The Sun, Telegraph, Make Fools of Themselves
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The Sun and the Telegraph have today made fools of themselves by accusing the BNP of somehow doing something sinister by selling replica Victoria Crosses on its merchandising web site - when in fact the government's own National Army Museum also sells Victoria Cross replicas! (see screenshot alongside).
The only difference between the BNP's sale of the replica VC is that it is half the price of the replica that the government's museum sells! You can buy a replica VC from the National Army Museum for £24.99, or the same thing from Excalibur for £12.00.
Both the Sun and the Telegraph however carry stories which try to create the impression that there is something illegal about Excalibur's fine and expanding range of collectable items - which includes miniature World War I and II medals, replica coins going back to Celtic, Roman and Saxon times, and a replica Magna Carta.
“It is ridiculous in the extreme for the Sun and the Telegraph to get indignant about replica medals, when the government itself, through the National Army Museum, also sells them to collectors,” says Dave Joines, managing director of Excalibur.
“The pathetic level of their attack is in fact a good sign - because if that is now the way they have to try and attack the BNP, then it just goes to show that we have won the political debate.”
“All they can do now is try and invent half-baked smears which have nothing to do with the issues facing Britain-namely the immigration invasion, the collapsing economy, the dire state of the NHS and the other things which really sway voters,” he says.
The hopeless Sun and Telegraph articles also quote Johnson Beharry, an immigrant from Grenada who entered the UK in 1999 and controversially won a VC in Iraq.
Beharry was clearly dragged out only because of his ethnicity to attack the BNP. He told The Sun: “Selling fake VCs is very disrespectful. The honour of the medal and its history shouldn't be tarnished like this.”
Quite apart from the fact that replica VCs are also sold by the National Army Museum, and therefore is also condemned in his words, the awarding of the VC to Beharry himself was shrouded in controversy, with critics saying that all he did was drive away very fast from a combat zone.
The action for which Beharry was awarded a VC took place in Iraq on 1 May 2004, when the vehicle he was driving was ambushed. Beharry drove through the ambush to safety - as have hundreds and hundreds of other British soldiers in Iraq under similar circumstances.
This type of action is so common in combat zones, that it actually happened again to Beharry on 11 June 2004, when an identical scenario played itself out.
Despite the fact of driving through an ambush is actually routine for all military vehicles drivers in the British Army in Iraq, the politically correct Ministry of Defence decided to elevate this particular occasion to something worthy of the VC.
At the time, critics pointed out that the VC was normally only awarded for gallant acts of bravery such as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, head on enemy attacks such as in the trenches of World War I and so on - and that driving a vehicle through an ambush hardly compares to any of these deeds.
Critics suggested that the only reason that Beharry was singled out for a VC was because of a made-up “positive discrimination” directive by the PC-mad government. The less kind critics might now say that possibly Beharry should be the one to be wearing a replica VC instead of a real one.
Real Recipients of the Victoria Cross - Compare their Bravery to that of Beharry's action:
Rambahadur Limbu, VC, is a Nepalese recipient of the Victoria Cross, belonging to the Begha Clan of Limbu Nationality of Nepal.
Limbu was approximately 26 years old, and was a Lance-Corporal in the 2nd Battalion, 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles, British Army during the Indonesian Confrontation when, on 21 November 1965 in Sarawak, Borneo, Lance-Corporal Rambahadur Limbu was in an advance party of 16 Gurkhas when they encountered about 30 Indonesians holding a position on the top of a jungle-covered hill.
The lance-corporal went forward with two men, but when they were only 10 yards from the enemy machine-gun position, the sentry opened fire on them, whereupon Limbu rushed forward and killed him with a grenade.
The remaining enemy combatants then opened fire on the small party, wounding the two men with the lance-corporal who, under heavy fire, made three journeys into the open, two to drag his comrades to safety and one to retrieve their bren gun, with which he charged down and killed many of the enemy.
Ian John McKay VC (May 7, 1953 - June 12, 1982) was a posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross, born in Wortley, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire.Ian McKay was Platoon Sergeant of 4 Platoon, B Company, 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, during the Falklands War.
During the night of 11th/12th June 1982, 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment mounted a silent night attack on an enemy battalion position on Mount Longdon, an important objective in the battle for Stanley in the Falkland Islands.
Sergeant McKay was platoon sergeant of 4 Platoon, B Company, which, after the initial objective had been secured, was ordered to clear the Northern side of the long East/West ridge feature, held by the enemy in depth, with strong, mutually-supporting positions.
By now the enemy were fully alert, and resisting fiercely. As 4 Platoon's advance continued it came under increasingly heavy fire from a number of well-sited enemy machine gun positions on the ridge, and received casualties.
Realising that no further advance was possible the Platoon Commander ordered the Platoon to move from its exposed position to seek shelter among the rocks of the ridge itself. Here it met up with part of 5 Platoon.
The enemy fire was still both heavy and accurate, and the position of the platoons was becoming increasingly hazardous. Taking Sergeant McKay, a Corporal and a few others, and covered by supporting machine gun fire, the Platoon Commander moved forward to reconnoitre the enemy positions but was hit by a bullet in the leg, and command devolved upon Sergeant McKay.
It was clear that instant action was needed if the advance was not to falter and increasing casualties to ensue. Sergeant McKay decided to convert this reconnaissance into an attack in order to eliminate the enemy positions. He was in no doubt of the strength and deployment of the enemy as he undertook this attack.
He issued orders, and taking three men with him, broke cover and charged the enemy position.
The assault was met by a hail of fire. The Corporal was seriously wounded, a Private killed and another wounded. Despite these losses Sergeant McKay, with complete disregard for his own safety, continued to charge the enemy position alone.
On reaching it he despatched the enemy with grenades, thereby relieving the position of beleaguered 4 and 5 Platoons, who were now able to redeploy with relative safety. Sergeant McKay, however, was killed at the moment of victory, his body falling on the bunker.
Without doubt Sergeant McKay's action retrieved a most dangerous situation and was instrumental in ensuring the success of the attack. His was a coolly calculated act, the dangers of which must have been all too apparent to him beforehand. Undeterred he performed with outstanding selflessness, perseverance and courage.
F/O Lloyd Allan Trigg VC (5 May 1914-11 August 1943), of Houhora, New Zealand, was a pilot in the RNZAF. He was a posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross. His award is unique, as it was awarded on evidence solely provided by the enemy, for an action in which there were no surviving Allied witnesses to corroborate his gallantry.
