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British and Proud

Don't know if this is true or not, but have just received it in an e-mail and thought i would pass it on

British and VERY Proud of it!

Airline Lunches
I put my carry-on in the luggage
compartment and sat down in my
Assigned seat.
It was going to be a long flight from Gatwick.
'I'm glad I have a good book to read
Perhaps I will get a short sleep,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of British Army Youngsters
came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats,
totally surrounding me.
I decided to start a conversation.
'Where are you blokes headed?' I asked the
Young man seated nearest to me.

Cyprus. We'll be there for two weeks
for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan.
After flying for about an hour,
an announcement was made that
Lunches were available for five pounds.
It would be several
hours before we reached Cyprus,
and I quickly decided a lunch would
help pass the time..

As I reached for my wallet,
I overheard a soldier ask his mate if
he planned to buy lunch.
'No, that seems like a lot of money for
just an airline lunch.
Probably wouldn't be worth five Quid.
I'll wait till we get to Cyprus.
His mate agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers.
None were buying lunch.
I walked to the back of the plane
and handed the flight attendant a
Fifty Pound note.
'Take a lunch to all those soldiers..'
She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly.
Her eyes wet with tears,
she thanked me.
'My young bloke was a soldier in Iraq,
it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten lunchboxes,
she headed up the aisle to where the
boys were seated.
She stopped at my seat and asked,
'Which do you
like best - beef or chicken?'

'Chicken,' I replied, wondering
Why she asked..

She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute
Later with a dinner plate from first class.
This is your thanks.

After we finished eating,
I went again to the back of the plane,
heading for the rest room.
An old bloke stopped me.
'I saw what you did.
I want to be part of it
Here, take this.'
He handed me twenty-five
Pounds..
Soon after I returned to my seat,
I saw the Captain coming
down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he wasn't looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers
only on my side of the plane.
When he got to my row he stopped, smiled,
held out his hand, and said,
'I want to shake your hand.'

Quickly unfastening my seat-beltI stood and took the Captain's hand.
With a booming voice he said, 'I was an army pilot a long time back.
Once someone bought me lunch.
It was an act of kindness I never forgot.'
I was embarrassed when applause
was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane
so I could stretch my legs.
A kid who looked about 18 was sitting about
six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine.
He left another twenty-five Pounds
In my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to depart.
Waiting just inside the aeroplane door was a man who stopped me, put
Something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word.
Another twenty-five Pounds!

Upon entering the terminal,
I saw the soldiers gathering for their
trip up to there training area..
I walked over to them and handed
them seventy-five Pounds.
'It will take you some time to
reach your training area. It will be
About time for a sandwich.
God Bless You Blokes.'

Ten young blokes left that flight feeling
the love and respect of their fellow Brits.
As I walked briskly to my car,
I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were
giving their all for our country.
I could only give them a couple of meals.
It seemed so little...

A British Serviceman is someone who,
at one point in his life, wrote a blank
cheque made payable to
'United Kingdom'
for an amount of
'up to and including my life.'

That is Honour, and there are way
too many foreigners in this country
who don't understand it.'

May you have the strength and
courage to pass this along to
everyone on your email list....

I JUST DID!
http://65.55.85.151/att/GetInline.as...bf2&oneredir=1
http://65.55.85.151/att/GetInline.as...3d9&oneredir=1

Re: British and Proud

It aint true...:rolleyes:, just pure spam....but

the awareness has been made, maybe some folk will donate, but they don't know who to, so try this to Save Our Soldiers, if you search for SOS above you will find someone who will take any donations (cherokee) I think;)

Soon be time for Xmas parcel time..;) If you want to do something, she always comes up trumps:)

Re: British and Proud

bugs me about these kinds of posts... there is no need for big massive letters and centralized letters

I like how it says 'British and proud' and then the racist bit at the end 'That is Honour, and there are way
too many foreigners in this country who don't understand it.'
i tried to read it but i found it pathetic and boring. Sorry if this offends but i hate ****ty spam mail

Re: British and Proud

There are quite a few of these things floating about, mostly idealistic views of ours & all the other Countries troops who are battling away. I wouldn't take them over seriously but the sentiments are usually well meant.

If you really want to make a difference or show your support there are plenty of options out there "Help for heroes" "Army Benevolent Fund" the plain old "Poppy appeal" have a look & drop a few coppers in their collection tins.

Re: British and Proud

Restless, while you find these kind of e-mails a pain....they do bring to our thoughts those men who have chosen to defend this country.......and we need every reminder possible.
As Dave in Germany points out, there are many ways to support the lads in foreign lands.

