Uniform

[bentaxle]

My Grandson is going into the RAF as A 16 year old apprentice shortly and the wife just said it will nice seeing the boy come through the door on leave in uniform just like his grand parents
but I've told her I don't think they allow it now a days on safety reasons
And if that's true how ever did we get in this state , I can still see my big Brother come through the door on leave from his ship in his uniform with his kit bag on his shoulder after serving on the small Sub chases in the Atlantic and the Russian Convoys for six years and how proud I was
We should to be ashamed

[retrocop]

I am afraid you are correct. That is the official advice or order of the MOD. It was once regarded as a form of advertising but sadly the uniform wearer is easily recognised by the cowards who don't wear one.

[pixie374]

Cowards?

[teacake44]

^ Come on Pixie that don't take any working out for you surly.

[emmie]

we should be ashamed, i think that it's wonderful he is doing something he wants.

[retrocop]

Yes cowards. Those terrorists who, used to and still do ,target service personnel when off duty. Maybe assassins would suit the description.

[dannyk13]

I remember when I first came home in uniform in the 50s'. M y father took me to is local club ( The Carters & Motorman's) where anybody in uniform was welcomed witha special day's membership.How times have changed.

[waterboatman]

retro. Sadly, you're right. I remember, wayyy back in the 1960's, I went home on my first leave, in uniform, and got waves and admiring glances, (from girls), I was in an army uniform in a Royal Navy city. :o}

[Mamyalynne]

The debate about this has gone on for many years, at certain times different branches of the Military have been seen as potential targets.


1970's in relation to the IRA.

Later in regards to Afghanistan and Iraq,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7211979.stm

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/mar/07/military.defence

You ask 'how did we get to this' - we got there via many decades and the fickle nature of people.

[TonyV]

As retro says it's for their own personal safety. Sign of the times which we now live in.

[Mamyalynne]

The times we have lived in for a long while Tony.

[retrocop]

I met an old gentleman,about 4 years ago, in my local hostelry. I was told by another patron that he had dropped into Arnhem on the Marget Garden Op.
I recalled the Canadian broadcaster at the battle saying.'If you ever meet one of these brave men from the sky then buy him a pint '
So I did and a tear came to his eye. He remembered the quote and told me the name of the war correspondent.

[Peter Pedant]

been around for a long time
the holy archbishop makarios arranged for a few national Cypriot police to be hot and they handed in their resignations the next day

the freedom loving algerians shot lots of gendarmes 1962

and the palestine police had reunions in secret
for fear of reprisals - fifty years after liberation, grudge bearing israelis

oh and when Sadam Huseein was shot at
as his cortege passed thro a village,
no sense of humour at all - - he massacred the whole lot !

[retrocop]

typo *Market Garden*

[TonyV]

Lynne yes has been like this since the 80's.

[retrocop]

//as his cortege passed thro a village,
no sense of humour at all - - he massacred the whole lot ! ///

Blimey how did he manage that? Funeral or other?

[Peter Pedant]

// 'If you ever meet one of these brave men from the sky then buy him a pint '//
I was told to do so for the ex military bouncers at any pub - they are less wild than the er normal ones

Arnhem is NOT one of greatest victories - another end the war quick gimmicks that Churchill loved ( italy, dieppe , north africa )
Didnt it all end when Princess Pats brigade charged over an open field and were mown down by machine gun ?

[Peter Pedant]

whatever line of cars is called
I did wonder when I wrote cortege if someone has to be dead.....

[sanmac]

Retro, as an aside, here is an interesting, but long, article about one aspect of that Operation. In the movie "A Bridge Too Far", the troops are portrayed as using their rifle butts as paddles: https://www.passagemaker.com/trawler-news/outboards-world-war-2?utm_campaign=PassageMaker%20Newsletters&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=80247458&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_tf3rGlYkjOHpe8YDHWp-tSRJ-vmnA2Ty-QFR_Adfb8J9LwK9m3NUPRJF9pquQg8eEkRGwGQj8CoIPy4HHM7t7Y_VKmA&_hsmi=80247458

[Rockrose]

Not new I remember my father coming home in civvies because of this and that’s was early 80’s

[retrocop]

I thought it ended when the survivors made an orderly and disciplined withdrawal back to the Rhine and lived to fight another day.