Which of your children would take up arms if need be to defend their country

[Lardychops]

Ive been thinking about this a lot lately in a thought experiment/abstract way since Ukraine invasion and having lived years ago in Israel where young people do national service from 17 as a matter of course with frequent refreshers- obviously now for them being put to the test .
So, my question is -
In terms of the ‘barbarians at the gates scenario which of your children/neices /nephews /siblings parents would drop everything to defend their country/ city/town/ village and family if they needed to ? And do you think their lifestyle/career path impacts on this?

I have 1DD single mother of 3 - she would have been first in the queue pre kids and if I looked after them she would be first to front line

3x DS - all tradesmen- without hesitation- 1 has a child but a partner - he would be first on the front line after his sister. One of them would be terrified but his pride would make him follow his brothers to protect his family rather than any bigger picture

1xDSD - works in retail -No doubt she would pick up arms and fight to the death.

1xDSD- left Uni-just got back from travelling - nothing in hospitality- no chance.

Unless of course Russia or Iran drops a nuclear bomb on UK in which case its game over for many of us and very few boots left to put on the ground. That's probably the most likely scenario.

All of them. And I’d be proud that they would.

I would not put anyone forward until I'd seen the families and kids of the people deciding that we will go to war joining up. Once Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson's kids are wearing fatigues then I might start considering it. In all fairness I don't think to would come to that as it's unlikely to ever be a feet on the ground war. It'll be buttons pressed by people safely in underground bunkers and we probably won't have time to worry about it at all.

Nuclear attack against a Nato state is the least likely as it guarantees destruction for the attacker too. Nuclear weapons are only useful as a threat, once you use them its all over. We can see that in Ukraine - Putin threatens and threatens but he never dares use them and Ukraine isn't even in Nato.

Problem is if another country that is willing to sacrifice in the name of religion or similar gets hold of them. Totally agree with what youre saying but jihadists or the like minded with access to nuclear weapons would turn our concept of war on its head.

Stupid men start stupid wars and I wouldn't want any of my children or grandchildren to have to fight in them.

DS has a right to dual citizenship with an EU country and is in the process of applying for it. He has always felt he has at least as much kinship with that country as he has with the UK and if Britain was involved in a conflict that he disagreed with we have always told him he could consider going to family in the other country. This is Ireland which, as well as being an EU member state, has also been politically neutral for many years. And I hope he would go.

Because they are invaders. Not refugees! Biggest dupe ever.

What the actual shit

perfectly said

No child of mine - too many generations of mine survived warfare, from Boer to Korea, (none died) and every single one drilled into me that War is awful and Peace is the only way.

DS1 has already volunteered. He’s served 11yrs so far. He followed in the footsteps of DH who served 35yrs, although he served in the RAF whereas DS1 is army.

DS2 would have signed up too, but he’s asthmatic. He’s a nurse, if they wanted him too, he’d definitely go.

The romantic idea that there is hand to hand combat WW1 style with a bayonet is a complete myth!

War is now primarily conducted by drones and remote controlled ballistic warheads fired from afar!

Yes my daughter and I would undoubtedly work to remove an invading force…. probably via sabotage and remote controlled drone attacks!

The idea that you can fight a drone or warhead is the stuff of fantasy…. You can either hide in shelters or leave!

DD1 is probably in a reserved occupation and would be used there.
Dd2 would almost certainly be excused due to disability.
Ds has already told me that if it looks like conscription then he will be signing up so he has control over where/what etc. At least a couple of his friends have said similar. He's 18yo and they have been discussing it between themselves.

Mine is in the army, would fight front line… believe me when I say this, it’s a f*ing awful thought that it may (again) happen.

daughter - I think she’d step up, probably want to help bandage any wounded so I’m not sure how much use she’d be other than that

teenage son (not old enough?) - would go in a heartbeat if he thought it would help!

Nieces and nephews (two older than our eldest two and two younger than them but slightly older than teen) - not a chance either set would!

This above.

The chance of the UK being in a war with actual invaders arriving in boats/by plane is incredibly low. Something like a cyberattack or nerve gas attack or even a drone attack is a definite possibility but not one that normal people can defend themselves against.
Either way, I don't want any of my family involved in a destructive and entirely avoidable war because of our war mongering leaders.
I also agree with the points made earlier that many people now have less loyalty to the UK as the social contract has been broken by successive governments over the last several decades. They don't feel that they are fighting for something that they have a part in. It's the same in the US and some other countries.

Romantic!!!!!???

Indeed the idea that modern warfare is a fair fight where you will look your enemy in the eye!

Modern warfare means that you will probably be killed by a drone or ballistic missile controlled by someone far away! There is no fight… just death and destruction from afar!

Both of mine are already serving in combat trades.

What I do object to is my son is going to train Ukrainian soldiers while Ukrainian men who are younger than him are claiming refugee status in our country.

Hopefully none of mine as I raised them to believe all fighting is wrong and to use their own minds rather than blindly follow orders. However they do all do what they can with protests and one does medical aid at those sorts of events. Hopefully they would all find roles that didn’t go against our beliefs while still supporting behind the scenes.

The Palestinians are fighting for their country, losing and being called terrorists. They are unarmed against one of the most armies in the world. I don't blame anyone for running away

Mumsnet has really gone full daily mail. There was nothing romantic about the First World War, all war is pointless destruction

My point is in response to the OP suggesting of sending your children to war… and someone posting that men claiming asylum in the UK should stay and fight in their own country!

Modern warfare isn’t a human interaction, it’s distant and deadly!

Look at the Isreal Iran conflict happening now, so much death and destruction and not a single soldier in each others country!

People who think that untrained men or children can fight in a modern war is absolutely bonkers!

Depends. Are we occupying another country like israel? I would have no hand if the UK was like that barbaric child killing monster.