Re: British and Proud

Quote:

Originally Posted by Restless (Post 836312)

I had tears in my eyes.

Tears of laughter.

As well as the American 'honor', who goes to the 'restroom' on an 'aeroplane'?

Brits go to the toilet on the plane.

I bet my last twenty five dollar, ooops, pounds, that it was originally written by some loony American, about America, and has since been translated into English.

Most serving soldiers I know would pee themselves at such mawkish twaddle.

Perhaps the beautiful words could be set to music, and released as a charity record.

YouTube - "No Charge" by Melba Montgomery

:rolleyes:

:D

Re: British and Proud

yes, it is mawkish....and you are probably right, it probably did originate in the U.S.
It seems that there they value the contributions of their troops.......and that isn't to say that we don't, but apart from the demonstrations of respect at Wootton Bassett, there is very little demonstration of that support.
So, yes take it with a pinch of salt, but remember the lads out there.

Re: British and Proud

I'm proud to be British as well...proud that we as a nation don't generally indulge in this sort of over-sentimentalised drivel. And considering the general standards of airline food, if somebody bought me an on-board lunch, I'd tell 'em where to shove it. As others have said, there are far more practical ways to support our troops.

Re: British and Proud

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington (Post 836499)

That's twice you've mentioned our lads, but not our lasses, who are also serving in war zones.

I support them all.

:rolleyes:

As Dave pointed out, there are plenty of ways to offer more practical support to our troops, rather than being urged to pass on this email, which did start in the States.

Reading the email didn't make me think of the sacrifices our lads and lasses are making, but just how thick and insular some of those are, who live in the country we are supposed to have such a 'special relationship' with.

I bet the person who originated this moving story has never left the trailer park, nevermind been on a plane to Cyprus...or anywhere else.

;)

:D

Re: British and Proud

By the way, not having a go at you Sara for sharing it, and it was translated by someone else, and if it brings comfort to some, so be it.

Just made me laugh, not reflect on the sacrifices made by on our troops.

Re: British and Proud

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 836501)

Thank you for pointing out my error Gary.......It was unintentional, perhaps I should have said the 'serving forces or troops'.......anyway, they all deserve recognition and support regardless of their gender.

Re: British and Proud

there are way

too many foreigners in this country
who don't understand it

Moving, mawkish, and xenophobic.

Set to music it would prevent the winner of the X-Factor reaching the number one spot.

So not all bad.

:rolleyes:

Re: British and Proud

Were they flying Ryanair or Flybe?
Don't know of any other airlines that charge for lunch nowadays - there was a US airline on transatlantic route that did in the early '80s but can't remember the name.

Re: British and Proud

This particular spam mail has not achieved this to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington (Post 836495)

Re: British and Proud

well, it has provoked a response on here...lifted the profile so to speak.

Re: British and Proud

For me nothing sums up the sacrifices that are made for us in wars, by our armed services, than the poem Dulce et Decurum Est, by Wilfred Owen.

DULCE ET DECORUM EST

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.

Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling,
And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime . . .
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori.

Wilfred Owen. 8 October 1917 - March, 1918

DULCE ET DECORUM EST - the first words of a Latin saying (taken from an ode by Horace). The words were widely understood and often quoted at the start of the First World War. They mean "It is sweet and right." The full saying ends the poem: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori - it is sweet and right to die for your country. In other words, it is a wonderful and great honour to fight and die for your country

Re: British and Proud

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 836840)

Some of Owen's early poems are a lot more jingoistic.But obviously life in the trenches changed his attitude.

Re: British and Proud

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernard Dawson (Post 836857)

Some of Owen's early poems are a lot more jingoistic.But obviously life in the trenches changed his attitude.

They are.

Actual experience, not just of war, changes lots of attitudes.

Rudyard Kipling, the most jingoistic writer, had his eyes opened to the full horror of the First World War, after the death of his only son, in 1915.

Dulce et Decorum Est is all the more moving, when read in context, and how like many other poets and writers, Owen came to the conclusion that war isn't glorious at all.

Re: British and Proud

The sad irony was that he was killed in action a week before the end of the war.His mother apparently received the telegram informing her of his death on armistice day.

Re: British and Proud

I think that many young men join the armed forces with little idea what they are letting themselves in for.

The 'army life' is glamourised as a combination of world travel, cameraderie and adventure, when in reality it is offering your life to be used by your government.

When these young men realise that they are being used, not to protect their homeland, but to grab another country's natural resources, then the desertion rates go up.

BBC NEWS | UK | At least 1,000 UK soldiers desert