Trigg was piloting a Liberator V over the Atlantic on 11 August 1943 when he engaged the German submarine U-468, under the command of Klemens Schamong.
His aircraft received several catastrophic hits from the anti-aircraft guns during his approach to drop depth charges and was on fire as Trigg made his final attack. It then crashed, killing Trigg and his crew, so the only witnesses to his high courage were the U-boat crew members.
The U-boat sank but the seven survivors were rescued by a Royal Navy vessel and the U-Boat captain reported the incident, recommending Trigg be decorated for his bravery. The Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously.
The full citation reads as follows:
“Air Ministry, 2nd November, 1943. The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the VICTORIA CROSS on the undermentioned officer in recognition of most conspicuous bravery: - Flying Officer Lloyd Allan TRIGG, D.F.C. (N.Z.413515), Royal New Zealand Air Force (missing, believed killed), No. 200 Squadron.
Flying Officer Trigg had rendered outstanding service on convoy escort and antisubmarine duties. He had completed 46 operational sorties and had invariably displayed skill and courage of a very high order.
One day in August 1943, Flying Officer Trigg undertook, as captain and pilot, a patrol in a Liberator although he had not previously made any operational sorties in that type of aircraft. After searching for 8 hours a surfaced U-boat was sighted.
Flying Officer Trigg immediately prepared to attack. During the approach, the aircraft received many hits from the submarine's anti-aircraft guns and burst into flames, which quickly enveloped the tail.
The moment was critical. Flying Officer Trigg could have broken off the engagement and made a forced landing in the sea. But if he continued the attack, the aircraft would present a “no deflection” target to deadly accurate anti-aircraft fire, and every second spent in the air would increase the extent and intensity of the flames and diminish his chances of survival.
There could have been no hesitation or doubt in his mind. He maintained his course in spite of the already precarious condition of his aircraft and executed a masterly attack. Skimming over the U-boat at less than 50 feet with anti-aircraft fire entering his opened bomb doors, Flying Officer Trigg dropped his bombs on and around the U-boat where they exploded with davastating[sic] effect. A short distance further on the Liberator dived into the sea with her gallant captain and crew.
The U-boat sank within 20 minutes and some of her crew were picked up later in a rubber dinghy that had broken loose from the Liberator.”
Discussion
104 comments for “The Sun, Telegraph, Make Fools of Themselves”
Great response to this pathetic attack on the British National Party by the discredited ‘Daily Telegraph' and moronic ‘Sun'
You said it all, a replica is a replica. It is a collectors piece and should not be worn unless one is entitled to wear it.
My fathers 6 medals were stolen and I have replaced them with replicas or secondhand medals. To suggest that these replica medals are an insult is incorrect.
I am entitled to wear my fathers medals on parades or functions but on the right hand side.
I doubt if the reporter has ever served in the forces!
Don't worry folks, this is one of the most pathetic attempts of smearing us ever. All people will do is realise that they can if they wish, simply get hold of millions of replica items of every description. This is a non-story for simpletons - like 50% of the Sun readers.
Absolutely pathetic - their hedge fund spiv, parasite economy is collapsing around their ears. Our people face a most uncertain future thanks to liblabcon - of cold, privation, and unemployment. And all these clowns can do is mount this pitiful attack which doesn't stand a moment's examination. They really are getting desperate.
“Tory MP and ex-Army officer Patrick Mercer called on Defence Secretary Des Browne to make the BNP sales illegal.
He said: “This is utterly shameful. Medals for gallantry and campaigns are absolutely nothing to do with any political party. The Defence Secretary should look at this to see whether legislation should be introduced to forbid it.” Torygraph
Well done Mercer, “there is nothing so stupid as a gallant officer” - Duke of Wellington
Here's the link to the National Army Museum's (overpriced?) replica:
http://shop.national-army-museum.ac.uk/s.nl/it.A/id.1774/.f?sc=2&category=12857
Unfortunately The sort of lemming folk that by these two rags are easily fooled. They will slavishly believe the BNP are beyond the pale for doing this. Never Study what they read and believe that their particular source ie: their newspaper is infallible. They even still believe that Labour is the working mans party. They also agree with 99% of our policies but still buy these rags and vote mainstream. A great paradox wrapped in an enigma. is the British voting classes. This is the real class war of the 21st century. Who ever can unravel this will be deserving of the real Victoria cross.
I guess we are in the silly season where the bottom of the barrel gets scraped for something to print.
I remember as a child buying replicas of medals including the Victoria Cross & I don't remember the Sun(k) or Torygraph complaining about it.
So by their logic if the BNP sells something, it is for funding extremism?
Well I think that of islamic bookshops but I guess the Sun doesn't have the balls to make an issue out of that. The Sun funds stupidity & that is probably for a political purpose as well.
I smell Rupert Murdoch the dirty digger behind this one as he is the owner of both papers. Maybe in a few years he will change his tune if he senses that the BNP are getting close to power.
I just emailed (politely of course)
t.newtondunn@the-sun.co.uk
asking him to explain why the fact that the National Army Museum sell them too wasn't mentioned in his article (as if we didn't know) and does that make them a disgrace too?
Perhaps others would like to send this ‘journalist' an email.
You say Pte Johnson beharry was awarded the VC for driving through an ambush. I can tell you there is alot more to it than that, one of my CPL's was involved in that incident in 2004. Pte. Johson Beharry, was in the vehicle driving a Warrior IFV. an RPG hit the cab, where he sustained severe head injuries so much so, he had to be medically discharged. They were then lead out of the Ambush, but that wasnt the end. The infantry that were inside the Warriors, dismounted, fixed bayonets, flanked the enemy, charged in with the cold steel, as LCPL Jack Jones would say, they dont like it up ‘em.
Selling replica VC's, isn't that exactly what the National Museum are doing. I can tell you that real ones are, sell for about 500,000 at auction.
1. The National Army Museum does sell replica VCs. Check out the links above. 2. Beharry himself did not take part in any fighting, he merely drove the vehicle, like hundreds of others under similar circumstances. The awarding of a VC to him was widely criticised at the time — rightly so — because of the conspicious lack of fighting involved. Other troops in the engagement might well have engaged in battle, and most likely they were far more deserving of a medal. - Ed.
Next time you are purchasing your morning paper, just wait for a few moments to see the sort people who purchase these Papers and in particular the Sun .
I Guarantee you will have a clear picture of a “Doofus” in your minds forever ?
