Misfits, Dad's Army Types et al...
Discussion
I'm in a local Blood Bike group (basically, you can be on call to transport stuff between hospitals during the night, at weekend and bank holidays. Not just blood, urgent path samples, notes, etc). It's a registered charity and the Chairman is actually a good guy, very level headed.
The group has access to some marked bikes with blue lights/sirens/livery. I've only ever used my own bike, and only wear the supplied high vis so the hospital know I'm legit (I also have an ID card as well). I've been to a few events where we've had a stand to try and recruit new members and it's worrying how many people ask "When can I use the blue lights?" There are a few members who are (IMHO) a little too fond of high vis and white helmets and have "extra" stickers on their own bikes. They're just a step down from those throbbers on horses and motorbikes who wear those ridiculous "Polite" vests.
I do it because I like the thought I could save the NHS a few quid by not having to pay for a taxi to transport the stuff and I could possibly be helping someone. Not "lifesaving" as such, just helping out. There are a couple of other cops in the group and interestingly, we all tend to use our own bikes and wear as little high vis as possible.
And FWIW, Chemical Chaos has just reconfirmed his weapons grade bell end status to me with that ridiculous post.
The group has access to some marked bikes with blue lights/sirens/livery. I've only ever used my own bike, and only wear the supplied high vis so the hospital know I'm legit (I also have an ID card as well). I've been to a few events where we've had a stand to try and recruit new members and it's worrying how many people ask "When can I use the blue lights?" There are a few members who are (IMHO) a little too fond of high vis and white helmets and have "extra" stickers on their own bikes. They're just a step down from those throbbers on horses and motorbikes who wear those ridiculous "Polite" vests.
I do it because I like the thought I could save the NHS a few quid by not having to pay for a taxi to transport the stuff and I could possibly be helping someone. Not "lifesaving" as such, just helping out. There are a couple of other cops in the group and interestingly, we all tend to use our own bikes and wear as little high vis as possible.
And FWIW, Chemical Chaos has just reconfirmed his weapons grade bell end status to me with that ridiculous post.
its a very good point, if you are of a certain age, everyone it seems had served: eg my grandfather was part of the elite troop guarding the Russian Tzar. My father was in the Australian army. As for my mothers German side, well lets not mention them..............
My brother in law's mum (who is still alive at nearly 100) served in WW2 on the same ship as POG- their nickname for Phillip Of Greece- before he married her maj of course.
However, I grew up in a household full of war tales, from both WW1, WW2 and before.
Even I was in the cub scouts. Sixer don't you know. Runs in the blood.
What I don't understand is the way the media portray literally any serving or ex-serving military person as a "hero". Why is every single one of them a hero ?
I've never looked at my dad and gone, "you're my hero" just because you happened to be in the army. I guess a few are brave, but how is being a chef, or handing out uniforms, or doing admin something that makes you a hero just because you have a badge ?
Maybe its some weird media thing.
My brother in law's mum (who is still alive at nearly 100) served in WW2 on the same ship as POG- their nickname for Phillip Of Greece- before he married her maj of course.
However, I grew up in a household full of war tales, from both WW1, WW2 and before.
Even I was in the cub scouts. Sixer don't you know. Runs in the blood.
What I don't understand is the way the media portray literally any serving or ex-serving military person as a "hero". Why is every single one of them a hero ?
I've never looked at my dad and gone, "you're my hero" just because you happened to be in the army. I guess a few are brave, but how is being a chef, or handing out uniforms, or doing admin something that makes you a hero just because you have a badge ?
Maybe its some weird media thing.
Crossflow Kid said:
Turquoise said:
I think you are all a little bit weird frankly.
When you say "you all" does that mean "us"?If so, it includes you sunshine
Not you or me. We are awesome, naturally!
austinsmirk said:
its a very good point, if you are of a certain age, everyone it seems had served: eg my grandfather was part of the elite troop guarding the Russian Tzar. My father was in the Australian army. As for my mothers German side, well lets not mention them..............
