Re: D-Day story that made me laugh

The Reverend

fairkop

Amazing men - Went without a complaint



If any government told you to go and fight a war what would be the response today.

I know I may come across as a dick a lot but I have to say this. They are incredible heroes and I'm awestruck by what they did and potentially sacrificed. As I get older I feel it more and more.

That said I bet loads complained like f*ck and rightfully so. I can't accept your assumption nor your assumption about modern youth.

You're right.

One of the myths that came out of the Second World War is that the ordinary Tommy tugged his forelock and bowed to his superiors.

The men of that generation were conditioned by the experience of their fathers in the trenches. They would not blindly follow suicidal or poorly organised orders. One of the more remarkable bits of info I've learned from reading Anthony Beevor's book on the Normandy campaign is generally how 'unionised' the ordinary British soldier was by this period. Americans were astounded to see Tommies demand regular teabreaks from their superiors, even during the height of battle. There's even a story of the men going on strike in Burma following the end of the war, sick of being kept in theatre long after the action had concluded. It makes you understand a lot better why the surprise landslide of the 1945 election took place.