I have noticed this more than a few times, it is as clear as the light of day !
The Sun has zero credibility.
Have to admire the BNP research. It's a pity the two national daily's hacks did not do the same. Proves again you have to come to the BNP site to read the truth.
If you check the Torygraph article at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2514940/BNP-criticised-for-selling-replicas-of-Victoria-Cross.html you'll see from the last sentence that they've picked it up uncritically from The Sun:
“He told The Sun: “Selling fake VCs is very disrespectful. The honour of the medal and its history shouldn't be tarnished like this.”
So much for ‘quality' journalism.
This just shows the level of journalism - did they not check their facts? Did they not consider that replicas might be generally available? It's pathetic - but then newspapers are on the wane.
Sorry I can't remember his name, but what about the soldier who recently threw himself on a live grenade to protect his comrades?
I couldn't stop laughing at this one. If that's the best the 4th estate have on us vicious violent thugs, then they have nothing whatsoever. Wear your Rough Beast badge with pride.
Here's the kind of story the soarway away Sun doesn't want its readers to know about:
“Hedge fund manager Crispin Odey paid himself 28 million pounds ($54.9 million) following a year in which his fund, Odey Asset Management LLP, succeeded with bets against the U.K.'s largest banks, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Odey helped the fund to treble profit from 16.1 million pounds to 55.3 million pounds in the year to April, the Telegraph said.
The fund was long on insurance companies and short on banks, the Telegraph cited Odey Asset Management Chief Executive Officer David Stewart as saying.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=aLnD5rkSHQ6I&refer=uk
As Sun readers get screwed by the credit crunch the rich coin it in, sun, rain or shine. What does “shorting” mean?
Simply this - a hedge fund parasite targets a particular listed company. He “borrows” shares in it from an institutional investor, eg a pension fund, and sells them. He and his maggot mates then put around a lot of unfounded rumours about the organisation. The share price drops and he buys the shares back at a lower price, giving them back to the pension fund and trousering the difference. The bank HBOS was recently “shorted” by no less than 17% of its share price. Nice work if you can get it. and they call it “wealth creation”.
Now old Rupert doesn't want the punters to know about this, so as a crass diversionary tactic he puts absurd stories like, “BNP ate my tortoise” in his squalid rag.
I am quite pleased about this nonsense actually because it shows the effect the Party is having, if we weren't getting through they wouldn't be bothering.
“Tory MP and ex-Army officer Patrick Mercer called on Defence Secretary Des Browne to make the BNP sales illegal.
He said: 'This is utterly shameful. Medals for gallantry and campaigns are absolutely nothing to do with any political party. The Defence Secretary should look at this to see whether legislation should be introduced to forbid it.' http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/article1524283.ece
This is more knee-jerk reaction and ill-thought-out legislation for a problem that doesn't exist. Patrick Mercer is just as much a CONtrol freak as any NuLabour Marxist. The last thing the country needs is more idiotic laws, rules and regulations from the LibLabCon unholy trinity.
Patrick Mercer is obviously unfit for purpose (except Common Purpose).
I just commented in The Sun about their disgraceful reporting and that, by their own words they are also condemning the National Army Museum, who also sell replica VCs. Needless to say, my comments haven't been published. It appears they won't let facts get in the way of a good anti-BNP rant.
The thing thats most interesting in all of this,-is 90% of comments published on the Suns website are supportive of the BNP.”Well well well people are waking up”
Now I remember why I don't buy any newspapers. If they were that worried about replica medals, they should take a look on Ebay, theres hundreds for sale there.
The BNP are the most respectful party of all towards all those that lost their lives in keeping this country free. Also the BNP wouldn't have our forces out fighting illegal wars they would be here in Britain looking after our freedoms”
Patrick Mercer, the Sun and the Telegraph would do well to remember freedom of speech! and who gave it to them!
You can be in very little doubt that the ‘newspapers' in question have, amongst their staff, just like many government departments, quite a few employees with REPLICA PASSPORTS and other documents. If the need arose they would be wearing replica WWI, WWII medals but not the fine reproductions as sold by Excaliber, nor the equally fine but less competitively priced war museum offerings. Theirs would be out of a consignment of fake driving licences etc., and would be crudely beaten, out of tin cans, made in Pakistan.
Both of these anti BNP rags will have known full well that replica medals are also available from the National Army Museum. There are many reasons for buying such medals and the NAM does not have a monopoly on their sale - yet. When I was in the Army, the Mess had a room called the Victory Lounge. Every VC (or at least its replica)that had ever been awarded, was displayed on the walls with the recipient's name (and photo where possible) along with the citation for the act of bravery.
I see Tory Mercer is singing back on message after his sacking for speaking the ‘awful truth' about some black soldiers being lazy and playing the race card or something. I was glad to finish my twenty something years when I did. The Army was already going down the ‘more ethnicity required' in the ranks route. I saw one ethnic guy get commissioned who was totally unsuitable, while more deserving whites, who would have made damn fine officers, were passed over. You just had to bite your lip and take it, or leave, which many did.
The anti BNP media have clearly hit the panic button but they will abjectly fail in their sorry attempt to besmirch us. The BNP could even turn this non-story of theirs against the two rags concerned, by revealing that any profits from the sale of these medals will be donated to one of the military benevolent funds. That would make the guttersnipes squirm.
The first stop on the internet today was the BNP site. Thanks for a good laugh (but congratulations on the serious research provided). The reptile Press is showing distinct signs of clinical depression and desperation !
@ Mandala: Actually Peter Hitchins has given us a promotion -we used to be “The Devil's Grouplet” now we're “The Rough Beast” LOL - LOL - LOL.
Well, thanks for the free publicity! Scraping the barrel a bit now though aren't we? Pathetic.
Pathetic, utterly pathetic, is all I can say. They really are scraping the bottom of the barrel with this insult. You are spot on by the way this really shows that they are losing the battle against the BNP and really struggling for arguments against ours - because they finally have realised that we are right. No serious or sane person would listen to anything that The Sun says anyway, The Sun is a comic book men buy to ogle womens assets - nothing more and nothing less. It owes its whole existence to page 3. Its other readers are brainwashed little seven stone girls who are probably on a diet who read it to find out what Jade Goody and other Z list celebrities are up to.
Scraping the bottom of the barrel is words that sum up these excuses for papers.
