[News] Symon Hill

el punal said:

It’s not often I have a complete strop about people, and certainly do not make my feelings known on a forum, but this bloke has certainly pushed all my buttons. Symon Hill, for those that don’t know what he’s about, is described on Wikipedia as a British Socialist, pacifist, queer Christian, activist and journalist.

The reason for my beef? Well, it’s to do with this, the campaign medal for World War II Bomber Command veterans. As it stands no campaign medal has been awarded to those brave men who served their country in the most harrowing circumstances. 125,000 men volunteered to serve in Bomber Command during the war, of that number 55,000 lost their lives. At present a petition is being drawn up asking the government to recognise and honour those that took part in wartime operations. Seems fair to me, but apparently, not to Symon Hill.

Quoting the BBC, Symon Hill, of the Peace Pledge Union, has said that civilian deaths should be taken into account. He says “The core activity of Bomber Command was the mass bombing of German cities and civilians. To award a medal isn’t just to recognise how members of Bomber Command suffered, it would implicitly suggest that activity was OK, which is something we should not feel comfortable with.”

Such soothing words Mr.Hill. Has it ever occurred to you that those poor buggers, who risked their lives day after day, night after night, to serve their country, had any say in operational strategy? They performed their given task to the best of their ability, they were following orders, they knew that at any given time that they might not return home.

Now comes a personal bit. My father was an RAF pilot in Bomber Command during the war. In December 1941 he was flying a Stirling bomber on operations over Brest in France. The purpose of the ops was to attack the German battleships Tirpitz and Gneisenau. His plane was shot down, he lost two of his crew, he and the surviving members were taken prisoner of war. Less than half the aircraft that carried out that mission returned home. My father then spent the rest of the war holed up in Stalag Luft 111, famous for the Great Escape.

I just wish my father was alive today, Mr Hill, just so you could say to his face your feelings about those who served in Bomber Command. I’m not entirely sure that my Dad would agree with you.

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Tyrone Biggums said:

Same reason Jack Johnson the boxer received a pardon 100+ years after being wrongly convicted. Passionate people petition on their behalf because they feel an injustice was done at the time.

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Frutos said:

Very rare that I agree with a post of yours, but you're absolutely bang on here.

During WW2, Bomber Command lost about 55,000 men out of a total of 125,000 in the command (roughly a 44% loss rate) - I don't think it is too much to ask that their sacrifices and efforts be recognised with a campaign medal, if nothing else as a formal acknowledgement of what they did for this country when called upon.

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Southern Scouse said:

Nor did anyone else who served in the forces during WW2 and WW1 and many others wars before and after. Your point is?

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el punal said:

It’s not often I have a complete strop about people, and certainly do not make my feelings known on a forum, but this bloke has certainly pushed all my buttons. Symon Hill, for those that don’t know what he’s about, is described on Wikipedia as a British Socialist, pacifist, queer Christian, activist and journalist.

The reason for my beef? Well, it’s to do with this, the campaign medal for World War II Bomber Command veterans. As it stands no campaign medal has been awarded to those brave men who served their country in the most harrowing circumstances. 125,000 men volunteered to serve in Bomber Command during the war, of that number 55,000 lost their lives. At present a petition is being drawn up asking the government to recognise and honour those that took part in wartime operations. Seems fair to me, but apparently, not to Symon Hill.

Quoting the BBC, Symon Hill, of the Peace Pledge Union, has said that civilian deaths should be taken into account. He says “The core activity of Bomber Command was the mass bombing of German cities and civilians. To award a medal isn’t just to recognise how members of Bomber Command suffered, it would implicitly suggest that activity was OK, which is something we should not feel comfortable with.”

Such soothing words Mr.Hill. Has it ever occurred to you that those poor buggers, who risked their lives day after day, night after night, to serve their country, had any say in operational strategy? They performed their given task to the best of their ability, they were following orders, they knew that at any given time that they might not return home.

Now comes a personal bit. My father was an RAF pilot in Bomber Command during the war. In December 1941 he was flying a Stirling bomber on operations over Brest in France. The purpose of the ops was to attack the German battleships Tirpitz and Gneisenau. His plane was shot down, he lost two of his crew, he and the surviving members were taken prisoner of war. Less than half the aircraft that carried out that mission returned home. My father then spent the rest of the war holed up in Stalag Luft 111, famous for the Great Escape.

I just wish my father was alive today, Mr Hill, just so you could say to his face your feelings about those who served in Bomber Command. I’m not entirely sure that my Dad would agree with you.

Click to expand...