Pause for thought

Just for a moment – at 11am local time tomorrow and reflect.

Think about the horrors endured by millions in the battle against evil.  Beating the Bosch, Hammering the Hun or just plain and simply kicking some Nazi arse, stop and think for a moment.  The Middle East, Africa, Falklands, Northern Ireland. Armistice Day – The day of remembrance for all armed forces.

I read last week on the BBC an article about the last surviving ‘Battle of Britain’ pilot.  This good old boy had finally hung up his hat at the ripe old age of 99.  Many of you probably never even noticed the story, nestling between such urgent headlines as ‘Strictly beats X Factor in ratings’ or another overpaid footballer getting caught with his pants down.  Shame on you if you didn’t read it.  Make amends and read about this chap right now

William Walker

And whilst reading, remember Churchill’s words – Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.

I also read of another old veteran about to hang up it’s hat. A cold War veteran this time, something we would see often as a kid living in Lutterworth, before the airfield was disbanded and a business park built over the top of it – The Vulcan.  Every kid in the playground would stop and watch this beast as it turned over our heads.  Of course, at the time we were innocently unaware of it’s deadly yet critical role in the brinkmanship game called M.A.D. (mutually assured destruction).  Nonetheless, will be sad to know it is finally grounded

Avro Vulcan

And if you haven’t already read this book, you should do so soon.  I have finished with my copy – ask me nicely and I will send it to you

The Last Fighting Tommy

The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month is almost upon us – Rule Britannia