…….. Expect more of the same as the desperate Establishment get into a flap about our increasing support from the good people of this land. As the wartime bomber pilots would say - ‘The nearer to the target you get, the more intense the flak.' - Ed
Yes I've noticed that people who buy the scum oops' I mean the sun always seem to turn to the sports pages at the back first no matter what the headlines and this also applies to many other papers. There could be a headline like “huge earthquake wipes out Manchester” and these people would still go straight to the back pages to see how their team was getting on, I fear we have a huge mountain to climb to overcome this obsession with trivia when this country is going down the plughole, but there again we are making headway into this morass of apathy as our increasing votes prove,all is not lost we shall win in the end.
Just sent an email to the author of the piece in The Telegraph (Chris Irvine - chris.irvine@telegraph.co.uk)pointing out the situation vis-a-vis The National Army Museum selling the same medal for twice the price! He responded immediately saying “Thanks - I will let my News Desk know”!
Have also sent a letter of complaint vis email to the Letters Page of the Telegraph - dtletters@telegraph.co.uk
C'mon lets see if we can get them to issue an apology! Don't hold your breath though!
…… I get the feeling both ‘newspapers' have realised that they have shot themselves in the foot with this story - but don't hold your breath waiting for a retraction, they were just following their Common Purpose masters' desperate orders. -Ed
Dear BNPforever, jolly good idea mate! Let's hoist them with their own petard and donate the money from the sales of these replicas to a service charity - that would be a slap in the face for these traitors and show them up for what they are and show the people of this country who really cares about our servicemen and women, because it's as sure as hell that the other parties don't.
I guess that with all the lib/lab/con crooks away on holiday, jollying it up on our tax money, the Sun and the Torygraph are scratching about looking for some ‘news'! How pathetic is it when they have to scrape the bottom of the barrel like this? Still, we can't expect anything else from such low-life! It has certainly taught me something new though. I always thought that Johnson Beharry had earned his VC, now I now the truth! On a lighter note, has anyone else noticed that Gormless Gordon has got himself a jacket like Sir Richards? He obviously thinks that it will bring him the success that our Sir Richard and the BNP are having. Wishfull thinking eh!
I got this from Mercer:
“I shall be out of the office until Tuesday 26 August with only limited ability to respond to emails so may only reply to your email on my return”
But he was quite prepared to interrupt his “well earned” hols to spout a Rent-a-Buffoon quote for liblabcon spinners.
Interesting that they selected the Sun and the Torygraph, they must calculate that our message of hope resonates most strongly with their readerships. I would certainly say this is so if Torygraph “Comment” is anything to go by.
Excellent!
I think it says all about The Sun when you look at their website where it lists that non event Big Brother above the News. The Sun is and always has been a comic read by illiterates.
-
Welcome aboard, Frustrated - Ed
LOL, this story is hilarious, maybe those papers should of looked into it properly before they tried to make the BNP look bad as well as making themselves look idiots, I mean, its ok for the army museum to sell VC copies, but its ‘disrespectful' when the BNP do it…..bl***y hipocrites! Their fear of change is showing.
Most Medal and Militaria dealers sell replica VC's as well, the real genuine issue ones being out of price range for most collectors at around £80,000 + GBP. What a bunch of wally's the papers can be! As far as I am aware it is legal to sell these replicas as long as who ever is selling them makes it clear to the buyer that they are replicas and not the real thing. The Beharry story is an interesting one personally I think that this was just anther political award the Victoria and George Cross society is slowly dying out because of the lack of VCs and GCs being awarded this was just anther opportunity to boost membership. An award of a VC like this also helps support the MOD's equal ethic minority recruitment policy and its positive spin for the government on a war which I admit isn't popular in the publics eyes. Anther interesting story is the one of CSM Peter Wright VC. DCM. Coldstream Guards, only he didn't run away from the enemy, but there was much political intrigue surrounding his VC as well.
http://www.peterwrightvc.com/
May I just say that I read The Sun, mainly for the Sport, but also to know my enemy! We may want to be slightly careful as to what we say about Sun readers, as if you look at the comments for this, over 92% of the people would be actively seeking to vote for us come the next elections. I personally think this story is great! It's yet again got my entire office talking about the BNP in a constructive way with most saying they would vote for them. I must commend all the members in the BNP as I am only just coming into it at 24, but you all right from Nick, right down to the grass roots, have really put the wheels in motion! People are just seeing right through the media and the other parties now! God bless the BNP. Now, I must go as I need to buy my Cross from Excaliber!
My father also served in the Royal Navy during WW2. He also had his medals stolen. I replaced them for him with replicas. This is just another ploy to discredit the BNP.
Where I live no one buys the Scum anyway.
Is it any wonder that newspaper sales are falling. Reporters and paper editors seem like politicians to be detached from the real world. Heaven forbid they should report on a newsworthy article.
Surely there must be something Positive for the Media and the Left to say about the BNP, it's all beginning to look like a conspiracy to me.
What worries (but does not surprise) me is how the Ministry of Defence have gotten involved in all of this, when they knew full true well that there has been no wrong doing on the BNP's part.
When I worked for the M.O.D. as a contractor I seen first hand how M.O.D. staff quite happily dug up dirt about Labour for the then Tory (Johm Major's) government.
They knew what they was doing, they were faxing dirt on New Labour directly to the Prime Ministers office.
Is this the best the marxists can do? You could understand their nonsense if the BNP were trying to sell replica Iron Crosses!
I find the idea of buying replica VCs fine. What I do object to, is the hard pressed relatives of those who won a VC in battle, having to sell what should be an heirloom to cover living costs. If a real VC ever came into my hands I could not with a clear conscience keep it, even if is worth half a million quid. I would have to donate it to the regiment/squadron/ship in which the person who won the medal served.
You can contact Patrick Mercer MP at:
MERCERP@parliament.uk
Ask him if his comment about the BNP selling VCs also applies to the National Army Museum and other militaria organisations which also sell replicas. MPs absolutely hate being humiliated and boxed in as hypocrites, so just do it - embarrass the muppet.
It isn't long since a liblabcon candidate tried to to gain votes by using a fake war hero, one that wasn't even old enough to have served during the war.The national newspapers did not say too much about that. The real upset of course is that the main parties have lost a lot of members and can't pull in the funds,whereas the BNP can - and what has made matters worse is that they can now actually see how much the party is being donated for the new tv machine. Over the years I have seen postings saying that when the BNP get in government etc, and have thought “if only”, knowing that there wasn't much chance of that for decades, however as the political scene now stands there is actually a realistic chance of this happening. Labour will not recover from its errors for years and the Libdems have no chance, leaving the Conservative party. I am convinced that the BNP will take most of labours voters with some not voting at all as they would rather chop their own hands off than vote either cons or lidem. Now “call me Dave” should not be to difficult to overcome. As for the Sun newspaper, the fact that it employs Jon Gaunt speaks volume for its poor quality.
