"Hello mum this is going to be hard for you to read..."

Excellent post Mike. Damned hay fever...

I have a few mates out there right now with 2 Rifles. They are losing a LOT of blokes, wounded as well as killed.

It would appear that are not getting all the support they deserve. Material support that is.

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
It would appear that are not getting all the support they deserve. Material support that is.

Talking to the old man about this recently, he says that in 50 years, nothing has changed. Seems the army was as under-resourced then as now...

Richard, it has never changed. Intelligence confused and the hierarchy don't take notice anyhow as it does not fit their planned agenda. Radios don't work so you can't direct/receive orders. Not enough aircraft. Transport problems. Resupplies in the wrong place or nicked by the enemy. Reinforcements delayed.
It’s the same-old-same-old problems that we hear are happening now in Afghanistan.

Problem is my list is a summary of some of the failures in the battle of Arnhem. The only difference is just over 10,000 parra and other regiments were dropped into Arnhem, and 1700 died in the short few days of the battle and withdrawal. And not forgetting the 7000 wounded and captured.
I agree with your “old man”. My old man stayed in Arnhem.

Maybe this is me being insensitive because I work as a teacher, but both the spelling and the grammar are atrocious!!

Jon

Yes you are insensitive and that is a very mild way of putting it.

They give up their life and some bloody academic slags off their grammar.

The letter has enormous power for its very rawness and un-tutored vitality.

Very sad.

I have am totally against the wars we are currently fighting, and have every sympathy for the dead, wounded (and the bereaved) on both sides.

Bruce

Greatest respect. We should all be humbled by this. Let us not forget all those still on the line.

quote:

Originally posted by Consciousmess:
Maybe this is me being insensitive because I work as a teacher, but both the spelling and the grammar are atrocious!!

Jon

Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher was killed in action aged 19. Critising him for poor spelling and grammar is shameful. I suspect he did not have a great deal of what some people call "life chances."

And now never will.

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
I have am totally against the wars we are currently fighting, and have every sympathy for the dead, wounded (and the bereaved) on both sides.

Bruce

I have no sympathy whatsoever for the Taliban. They are hard to describe as anything but evil.

What could possibly be said, beyond thanking Mike for posting this?

George

Bldy hayfever

Chaps

Mike is right, we ignore the Taliban at our peril. This is more reason for our troops to be given the right amount of equipment to enable them to do the job and hopefully a bit more respect from schoolteachers.

Regards

Mick

I used to be a chef at UK Land Force Command. Seemed to me there was plenty of money sloshing around with the luxury and silver ware.

Always the same shit innit?

Trouble is, i feel we'll never "win" in Afghanistan. History shows that. All you do is delay/defer/deter the inevitable and then it all comes back in again. Professional soldiers, academics, politicians, historians, whether of Islamic or Christian faith, local or international, all have ideas but all are directed at the near term. What can be done now. No-one really believes the very thought of what they're fighting out there can actually be defeated for good. RAF friends of mine talk about a 30 year plan. In reality I can't even see that. While the local population are so ill equipped to deal with decision making about their lives then much of Afghanistan will remain as it has for the last two hundred years.

That's not to say we shouldn't be doing 'something' out there. But fighting 'restricted' wars is never going to be an easy task.

Things haven't changed much and Jon you would do well to ponder Kipling's words

Arithmetic on the Frontier

A great and glorious thing it is
  To learn, for seven years or so,
The Lord knows what of that and this,
  Ere reckoned fit to face the foe—
The flying bullet down the Pass,
That whistles clear: “All flesh is grass.”

Three hundred pounds per annum spent
  On making brain and body meeter
For all the murderous intent
  Comprised in “villainous saltpetre!”
And after—ask the Yusufzaies
What comes of all our ‘ologies.

A scrimmage in a Border Station—
  A canter down some dark defile—
Two thousand pounds of education
  Drops to a ten-rupee jezail—
The Crammer’s boast, the Squadron’s pride,
Shot like a rabbit in a ride!

No proposition Euclid wrote,
  No formulae the text-books know,
Will turn the bullet from your coat,
  Or ward the tulwar’s downward blow
Strike hard who cares—shoot straight who can—
The odds are on the cheaper man.

One sword-knot stolen from the camp
  Will pay for all the school expenses
Of any Kurrum Valley scamp
  Who knows no word of moods and tenses,
But, being blessed with perfect sight,
Picks off our messmates left and right.

With home-bred hordes the hillsides teem,
  The troop-ships bring us one by one,
At vast expense of time and steam,
  To slay Afridis where they run.

The “captives of our bow and spear”
Are cheap—alas! as we are dear.

Bloody hell.....moving reading......

My son is 21 and I can't imagine losing him, either to a bullet, IED, or even some other non combat accident.

Humbled

Jim

PS. Consciousness, you should be ashamed for criticising spelling and grammar in this instance. As a teacher, you have lost the plot IMO.

My Brother -in -laws son is serving with the 2nd Rifles!

I have just read his letter to be delivered in the event of his death - really, very moving.

Thanks for posting this, Mike.

Mike, many thanks for posting this - I wasn't able to read it in one go, this is very moving.

Thanks for the post Mike.
Cyrus ..You were a brave young lad and I'm sure you're parents were proud of you.It just gives you a reality check reading your letters
especially your final one.Sad,Sad news.Godbless.

Rgds,Toby

Jon... I couldn't believe your comment.Insensitive is not the word....Bow your head in shame.

quote:

Originally posted by Consciousmess:
Maybe this is me being insensitive because I work as a teacher, but both the spelling and the grammar are atrocious!!

Jon

Those that can do, those that cannot teach.

You should think a bit more before commenting on the skills this young man had, and in the context of the sacrifice he made. I know he made the choice to join up, but it was probably the only option other than the dole.

I hope that my spelling and grammar are acceptable to you, and now please crawl back under your rock and stay there.

Jono

The man was let down both by the politicians regarding the supply situation and also the failing provision of education for him and his colleagues at school.

Very sad