Roger Water’s father died when Roger was five months old. Lieutenant Eric Waters was fighting for the British in the Italian campaign of World World II. Many of Pink Floyd’s song are about Roger dealing with his dad’s death. The song “When The Tigers Broke Free” is a tribute to his dad that appeared in the movie The Wall.

Roger never new exactly how or where his father died, and it troubled him. When a fellow war veteran, Harry Shindler, heard of his plight, he researched to find the answer. War diaries of Z company’s first beach landing at Anzio on February 18, 1944 were found at the National Archives in London.

An 11:15AM entry reads: “Z coy reported enemy all round their positions, very stiff fighting.”

Fifteen minutes later the final report says: “Lt Waters killed, situation now critical. Assistance would now be too late.”

Roger visited the site where a memorial has been erected.

Roger Waters Sitting on His Mother’s Knee