Ha! Just goes to show the mentality of these Liberal loving “rags”. Rather than shouting about the sale of fake medals, they should be shouting about the real medals given away to fake politically correct immigrant fake heros!
FOR GOD SAKE VOTE BNP OR KEEP READING THE SUN IN DENIAL!
My grandfather won medals in WWII, since the passing of my mother that technically makes me the next in line entitled to wear them albeit on the right side if i so please, however if I was ever to wear them in public i wouldn't wear the originals, i'd use replica medals simply as to my the originals are far too valuable to my family history & for sentimental value to risk losing one down a grid or to a passing mugger.
I myself have been issued with a medal - a recognised medal for the Queens Jubilee & so i'm entitled to wear it, however I don't wear the medal, but i do wear a replica bar on my suit that I bought off ebay.
The medal itself (be it a VC or a service personnel medal) is just a piece of metal with a ribbon attached, it is how that medal was awarded, what it is awareded for & what it represents that is the true medal. Olympic medals are much the same.. the medal is a symbolic showpiece trophy for ceremonial purposes, but the fact is it's the value of the award & the title it's achiever hold that counts. You may also be interested to know that years ago in a comic I used to read as a kid they gave away replica medals as a cover gift.. OK they were merely plastic & cardboard, but still replica's, so why wasn't there an article in the tabloids back then?
Aren't there also military collectors magazines available where they feature military artefacts on the covers. it's not wrong to sell or buy the medals - look on ebay there are hundreds for sale each day, but what is wrong is to falsify or imply that you have ever been awarded it.
……………… ………… You only need google ‘replica medals' to find numerous websites selling similar items. It is desperate, dishonest and disgraceful reporting on the part of the Sun and the Telegraph. -Ed
JIM GREEN, my thoughts entirely as well as regards John Gaunt, that useless overweight good for nothing who actually thinks his opinion means something in Britain.
Just sent an E-Mail of complaint to the Sun but I doubt I'll get any reply, I noticed John Gaunt never got back to me when I asked him to justify his comments on the BNP. Anyway there's another four people voting BNP from now on. Keep up the good work everyone involved.
-
Welcome aboard, LondonGunner - Ed
The only reason to read the tabloids is to find out what the enemy are up to. Another pathetic smear attempt on the good name of all British National Party supporters.
Mr Beharry was (fairly) brave, no one is doubting that. But in no way did his action deserve a VC. This has belittled the VC in the eyes of many servicemen. Now he shows his true colours by joining the anti-British media.
It just goes to show that the real nature of this attack on the BNP is due to fear on the part of the Telegraph and the Scum. A good way to give a two fingered salute to these two cat litter tray rags is to never buy them and encourage others to do likewise. If you do want to see what the Telegraph has to say, if possible view it online, but don't buy it. Don't give your money to the enemy. Incidently, have fellow nationalists noticed that when there are sporting tournaments the likes of the Sun will use derogatory remarks aimed at the French, Germans, i.e. frogs, krauts. But then they are white, so that's ok. Let's see how far they'd get using offensive terms for blacks, asians, especially muslims, or even jews.
Mentally ill -
http://regionalnews.bnp.org.uk/bnp-south-west-england-region/anti-bnp-activist-committed-to-hospital_4134.html
Aren't they all!
Regions - http://regionalnews.bnp.org.uk/
When something like this happens I wonder what the reason is behind it. I've thought for quite a while. When two papers suddenly come up with the same non-story and not during an election, one has to question what the purpose of this pointless rant is. The only thing that I can think of is Richard Barnbrook exposing their £30K fraudulent waste of tax-payers money on 'promoting the GLA'. Even with the most exaggerated figures I simply cannot get the cost over £1000 per party. The question is, where's the other £27,0000? My only conclusion is that Mr Barnbrook is getting close to something far bigger, something they need to discredit the party before the proverbial hits the fan. I don't believe I'm wrong.
I only have one service medal, but it is mine to wear by right. I find the whole idea of selling replicas a little dubious, but I understand that it is perfectly legal (and as your article makes clear, govt. sponsored via the National Army Museum's own sales of relicas). I am rather disappointed in the Telegraph (I do not recognise the Sun as a newspaper at all):- since the Telegraph begn to run the dreadful Mary Riddell's pro-Labour column every day, I have wondered whether the reclusive and downright odd Barclay Bros., who own the paper, have swung to the left in their political leanings. As your article says, this pathetic attack on our exellent Excalibur retail operation shows that the Telegraph feels it can no longer debate with us on the important matters; we have won the field. In 2010 we shall, I sincerely pray, win a couple of seats in Westminster, and perhaps before then, we shall win some European Parliament seats. Then the Telegraph is going to have to debate with us, on rather more serious issues.
-
The Telegraph believes it strategically clever in reflecting the real nature of Cameron and the Tories shift to the far left. So much for the ‘Torygraph' eh! - Ed
Quite pathetic from the Sun and the Telegraph. When all is said and done it may cause many to visit this site, in which case they might learn something beneficial from the only party whose votes keep going up - The British National Party! :-)
I have in my possession a VC, a Boer War medal, a Waterloo medal and a Badajoz medal. All replicas bought from Edinburgh Castle, which remains in use by the British Army. Presumably the gutter scum that scrawl their idiocies in that rag they call ‘The Sun', will now be camped outside Edinburgh castle with their UAF (Unite Against Freedom?) comrades in order to bring an end to this outrageous extremist behaviour…
Selling a replica medal doesn't dishonour the soldiers or army. Sending them in to war without proper equipment or putting them into terrible housing does.
Just for once!!! Can't they (Labour, tory or libdem ) do something that really matters, that helps the soldiers!!
-
Welcome aboard, AD - Ed
Everytime that overweight,overpaid lump of lard known as Jon(no H) Gaunt opens his cakehole, it makes me extremely angry. He is a quizling parasite, who pretends to dislike this government's policy and spin but offers no solution except to insult the only party that can change it, all the while living high on the hog.
No doubt the meediots are providing a distraction from the real military story of the day - that of a wounded British soldier being harassed by Muslim scum in Selly Oak hospital.
