Wooton Bassett reception of bodies of those who died in Afgahnistan

[Simples]

My parents went today. Said it is HUGE with people from all over the country.
VERY moving, silence as the cars pass then a solitary howl from a young woman.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8143614.stm

They said they wouldnt be suprised if it becomes a big anti war focus.

can someone not hold a different view without being called names?

Who was name calling?

I don't see any namecalling - all I can see is a few people (some of whom have relevant and recent experience of the Forces as wives and/or serving personnel) pointing out that SEA's view might be a tad outdated and behind the times.

bamboostalks, who mentioned 'unthinking patriotism' ????

My husband (former soldier) was on a tube going through one of the 7/7 tube stops about 10 minutes before one of those bombs went off. A friend was next to the bus when it was blown up. My father lost two colleagues on 9/11.

I think it's a worthwhile cause to do all we can to make sure the evil creatures who did these things are killed. Or imprisoned. Or otherwise neutralised.

Herbietea - you were just a little more succint than I!

as a comprehensive school educated woamn whose mother was a cleaner, i mobilised a fair few people and shipped them out to both iraq and afghanistan. most of the men and women i selected have been mortared, some have been seriously injured and discharged.

my loading teams also have had the sad job of taking part in the repatriation ceremonies.

the people of wootton bassett have my utmost respect and i thank them from the bottom of my heart.

First and second lieutenants in WW1 (ie, the youngest officers) had a horrific death rate, in fact, similar to that of private soldiers.

Quite different from field officers staying further back.

lol at redcardigan and my class war.

what exactly is your problem with me?

I believe that the Afghan and Iraq campaigns have seen a higher proportion - but not a higher number - of deaths from the officer corps than from the ranks. Mind you, I can't remember where I read the statistic (probably the DT) and it was some time ago so recent deaths may have altered the percentages.

Abraid is right that there was a high number of deaths at 2nd Lt and Lt rank, but it isn't until one gets to full Colonel rank that one is truly behind the lines or "further back". Majors and Lt Cols lead from the front unless they are on the staff - as can be seen from the number of officers of this rank killed.

was just a daft throwaway comment i made anyway, you lot pounce on anything.

do i suddenly have to think that sending kids into a war is a good thing then?

I have no problem whatsoever with you. i don't know you personally.
However, I regularly notice you posting with a 'them and us' attitude. Anything socioeconomic or relating to private schools and now armed forces ranking. Always cries of boasting, arrogance and snobbery. You have this imagined view of groups of people looking down on you and it comes across as having a chip on your shoulder.

oh you too stop it.

Oh dear

I can understand both points of view but please don't drag grievances across threads.

I agree. But there really is no need to bring an agenda onto a thread like this.

I came on here to show gratitude to those serving, whatever their rank, and to the people of WB.

I went to visit my sister this week, she lives in Lyneham, her dh is RAF. She had told me about the people coming out EVERY time. As I went to drive through Wootton Bassett, I realised they were expecting to say a farewell. There were old military men in wheelchairs with blankets, servicemen, and a variety of people all waiting out in the rain. My ds asked me why I was crying. It got worse as I drove on and past the 2 hearses with union flags over the coffins.
This community does this to recognise the loss of life. It is not to do with the war. It really doesn't matter whether you agree with the politics or not, these service people leave family behind.
It is a truly extraordinary thing that the people of Wootton Bassett do.

abraid Your statement, "people should have no doubt that it is a good cause" is how I would describe unthinking patriotism. Of course people should doubt. Doubt and question again and again so that our politicians are accountable for each and every death. Many of us feel that we will not be able to win any war against these Muslim extremists and we are a very long way from making any headway with the Taliban occupation.

"They said they wouldnt be suprised if it becomes a big anti war focus."

• some people just have to spoil it, don't they? and by that, I mean those who are bringing this up, not anti-war protesters! who are on the whole far more respectful than that.

As your own link confirms, they've been passing through Wootton since 2007, so why would it suddenly become a focus now? Anti war protests don't tend to suddenly just start according to how many die.

"My brother was a soldier. I asked what he would do if his son wanted to join up.
"Break his legs" was his response."

• hmm, I'd join up just to get away from him

"sounds sort of sick as seeing it as a day out too."

• down here near Portsmouth, there's events all year round to commemorate the military dead.

Is that sick too?

Funny how there's never any major commemoration of civilian deaths though...

I'd turn out if I could

I was immensely proud when a good friend ran a local marathon for help the heroes (he's a former Squaddie)

Two of my boys wouldnt qualify for the forces but the other two I would hate hate hate it if they joined up- and also be immensely proud and scared, I wouldnt dream of saying no, not that its my choice anyway.

Regardless of how you feel about the politics of the war, it's is absolutely fitting that we should honour the dead.

I drove through WB yesterday just before the procession, and the number of people there was staggering. I was very though when my five year old DD saw the people and said 'are they bringing back another body mum?' The soldiers who were also out lining the route just looked so young some of them, yet they could easily be out in Afghanistan. It is so sad.

totally agree with myredcardigan

excellent post

It was the comment re 'old public school boys' that I didn't like. Do you think 'posh boys' don't go to war?

"It was the comment re 'old public school boys' that I didn't like. Do you think 'posh boys' don't go to war? "

That was my feeling, too. I resent the implication in your post that it's the old school network that sits on its backside and sends the poor working-class Tommy off to die. Speaking as an officer's wife, that's some leap you make there.