Veteran Helps Roger Waters Find Father’s Place Of Death

Lieutenant Eric Fletcher Waters, father to Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, went missing during World War II. Roger, who was five-months-old at the time the British soldier went missing, has long sought more information about his father’s disappearance and finally received the details he was seeking from 93-year-old war veteran Henry Shindler.

As noted by The Guardian, Shindler helped to track down a report that showed the elder Waters died in Italy as he “was killed in a ditch at 11:30 a.m. on February 18, 1944 after his company was surrounded during stiff fighting.” Roger grew up without a father figure, which informed his lyrics over the years including his epic The Wall. “Because he was missing in action, presumed killed, until quite recently I expected him to come home,” Waters told The Guardian.

Roger was so appreciative of Shindler’s efforts that he penned a new poem, sent it off to the 93-year-old and signed it, “To Harry, With Gratitude.” According to The Telegraph, Waters plans to visit Italy in February to mark the 70th anniversary of his father’s death.

Italian newspaper La Repubblica has posted the full text of the poem, which you can use Google Translate to translate to English.

Last week Roger Waters performed with wounded veterans at a benefit concert held in New York City. You can watch the performance here (starts at 1:31 mark):