Funny how selling a fake medal is dishonourable, yet allowing our soldiers to be abused doesn't seem to merit a mention in the fearless guardians of freedom; The Sun and the Telegraph.
We know the truth - spread the word.
Good heavens why on earth would anyone want to buy either the Sun or the Telegraph!! These two disgusting comics try to discredit the BNP and it's supporters at every opportunity.(as demonstated in the above story) Now come on you people lets give these two rags a kick in the financial goolies, leave these “papers” on the shelf where they belong, They call us knuckle draggers, lets send 'em a message to let them know what we think of that, these rags are poisonous leave them alone. They're laughing at you!!
I have been following this story with interest and noted the comments posted. Many have moved to being a general criticism of the awarding of the VC to LCpl Beharry.
Those of us who have not been under fire and still operated when severely injured, do not have any right, in my opinion, to offer a comment as to whether this or any individual recipient of a medal for the highest gallantry deserved the award or not.
If you read the book, “VC Heroes”, it is quite clear that this medal has been awarded for a range of individual actions, some of which on the surface, do not appear as conspicuous as others. There is also the recent case of LCpl Croucher of the Royal Marines who having tripped a mine, protected his colleagues by throwing his pack and himself over the device. He was awarded a George Cross, which I thought was reserved for civilian acts of valour and pretty well equivilant to a VC. But there you are! There always has been and always will be controversy in the awarding of the VC.
LCpl Beharry was awarded his medal for two seperate acts on different days and both of which entailed saving other soldiers whilst under fire. The second time he was severely injured. I am and never have been, a supporter of immigration into our homeland but to describe this soldier of the British Army, as an immigrant driver who ran away, is more than churlish.
I support however, the views expressed in other comments about the pettiness of the two newspapers, trying to make an issue out of the selling of replica medals. That is just out of order. Replica and other medals have always been readily available from all sorts of sources.
What I do think is worthy of righteous anger, albeit too late to help those involved, is the disgraceful treatment dished out to many lower-ranking VC winners who were forced by poverty to sell their medals. Now, THAT is an absolute disgrace and worth getting angry about.
Free advertising in the Sun and The Telegraph, not bad. Somebody must be reading them so hey ho! A nice little earner for Excalibur. And judging by the comments here I would say that we have all had a good laugh at their expense too. What a scandal! What a scoop! Sad gits.
Because of the prominence of Tory MP Patrick Mercer in this CON, my guess is that the story originated in the Conservative Dirty Tricks Department rather than with the rags themselves, and has has been fed initially to The Sun and then to Torygraph.
It's likely that David Cameron and his jolly Old Etonian Turcophile chums are worried that as NuLabour collapses, the proles in the North and Midlands are not deserting en-masse to the Tories, but are turning to the BNP. So some bright spark junior researchers will have been told to dig up the dirt on the BNP, and having trawled through the website, this is the best they can come up with.
However we can expect further dirty tricks and smear stories as the Tories get increasingly paranoid. Watch out for ‘Nick Griffin ate My Hamster' !
Absolutely disgraceful of the BNP to sell replica VC medals, so cheaply. But on a more serious note does that mean the gollywog pens aren't real as well?.
I've just made a donation via the normal donation link because I'm unable to use Paypal. This is for the Mobile Internet TV Broadcast Box and I have said that in the comments box with the donation.
– Thanks, Catmar. - Ed.
The Sun Muppet who “penned” this piece of “journalism” is Tom Newton Dunn. His email is t.newtondunn@the-sun.co.uk
Let's write politely to him to point out the gross inaccuracy of this “story”.
And don't forget the Tory Muppet Mercer. It's worth sending him a few emails voicing your displeasure also. His email is mercerp@parliament.uk
We have to show these people that if they engage in the sort of smears that they have been doing for years then a highly organised e-response will hit them like a tidal wave. A tsunami of British Patriots if you like, voicing their displeasure!
Artorius, I got told that Nick Griffin eats hamsters as well as hedgehogs and badgers. I guess this will be in the papers soon as well.
Shows how the media often do sloppy research. They are hypocrites anyway for denigrating the BNP even though both papers have criticised immigration and political correctness. Anyway, the saying ‘there's no such thing as bad publicity' may apply in this instance. Perhaps a curious reader may come to this site for the first time and read this article.
Dylan - thanks for that link
“The mother of well-known Wiltshire anti-BNP activist, Kyle Thornhill (image), has thanked mental health crisis team workers for helping her son, saying that she feared for his 'mental health.'
Stephanie Cleverley was speaking to local Wiltshire newspapers after Kyle, 23, vanished along with his dog and car, in mid-July, and was found a few days later hiding in Cornwall.
Kyle was the leader of the local Searchlight/UAF group and led protests against the BNP's Mick Simpkins who took a seat on Corsham town council.
His mother has confirmed that he is now in hospital (unconfirmed reports say that Kyle has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act) and that he 'has a long recovery ahead of him.'
It's the Marxist programming, it just bends impressionable minds. His therapy should include daily sessions perusing this excellent site. Then he'll see everything he has been told is a tissue of lies, and he will be well on the road to recovery.
This will sound harsh, but my opinion is that we have come to the stage now where anyone who swallows this sort of garbage is probably a serious candidate for the next bed to Kyle Thornhill mentioned by Stringbag. As a goodwill gesture, “get well soon Kyle…cough, splutter” (something just went down the wrong way).
Well said
“Posted by: caligraphy2
Considering we now don't have a country worth fighting for, and soldiers are treated with contempt by this government and sometimes verbally abused in public, this attempt to smear the BNP is pathetic. Especially as many of us agree with their opinions. But then that's the real reason behind this story isn't it.” posted on the Sun's website
“The Sun Muppet who 'penned' this piece of 'journalism' is Tom Newton Dunn. His email is t.newtondunn@the-sun.co.uk”
I already sent this to the “journalist” earlier on today :
Subject : Thanks for your story about BNP and relplica medals.
Dear Sir / Madam,
I'm reliably informed that Excalibur, the BNP's online merchandising shop, has been swamped with orders, traffic is on the up to our website, with an above average number of members signing up today. Even your own readers see it for what it is, a silly smear against our party. If I didn't know better, I'd say you're a nationalist doing some black-ops propaganda on behalf of our party, rather than some journalist working for the public interest.
Please let me know your mobile phone number so that I can treat you to a few pints the next time I'm up in London.
All the best,
Chris.
