This is a UK thing, but the last surviving member of the armed forces who served in the trenches in WW1 died recently. His name was Harry Patch.
Ok, rant mode on.
This seems very strange to say, but I think that France has done a more honourable thing that the UK, with respects to Mr Patch. They awarded him the Legion D’Honneur, a prestigious award, and not just the normal one – he got the Officer’s rank of it.
What did Britain give him? Well to be blunt, fuck all. I mean, even Belgium knighted him. Did any government lackey here suggest that this courageous man, regardless of whether he was terribly brave or not in the war, be awarded some British award? An MBE, an OBE, a CBE? We’re not talking about something that would have cost us as a state very much.
This is quintessentially what is wrong with our nation. We honour the people who give money to political parties, but not the people that do things. Oh I know, I know, a third or a half of our awards do go to deserving people, but this one person, Mr Patch, is one of those that should have had one. Even if it was to show soldiers that we honour our servicemen and women.
I could go on about this government etc., but it’s pointless, they don’t listen. To me at least, this old man who went through hell, should have had something important from us. God rest his soul.
Rant mode off.
Yep I think that was him. He was the last survivor from the trenches of WW1.
Isn't that pretty much the case here in the US too? Sucks. I read on the AP wires a couple of ...