Funny that the brutal Serviceman is the one the country calls upon when normal service breaks down. Even in the past few years I can think of West Country floods, a dam in danger of breaching, the vast logistics operation to distribute Covid vaccines, Army medics on standby for Nightingale hospitals and overloaded NHS hospitals. In many cases the personnel concerned gave up their Christmas leave and treasured family time, were given cursory thanks by some snivelling politician, then sent on six-month deployments.
Elsewhere on the forum is a thread on the continuing persecution of old soldiers for chaotic events in Northern Ireland half a century ago as murderers walk free. But cheer up, there is some good news this month: a court has quashed the conviction of a prominent member of Sinn Fein/IRA for escaping from lawful custody 50 years ago, while Gerry Adams, who says he was not the IRA's leader, is seeking compensation for a similar claim.