My brother in law's mum (who is still alive at nearly 100) served in WW2 on the same ship as POG- their nickname for Phillip Of Greece- before he married her maj of course.
However, I grew up in a household full of war tales, from both WW1, WW2 and before.
Even I was in the cub scouts. Sixer don't you know. Runs in the blood.
What I don't understand is the way the media portray literally any serving or ex-serving military person as a "hero". Why is every single one of them a hero ?
I've never looked at my dad and gone, "you're my hero" just because you happened to be in the army. I guess a few are brave, but how is being a chef, or handing out uniforms, or doing admin something that makes you a hero just because you have a badge ?
Maybe its some weird media thing.
I so wish my old man was still alive to talk about this. He had very firm views on what a hero was. My brother in law's mum (who is still alive at nearly 100) served in WW2 on the same ship as POG- their nickname for Phillip Of Greece- before he married her maj of course.
However, I grew up in a household full of war tales, from both WW1, WW2 and before.
Even I was in the cub scouts. Sixer don't you know. Runs in the blood.
What I don't understand is the way the media portray literally any serving or ex-serving military person as a "hero". Why is every single one of them a hero ?
I've never looked at my dad and gone, "you're my hero" just because you happened to be in the army. I guess a few are brave, but how is being a chef, or handing out uniforms, or doing admin something that makes you a hero just because you have a badge ?
Maybe its some weird media thing.
His view: A hero is someone who has a choice and who chooses to do the heroic thing. Going into the burning building when you don't have to. Storming the German machine gun nest to save your friends.
Here's a link.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories...
When my Dad was 13 he was in that ship the night she was attacked.
He woke his little brother, got dressed and tried to wake the other two buys in the cabin who dismissed the alarm as a drill.
He tried to get them up, but was more concerned about getting him and his brother to the lifeboat. (Self preservation, not a hero.)
The ship was listing and when they got to the lifeboat station the boat was already in the water free of the davits. He pushed his little brother over the rail and then jumped himself into the dark. (Self preservation The ship has been torpedoed. Stay or jump? Not a hero.)
They both got into the lifeboat though for some time my Dad wasn't sure if his brother had made it. A warship thundered past, ignoring them going for the sub. ( They didn't want it attacking more ships, fair enough.)
In the distance they saw lights. An oil tanker had put all her lights on as a beacon to the lifeboats. (An act of heroism on the part of the crew of the tanker, making them a sitting duck.)
They were repatriated to the Clyde in the tanker which sailed without warship escorts. (No real choice but to do this)
The brackets were more or less my father's take on what happened.
The kids - including him and my uncle - were hailed as heroes. 'The bravest kids on earth' read one headline. They were brave. He told me only one little girl cried and they sang 'Roll out the barrel' and other songs to keep their spirits up until they were rescued.
Brave, stoic, Still upper lip British without a doubt. He maintained that they were not heroes, just kids who got into
a bad situation. There was no choice, the ship got torpedoed, they had to get off.
He always said the only heroes on that night were the tanker crew who put their lights on. They didn't have to. The risk was great. They did it nonevthe less.
Edited by wildcat45 on Monday 23 May 15:46
Crossflow Kid said:
DonkeyApple said:
4x4Tyke said:
Crossflow Kid said:
The SAS have Hobnobs though.
I'm reliably informed that hobnobbing is frowned upon in the SAS.
king odd. austinsmirk said:
its a very good point, if you are of a certain age, everyone it seems had served: eg my grandfather was part of the elite troop guarding the Russian Tzar. My father was in the Australian army. As for my mothers German side, well lets not mention them..............
My brother in law's mum (who is still alive at nearly 100) served in WW2 on the same ship as POG- their nickname for Phillip Of Greece- before he married her maj of course.
However, I grew up in a household full of war tales, from both WW1, WW2 and before.
Even I was in the cub scouts. Sixer don't you know. Runs in the blood.
What I don't understand is the way the media portray literally any serving or ex-serving military person as a "hero". Why is every single one of them a hero ?
