this song was used as the theme music for a BBC series (shown here over 10 years ago, so circa 12 to 15 years old) about the XBS-- the
army sappers (engineers) responsible for the removal of unexploded bombs in English cities during WWII

I remember that series, Helen. It was called Danger, UXB! which is short for Unexploded Bomb. The main star was Anthony Andrews who also starred in Upstairs, Downstairs, Brideshead, revisited and a few later things which were pretty duff.

http://us.imdb.com/Title?0078593

as King Charles said of the irish, "All their war and death song are happy, and all their love songs are sad."

I never really noticed before but now you mention it, it's true! Try comparing The soldier's song with She moved through the fair. And we like to call them rebel songs, Helen!