Might it be a useful idea to set up a “Well they would say that, wouldn't they?” column.
The vile and odious third world arriviste, Philips, could start it off, and this Beharry, a soldier of some merit but nothing more, deserves a place.
A mention of the ethnicity of their hearts, then how they promoted this in their utterances - it would soon be longer than the Koran.
People buy replica medals out of interest in our armed forces and their brave deeds over the centuries. Is this interest ‘wrong' all of a sudden?
It would be nice to have in Government a Party that showed an interest in our Armed Forces, we could sleep a bit safer in our beds and not have to worry so much about the future of our children.
–
Spot on - Ed
Stringbag, I found the sectioning of Kyle Thornhill typifying another mentally ill lefty. They all appear to be the same these “antifascists”, hating themselves and the world around them. They fear life and they fear death. They have no genuine spiritual feelings derived from the natural environment and they constantly deny the reality of things, rather like their mohammedan “friends”. No wonder they end up hysterical and mentally ill. I think liberalism is a mental illness anyway. I don't know about liblabcontrick supporters.
This is a pathetic no story to try and influence the general public that we are somehow underhand and engage in illegal activity. I have collected medals for over 40 years and there has always been replica VC's for sale. Come to the Red White & Blue and see some real medals including Waterloo, Zulu, Nile, and the Dambusters Etc.
Dylan - “I think liberalism is a mental illness anyway.”
Yes, abandonment of the instinct of self preservation, a quality all living beings possess apart from them apparently, must qualify for the term mental illness.
I wish they would at least try to give us an argument rather than just squawking like demented parrots and closing down all debate, but of course they can't.
@Stringbag, ” … squawking like demented parrots and closing down all debate … ”
Yes, those are the symptoms alright.
http://www.amazon.com/Liberalism-Mental-Disorder-Savage-Solutions/dp/1595550062
:-)
I am beginning to not trust the Sun anymore. I wonder whose side they are on half the time.
Has been said before, but no harm in repeating it:)
What a wonderful piece of free advertising!
These days people do not have to take the papers word for it.
Thousands of people will undoubtedly do a double check on their own computers by visiting the BNP website and find out the truth for themseves.
Priceless!
Not only are the Sun utterly mendacious, they are also collosal hypocrites. The Sun website is, believe it or not, currently advertising the sale of replica VCs:
http://www.local.thesun.co.uk/sale/?q=victoria+cross&oldq=victoria+cross&inbs=1&bsm=_ 2_housing/rent(345)%20housing/sale(259)%20vehicle(78)%20sale/tickets(2)
Really, you just couldn't make it up!!
On a serious note, I really think the Party should make a formal complaint to the Press Complaints Commission about this drivel on the grounds of gross inaccuracy.
………. Absolutely brilliant find, LP - that info will be put to good use. Thanks for that - and yes, I agree about complaining to the PCC after your find We should all send in a complaint via their website, using their online form at http://www.pcc.org.uk/complaints/form.html?. -Ed
The scales are now slowly dropping from the brainwashed eyes of the British people,-Newspapers, TV, and Radio cannot stop the flow of truth from reaching the populace. Hitler, Stalin, Blair, Brown, Mugabe etc. have all been exposed as cheats and liars, there is no power that can prevent people power from having its day. Marxism is evil and negative to society. Unless you want to live in an inverted world where normal life is turned on its head, leave these shores now. Common sense has now started to hit back at Common Purpose.
I think that we should try to be a little more reasonable to young soldier Beharry. He won't have had to deal too much with the tabloid press. We don't know, for instance, what The Sun told him about the replica medal. Let's face it this vile rag is hardly known for its honesty in other areas, is it? MP Mercer should have known better, but being a typical Tory couldn't resist the temptation to spout the usual claptrap. What do you expect? By the way I put a peg on my nose and had a squint at The Sun website and nearly everyone has seen through this nonsense.
– We think it's what is called an ‘own goal'. - Ed.
At least the BNP doesn't gift knighthoods for party donations. Anyway, the true knight is someone that can afford a horse, the armour and will fight for whoever pays his price. Unlike the Labour party who award knighthoods to “shop owners” who pledge money to their coffers. Labour has debased everything from the awarding of easy GSCE's through to Victoria crosses. They'll gladly give up everything including our culture to stay in power.
Traitors.
Well, let's see, oodles of free publicity for the BNP and even for Excalibur, several new posters on site, much interest generated, enemy meedja humiliated, political correctness and Common Purpose in the Army exposed, many curious browsers “just looking” - all in all, not a bad day's shopping, I'd say. Must be the Closing Down Sale of the Liblabcon stall (not surprising, considering the prices charged by the GLA - cor, dear at ‘arf the price). All that and still change from sixpence. Best value I've had all week and no credit card fraud either.
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http://www.pixelhaus.co.uk/images/thumbs-up.jpg :-) - Ed
A third rate two bit celebrity being falsely accused of being drunk would get an apology and cash, what will the BNP get? If recompense is made perhaps a military charity that gets nothing from the Sun/Telegraph would be a really nice touch.
hrhdtr
Thanks for posting the writers email address: t.newtondunn@the-sun.co.uk
Everyone should make a point of sending an email to tell him what you think.
Hopefully more email addresses will appear on threads/articles so we can all tell these people directly what we think. How refreshingly democratic.
Is that the same Tory Patrick Mercer MP who was sacked for accusing ethnic minorities of being “idle and useless” in the Army? I think it is. Just goes to show you can't always be right!
@Lancashire Patriot
Superb job! I note with interest that the medal was awarded to a foreign recipient, and that if you want to see it and all the paperwork you have to give them your details upfront.
This has 419 written all over it.
@ Vic
Here's the link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6431005.stm
My complaint sent to the PCC via the link given by Ed:
In order to discredit a perfectly legal political party,The Sun newspaper reported today that the BNP are selling fake Victoria Crosses from their online shop to fund extremism. The report included comments from VC holder Johnson Beharry and from Conservative MP, Patrick Mercer, denouncing the BNP for cashing in on our servicemen's bravery! The article was dishonest in its reporting in not mentioning that the National Army Museum and other militaria organisations also sell replica Victoria Crosses. What makes the article even more distasteful is that The Sun itself advertises the sale of replica VCs in its online shop. See: http://tinyurl.com/6xfqj4
In order to rectify this absolutely disgraceful slur on the BNP, The Sun must publish an apology and retraction and I suggest they make a donation to a Services charity. Nothing less will do. Failure to take action on this complaint will result in my seeking legal advice on behalf of the BNP.