I've never looked at my dad and gone, "you're my hero" just because you happened to be in the army. I guess a few are brave, but how is being a chef, or handing out uniforms, or doing admin something that makes you a hero just because you have a badge ?
Maybe its some weird media thing.
The Yanks are the weirdest nation of all - they award a purple heart if you cut yourself whilst peeling spuds about 10 miles from the front lines. Typical of them to go over-the-top and applaud anyone in uniform.My brother in law's mum (who is still alive at nearly 100) served in WW2 on the same ship as POG- their nickname for Phillip Of Greece- before he married her maj of course.
However, I grew up in a household full of war tales, from both WW1, WW2 and before.
Even I was in the cub scouts. Sixer don't you know. Runs in the blood.
What I don't understand is the way the media portray literally any serving or ex-serving military person as a "hero". Why is every single one of them a hero ?
I've never looked at my dad and gone, "you're my hero" just because you happened to be in the army. I guess a few are brave, but how is being a chef, or handing out uniforms, or doing admin something that makes you a hero just because you have a badge ?
Maybe its some weird media thing.
However, I've always had the feeling that, in general, the generation of WW2 were quite happy to play down their part. They looked upon it all as simply their duty, which they undertook, and they came home. Nothing to talk about. Job done.
My father had a friend who had been a motorcycle messenger at Dunkirk. This we knew was a fact. However his stories were incredibly embellished to the point that, even as a 10-year old, I realised it was mainly BS. According to him, it was he who had purloined a Belgian officer's charger, and rode up and down the beaches to encourage the men. He even, apparently, swam out to a barge lying offshore and attempted to tug it back to the shore. I'll say one thing for him, he could tell a good story and he was superb entertainment. I don't consider him a Walt - he just liked to amuse people.
My father never really spoke about his experiences, like so many of his era. We didn't ask questions, although one of our neighbours had been a Japanese POW, and we didn't really realise why he wouldn't leave the house. We were told to keep our noses out of other people's business.
Social media today makes it so much easier for people to tell their tales and not get caught. Plus the strange need these days for people to feel "wanted" - the needy generation.
I suppose you're always going to get the Uncle Albert 'Durin' the war...' Tall story tellers, but that's not Walting.
People did keep quiet about stuff and every now and then it would surface. In 1980 my auntie (A WW2 WRAF) bought a new car. When her boss - a lovely bloke called Pete - saw it he apparently went into a rage, swearing, shouting and generally getting very angry with my aunt asking her how she could do such a terrible thing. She'd bought a Mazda 323. A Japanese car. Pete wasn't a mindless racist. He had suffered at the hands of Japanese solders in Burma and 30-odd years later had the physical and mental scars to prove it.
He rarely talked about it.
People did keep quiet about stuff and every now and then it would surface. In 1980 my auntie (A WW2 WRAF) bought a new car. When her boss - a lovely bloke called Pete - saw it he apparently went into a rage, swearing, shouting and generally getting very angry with my aunt asking her how she could do such a terrible thing. She'd bought a Mazda 323. A Japanese car. Pete wasn't a mindless racist. He had suffered at the hands of Japanese solders in Burma and 30-odd years later had the physical and mental scars to prove it.
He rarely talked about it.
DMN said:
You missed off the toppest of top tips for any Andy McNabs working under deep cover: tell anybody who will listen.
Or, as one warehouse guy I used to have to deal with years ago, just chuck out broad hints and if asked "oh were you in the army?" just give a wry smile and make a ridiculous attempt to change the subject. The same guy; if a loud bang was heard -usually one of his half wit warehouse monkeys crashing into something with a forklift or dropping stuff - drop in to a crouch and make a grab for your non-existent shoulder holster....then after looking around to make sure somone has noticed give that wry smile again and shake your head.
Before someone asks....I know he wasn't in the SAS or similar as I'm sure any stint in the army would have been on his CV. It was all warehouse stuff from the age of 16.
