 'We serve no red-coats here.'

The girls behind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,

I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:

O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' 'Tommy go away';

But it's 'Thank you, Mister Atkins,' when the band begins to play-

The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,

O it's 'Thank you Mr Atkins,' when the band begins to play."