I await your prompt response to this complaint.
………… Well done and well said, Lickyalips. Nice touch about a donation to a Service Charity. Let us know the outcome - the rest of you can now follow L's example and fire one off to the PCC - not forgetting to mention the Telegraph, which L omitted to do -Ed
Remember those T-shirts you used to be able to buy (you may still be able to) with that famous frontpage article “Freddie Starr ate my hamster!” how about a BNP parody of it with a new headline “BNP ate my hamster!” or better still “BNP saved my country” or “Murdoch's newspaper tried to smear our party!”
One of my favourite military museums is in Brecon, the Museum of the South Wales Borderers.
http://www.rrw.org.uk/museums/brecon/about.htm
This regiment has boasted a large number of VCs, including a string awarded after Rorke's Drift:
http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ccswalbo.htm
I recommend a visit. Stay overnight, wonder through this lovely and ancient market town at the foot of the Brecon Beacons. Visit the museum and visit the lovely Brecon Priory/Cathedral.
http://www.breconcathedral.org.uk/
You will see the odd Gurka out on the streets of the town, dressed in their smart green blazers, or on training runs alongside the lovely Brecon Canal.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/brecon_life/pages/gurkhaparade_2007.shtml
Go to that museum and I challenge you not to be moved by the very personal memorabilia and the stories of heroism and sacrifice of those that were awarded their VCs.
Yes, the medals on display are replicas, but that is because they are so incredibly valuable.
Then you can go and browse the museum shop and buy a replica for yourself:
http://www.rrw.org.uk/shop/shop.php?action=view&prodid=128
Perhaps The Sun might want to make an issue of this?
I think we can safely say that these grubby little tabloids make fools of themselves on pretty much a daily basis. The SUN for instance should be named TOO MUCH SUN and the maybe the TELEGRAPH might consider re-naming themselves the TELEFARCE. All joking aside though this little childish outburst does highlight the need to be able to give a lightning repost that exposes the British tabloid press as the gutterpress it really is. With this in mind my donation for the internet broadcast box is on it's way soon. One more point I'd like to make is that perhaps we suporters of the BNP should award these MSM idiots our own V.C. Only this time its initials should stand for “Vile Communists” Ok I feel better now. But for the Tabloids of this country there is much, much invective still to come.
-
We like your suggestion of a medal for MSM drivellers, PB, and many thanks for the donation - Ed
I think we all do moronic things from time to time. And hell, you know, I've been in the news agents and seen people at the counter handing over money in return for a copy of the Sun. But to all appearances they look normal decent folk who would not intentionally support any form of treachery, or any sort of genocidal propaganda for that matter. I honestly think they are merely seeking a bit of titillation and a few football results, bless. - ;-) - Ed
Looks like Murdochs gimps have blown it again :-)
Funny how two seperate news organisations have come up with exactly the same non-story at exactly the same time. It's almost as if someone put them up to it.
“FLOG”
“FAKE”
“EXTREMISM”
Only in your “soar-a-way” “Sunsational” Sun!
You have to laugh!
I've changed my opinion of Patrick Mercer MP. Check him out at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Mercer .
He seems to be a decent bloke who was sacrificed on the altar of political correctness by Dhimmi Cameron, after being backstabbed by Alan Duncan (who is definitely someone you ought not to turn your back on).
Maybe Cameron and Duncan were chasing the ethnic vote, or more likely saw Mercer as better leadership material than themselves and decided on a quick character assassination to remove a potential rival.
Regarding the Sun story - my guess is that Mercer, being ex-army, was set up by the Tory spin-doctors to give this anti-BNP soundbite as a step towards his rehabilitation into LibLabCon PC orthodoxy. The fact that he overdid it with his proposal for legislation could be either due to overeagerness to be declassified as an unperson, or he could actually be subtly taking the p!$$ out of the LibLabCon obsession with control freakery and legislation for any and every eventuality.
- Thanks, PP. Passed on to The Team -Ed
This phony government doesn't know the difference between true and false, good or bad, right or wrong, real or replica. It is therefore par for the course for it to rant on about replica VCs. It can't tell the difference between a real cop and a toy one, a real soldier and Gutless Brown posing with a tank.
If I ordered up from Excalibur a wax muppet of Gutless (domestic use only - jumping on the face, pins in, fingers torn off, etc.) would they do me for damaging the real one?
I love the way the Party has put the appeal amount on show for all to track. I love to watch the mercury rising so quickly, and get great satisfaction in imagining that it matches the rise in the blood pressure and frustration level of any Lib/Lab/Cons who are watching. All I can say to them is, don't you wish you had supporters like ours? Keep watching and weep–the BNP are on the march. - Yes, Every time I log on, it's jumped again -Ed
RE:2i269's comment - “It's almost as if someone put them up to it.” That's a good example of the network of Common Purpose traitors at work.
Of course someone put them up to it. Any old tosh to further befuddle liblabcon voters while ‘they' continue to wreck our country.
http://www.uktabloid.co.uk/Main%20News.html
And STILL people vote for it !?!?!?
Artorius- “He seems to be a decent bloke”
It's not enough to be a “decent bloke” anymore. By the sound of his pronouncements he reached his limit as a battalion commander. The contrast between him and General Dannatt is striking. Sure we need to be underpinned by decent values, but in the kind of national crisis we face now we need other qualities - clarity of thought, hard-headedness, ruthlessness where required.
Decent blokes have brought us to the verge of disaster. During WW2 various British commanders had many fine personal attributes, but they lacked the cutting edge to get the job done, and they lost. Montgomery was not a decent bloke in some ways, but his driven single-mindedness brought victory on the battlefield.
After the war the political parties were full of some very decent chaps; but it was their sheer “decency” that stopped them taking the timely action which could have prevented the disaster that is now upon us. There should be a simple test as follows: does what is said help or hinder the national cause? Sir Arthur Harris was fond of going round asking civil servants: “And what have you done to impede the war effort today, Bloggs?”.
Mercer fails this test. If as you say, “my guess is that Mercer, being ex-army, was set up by the Tory spin-doctors”, and he hasn't got the wit to work this out, he should keep his gob shut, simple as that. The last thing our poor, beleaguered nation needs now is foot in the mouth quotes from Tory buffoons,
When Murdoch first bought the SUN newspaper in 1968 he said that he will make it so that an average ten year old can understand it, and also plenty of TIT and BUM and it will sell like hot cakes,