Had to tell off some of my Production guys as they started sneaking over to the warehouse and blowing up paper bags etc....quite funny but I couldn't let it continue....health and safety issue!
wildcat45 said:
I suppose you're always going to get the Uncle Albert 'Durin' the war...' Tall story tellers, but that's not Walting.
People did keep quiet about stuff and every now and then it would surface. In 1980 my auntie (A WW2 WRAF) bought a new car. When her boss - a lovely bloke called Pete - saw it he apparently went into a rage, swearing, shouting and generally getting very angry with my aunt asking her how she could do such a terrible thing. She'd bought a Mazda 323. A Japanese car. Pete wasn't a mindless racist. He had suffered at the hands of Japanese solders in Burma and 30-odd years later had the physical and mental scars to prove it.
He rarely talked about it.
Similar with my grandfather, didn't mention a word about his time in the RAF, until in his 80s a speech was given about him / his life story by another relative at a random, unrelated event.People did keep quiet about stuff and every now and then it would surface. In 1980 my auntie (A WW2 WRAF) bought a new car. When her boss - a lovely bloke called Pete - saw it he apparently went into a rage, swearing, shouting and generally getting very angry with my aunt asking her how she could do such a terrible thing. She'd bought a Mazda 323. A Japanese car. Pete wasn't a mindless racist. He had suffered at the hands of Japanese solders in Burma and 30-odd years later had the physical and mental scars to prove it.
He rarely talked about it.
Somehow ended up with the BBC then wanting to do a special for one of the anniversary celebrations. That was put to and end when he had a stroke.
Some of the correspondence between him, the UK and the US war depts poat-war is pretty interesting.
Kind of makes me look upon 'look at me in my important hi viz, spotlight shining 4x4xfar' a little dimly
98elise said:
I agree. In florida we were at a show in one of the theme parks, and they asked for all serving and ex members of the armed forces to stand up (not just American). They then asked for a round of appause. I'm glad I remained seated.
It was nice getting 25% off in Deneys though. The waitress mentioned a forces discount and I jokingly said does being ex Royal Navy count, and she said yes
God bless you Sir, I'd shake your goddam hand right now if I could. It was nice getting 25% off in Deneys though. The waitress mentioned a forces discount and I jokingly said does being ex Royal Navy count, and she said yes
nicanary said:
The Yanks are the weirdest nation of all - they award a purple heart if you cut yourself whilst peeling spuds about 10 miles from the front lines. Typical of them to go over-the-top and applaud anyone in uniform.
However, I've always had the feeling that, in general, the generation of WW2 were quite happy to play down their part. They looked upon it all as simply their duty, which they undertook, and they came home. Nothing to talk about. Job done.
My father had a friend who had been a motorcycle messenger at Dunkirk. This we knew was a fact. However his stories were incredibly embellished to the point that, even as a 10-year old, I realised it was mainly BS. According to him, it was he who had purloined a Belgian officer's charger, and rode up and down the beaches to encourage the men. He even, apparently, swam out to a barge lying offshore and attempted to tug it back to the shore. I'll say one thing for him, he could tell a good story and he was superb entertainment. I don't consider him a Walt - he just liked to amuse people.
My father never really spoke about his experiences, like so many of his era. We didn't ask questions, although one of our neighbours had been a Japanese POW, and we didn't really realise why he wouldn't leave the house. We were told to keep our noses out of other people's business.
Social media today makes it so much easier for people to tell their tales and not get caught. Plus the strange need these days for people to feel "wanted" - the needy generation.
It's just marketing, not natural patriotism. You offer a discount to absolutely anyone in the military and you get a lot more turnover that more than compensates for the discount. Plus, everyone else thinks you're amazing for giving the patriotic discount so they big you up or at worst won't bad mouth you. However, I've always had the feeling that, in general, the generation of WW2 were quite happy to play down their part. They looked upon it all as simply their duty, which they undertook, and they came home. Nothing to talk about. Job done.
My father had a friend who had been a motorcycle messenger at Dunkirk. This we knew was a fact. However his stories were incredibly embellished to the point that, even as a 10-year old, I realised it was mainly BS. According to him, it was he who had purloined a Belgian officer's charger, and rode up and down the beaches to encourage the men. He even, apparently, swam out to a barge lying offshore and attempted to tug it back to the shore. I'll say one thing for him, he could tell a good story and he was superb entertainment. I don't consider him a Walt - he just liked to amuse people.
My father never really spoke about his experiences, like so many of his era. We didn't ask questions, although one of our neighbours had been a Japanese POW, and we didn't really realise why he wouldn't leave the house. We were told to keep our noses out of other people's business.
Social media today makes it so much easier for people to tell their tales and not get caught. Plus the strange need these days for people to feel "wanted" - the needy generation.
Rule one for America is never, ever take anything at face value. Whatever they tell you or want you to think it is just a veneer to mask the commercial aspect.
Nothing at all wrong with that but if you forget to look through the story to see what is really for sale then it's impossible to know if what you are buying is a fair price.
baldy1926 said:
Theres a guy who lives a couple of streets away from me.
He's got a crew cab 130 defender which has the light bar etc, he's just had another vehicle turn up.
A transit van which he has been busily putting stickers on. He has nice battenburgs each side now and markings on the rear door similar to motorway maintenance.
I've not figured out yet if he is pretend rescue or pretend police yet.
Didn't have my phone with me today but another van has appeared and hes started putting battenburg stickers on that as well.He's got a crew cab 130 defender which has the light bar etc, he's just had another vehicle turn up.
A transit van which he has been busily putting stickers on. He has nice battenburgs each side now and markings on the rear door similar to motorway maintenance.
I've not figured out yet if he is pretend rescue or pretend police yet.
The transit i saw yesterday has plenty of extra lights so i cant wait to see what goes on the new van
Dr Jekyll said:
I knew a very old lady in the 1970s who reckoned she had met someone who fought at Waterloo.
Genuine? Or a second level Walt? Or she was genuine but he was a Walt, I dunno.
Nelson liked a beer and was a generally top bloke according to my mate who used to sell him limes.Genuine? Or a second level Walt? Or she was genuine but he was a Walt, I dunno.
Dr Jekyll said:
I knew a very old lady in the 1970s who reckoned she had met someone who fought at Waterloo.
Genuine? Or a second level Walt? Or she was genuine but he was a Walt, I dunno.
I suppose if she was very old in the 70s,and she met a very old veteran when she was very young,it could be possible.Genuine? Or a second level Walt? Or she was genuine but he was a Walt, I dunno.
e.g. The last survivor of the Pancho Villa expedition(1917) only died 10 years ago
ETA this fellow died in 1899 & fought for the French
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geert_Adriaans_Boomg...
Crossflow Kid said:
Yeah, they take aftenoon tea very seriously in the police.
The SAS have Hobnobs though.]
Do you know the colour of the biscuit tin at Hereford?The SAS have Hobnobs though.]
Edited by kowalski655 on Monday 23 May 18:34
Dr Jekyll said:
I knew a very old lady in the 1970s who reckoned she had met someone who fought at Waterloo.
Genuine? Or a second level Walt? Or she was genuine but he was a Walt, I dunno.
Actually, is it possible? I don't mean did it happen, but is It possible that it could be true?Genuine? Or a second level Walt? Or she was genuine but he was a Walt, I dunno.
The battle was 1815, so it is quite possible a 15 year old born in 1800 could have been there at the battle. Let's say that person lived until 1900 - possible.
I don't know how old you are but let's assume you are my age, 45, born in 1970.
One of my grandfathers was born in the 1880s. It would have been possible for him to have met and known someone born in 1800. It would also be quite feasible for someone born in the 1880s to have lived until the 1980s and therefore it would be entirely possible for someone of my age to have known him, a man who knew soneone who was at Waterloo.
As you say though, probably a Walt across the centuries/generations.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff