Armed Forces Day

[JointShiteFighter]

Happy Armed Forces Day to all who have served this great nation, and thank you for everything you have done and continue to do.

[P6 Driver]

+1
I can't argue with those sentiments!
:ok:

[downsizer]

It's great to be rewarded for service with a working weekend. I'm sure no-one wanted to spend AFD with their families :ok:

[Rotate too late]

But think of the overtime!.......oh.
Well done anyway guys....truly the best in the world. Until Carlsberg make a soldier!

[Tankertrashnav]

Stop moaning downsizer, it could be worse. Father Christmas never gets Christmas off ;)

[Wander00]

TTN - and we remember Saturday morning parades EVERY week! (And Church Parades)

[P6 Driver]

Downsizer (Glass half empty or what!) wrote;
It's great to be rewarded for service with a working weekend. I'm sure no-one wanted to spend AFD with their families

When I was in I for one never minded the occasional weekend duty such as air displays, e.t.c. To make it even better, I even had days off in the week to help me get over it.

[Shack37]

From the DT
Wee bit of thread drift, hope no one minds. A big well done to these folks.


Hundreds of strangers turn up to mourn dead soldier after viral campaign - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11702881/Hundreds-of-strangers-turn-up-to-mourn-dead-soldier-after-viral-campaign.html)

[downsizer]

Trouble is P6 driver, it isn't occasional anymore. It' happens all the time in today's Air Force.

It was a slightly tongue in cheek ironic comment about rewarding people with more work...maybe it was too subtle... :}

[goudie]

and we remember Saturday morning parades EVERY week!
Looking back, I'm somewhat bemused by the juxtaposition of highly skilled aircrew and groundcrew, keeping the UK safe from the 'Red Hordes' one minute and then being subjected to marching up and down and shouted at the next. At the time I suppose we all thought it was normal. I do appreciate that some parades have a useful purpose and can be rather splendid occasions, but Station parades on Saturday mornings was a bummer!

Yes! Happy Armed Forces Day to all, past and present.

[Chainkicker]

Stop moaning downsizer, it could be worse. Father Christmas never gets Christmas off ;)

He doesnt have much on for the rest of the year though :p

[BEagle]

Father Christmas never gets Christmas off...

But he only comes once per year, although when he does he fills stockings....:ooh:

[Onceapilot]

Working weekend? What's that? Think you will find a large part of the Air Force has been 24/7 for several decades. No official entitlement to TOIL.:uhoh:

OAP

[jindabyne]

although when he does he fills stockings....

Preferably with Susannah? :)

[Willard Whyte]

When I was in I for one never minded the occasional weekend duty such as air displays, e.t.c. To make it even better, I even had days off in the week to help me get over it.

To each their own.

The Waddo airshow was complete ****e, always falling on one of: Goodwood FoS, Wife's birthday or the British Grand Prix.

No amount of weekday time off, not that it ever occurred, would compensate for the ballocks that event involved.

[Shack37]

To each their own.
The Waddo airshow was complete ****e, always falling on one of: Goodwood
FoS, Wife's birthday or the British Grand Prix.
No amount of weekday time off, not that it ever occurred, would compensate
for the ballocks that event involved.[QUOTE]


Yes, I can see that must have been hard. Imagine missing Goodwood, the British Grand Prix or OMG, the wife´s birthday. It´s a hard life in the Mob:eek:

[Chugalug2]

I'd be more impressed if Joe public (of whom I am but one) were encouraged more to make everyday AFD by taking note every time there is yet another, "and finally", news item about how HMF are doing something that is not self-centred and self regarding like most of us, and give thanks at that news.

As it is, it seems that AFD is yet another example of the bread and circuses acts that used to feature in Pathe or Movietone News. Fine when much of the audience were serving, had served, or had fathers/brothers/sweethearts serving. Not very effective when they are as remote as any "community", of which we hear so much and know so little.

I find it ironic that those whom we are encouraged to be grateful for are the very ones who have to make the effort to encourage us. We, on the other hand, can simply grope for the remote in order not to be made to feel beholden in any way.

[diginagain]

I wonder if we'll see a surge in recruiting as a consequence?

[Willard Whyte]

Yes, I can see that must have been hard. Imagine missing Goodwood, the British Grand Prix or OMG, the wife´s birthday. It´s a hard life in the Mob

All three were vastly more important to me than an uninspiring, boring and wholly predictable air show - which, in irony normally unnoticed by the military, featured very little flying and seldom any aircraft of interest on the static display.

Some of us work to live, I pity those who's life is work. So yes, OMG, my wife is more important to me than a bunch of frickin' aeroplanes.

Watching Richard 'The King' Petty thread a Plymouth Superbird up the hill at GW was worth the price of entry alone, the other 9 hours of joyous sights, sounds, and smells was icing on the cake.

[Managed Descent]

Thank you to all the servicemen and women for doing what you do. You are often fighting on 2 fronts, our own government as well as the enemy.
Nice to see the unwashed offended didn't get to show their colours.

[mopardave]

Watching Richard 'The King' Petty thread a Plymouth Superbird up the hill at GW was worth the price of entry alone, the other 9 hours of joyous sights, sounds, and smells was icing on the cake.

now you're talkin'!!!!!!:ok:

[Shack37]

Some of us work to live, I pity those who's life is work. So yes, OMG, my
wife is more important to me than a bunch of frickin' aeroplanes.
Watching Richard 'The King' Petty thread a Plymouth
Superbird up the hill at GW was worth the price of entry alone, the other 9
hours of joyous sights, sounds, and smells was icing on the cake.


Seems to me you were in the wrong job.

Back to AFD. My thanks to all currently serving:ok:

[O-P]

I'm sorry, but my wife and family are far more important to me than some silly aeroplane, and all the crap that goes with it!


If your job is the most important thing in your life you really don't deserve a family.

[Danny42C]

I hate to introduce a sour note into this heartening story.

"The Telegraph, 27 June 2015" reports:

".....a former gunner who survived being shot at and almost starving to death during his long military career....."

but let us do some sums, he:

died 2015, aged 77, so d/b 1938
-joined army aged 21, so 1959
-reached age 40 1978
-served 30 years to 1989

Q. What foreign wars were we engaged in 59-89 ?....Google ?, result..."BBC History - British History", from which we extract:

"6 February 1971 (he is now 33 yrs of age)
-First British soldier is killed in Northern Ireland's 'Troubles' (1968-1998)"

"2 April-14 June 1982 (he is now 44 yrs of age)
-Argentina invades the British territory of the Falkland Islands"

1989 pensioned age 51.

Q. He would certainly have been "shot at" in NI (I doubt he would have been sent to the Falklands at his age). But, even so, when would he have been "almost starving to death" ? When was he captured, and by whom ? (I know Service rations are not always cordon bleu, but...)

I used to swear by the D.T. - but now am not so sure.

All honour to the good folk who answered the call and turned out (and I do like the "honour guard" - what had happened to the "loo-brush" on the chap's hat on the left ?)

Someone will explain it all to me,

Danny42C.

[taxydual]

what had happened to the "loo-brush" on the chap's hat on the left ?

It's waiting for the wearer to hit puberty.

[Nugget90]

Guildford was this year's choice of town to be the focal point for Armed Forces Day, and as a veteran who marched (well, sort of) up the High Street and along to Stoke Park behind the bands, the military contingents and the cadets, I thought that it all worked out rather well.

Of special note was the endless enthusiasm shown by currently-serving military personnel from all the Services who manned the many 'sideshows' displaying equipment (helicopters, APCs, assault boats, etc) and recruiting stalls. The day was dry and fairly warm, yet the servicemen and women displayed bags of energy and seemingly didn't tire of welcoming mums, dads and eager offspring into their 'patch'. Most impressive!

On another note, I observed that there were many more service charities than I had realised existed, and I wonder just how difficult it will be to attract funding as the years roll on and the ever-dwindling numbers of service personnel result in a much lower profile in the eyes of the public. In the meantime, the needs of former members of the Royal Observer Corps, Falklands Veterans, Merchant Seamen, War Widows, etc and their families won't simply disappear and will continue to seek charitable support for a while yet.

This is where military presence at shows is so important, both to encourage recruitment and to raise the profile of military charities. Yesterday's displays of bands, motorcycles, horses, firepower, etc and the presence of high-profile individuals from the MoD plus, of course, two 'fly-bys' by the Red Arrows did much to impress the tens of thousands of those who attended. The Duke of York took the Review and DCDS provided a succinct but 'spot on' speech of welcome to start off the entertainment.

All in all, a very successful day.

[vascodegama]

Danny

Oman during their troubles perhaps? Oh I forgot the government said that we didn't have any Regt Gunners out there so it must have been true.

[Tankertrashnav]

Danny

Aden perhaps? I got "shot at" in Aden in 1966, if you count getting a grenade lobbed in my general direction in a cordon and search in Sheik Othman. Self and everybody else completely unhurt. A regiment chum of mine had his patrol fired on by three very unwise guys who opened up with rifles at long range and didn't take into the account that our chaps had a GPMG. They were disposed of in very quick time!

Some British troops were not so lucky - I believe there were in the region of 200 casualties (including some civilian) in the protectorate during the period 1960 - 67.

[JointShiteFighter]

and seldom any aircraft of interest

What interests you might not interest somebody else, and vice versa.

My mate is upset about the Trislander departing his local airport for the final time today. Personally, that particular Type does nothing for me, but I do respect his interests.

[Shack37]

Q. What foreign wars were we engaged in 59-89 ?....Google ?, result..."BBC History - British History", from which we extract:

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070707020518AA86S0F

As well as Aden/N.I. there was the Indonesian Confrontation 1962 to 1966


British(UK)forces deaths= 178 total. 96 Army. 41 RN and Marines. 41 RAF.
Gurkhas serving with the British Army: 38 deaths.
Australian forces: 17 deaths.
New Zealand forces: 10 deaths.

[alisoncc]

What foreign wars were we engaged in 59-89 ?....

Seem to have missed out on the big one - The Cold War. Wasn't on foreign soil, but was against foreigners - Ivan and his mates. And for those who participated it was very much for real.

[Shack37]

I hate to introduce a sour note into this heartening story.
Someone will explain it all to me,
Danny42C.


I hope some of the explanations have been of some help.

[smujsmith]

Some interesting posts here gentlemen, but I for one can only see AFD as a political construct, created by the likes of the Ad man who currently occupies No10, attempting to associate himself with men and women who he could only dream of emulating. I thank all of my former comrades for their service and sacrifice for our country, I just wish it wasn't associated with the likes of CaMoron.

Smudge

[Danny42C]

Thank you all, Gentlemen, for putting me right (I bow my head in shame !).

:uhoh:

Have been shot at myself once or twice in my time, so wouldn't dispute that, (and I suppose one bullet feels much like another when it hits you, whoever has fired it).

But still, as I said: "when would he have been "almost starving to death" ? When was he captured, and by whom ? (I know Service rations are not always cordon bleu, but...")..... Bit of D.T. hype ?

Changing the subject, now that we have a new Day to celebrate annually, it won't be long until before we're all sending each other "Happy Armed Forces Day" Cards ! :ok:

Danny.

[brakedwell]

I thank all of my former comrades for their service and sacrifice for our country, I just wish it wasn't associated with the likes of CaMoron.

Gordon Brown started AFD - not David Cameron's favourite politician :=

[goudie]

we're all sending each other "Happy Armed Forces Day" Cards ! Brilliant idea Danny. Could be a nice little earner as you approach old age!:ok:

[brakedwell]

we're all sending each other "Happy Armed Forces Day" Cards !

And then hugging and kissing each other :E

[Danny42C]

goudie,

If you look up "Gaining a RAF Pilot's Brevet...", Page 187, Post #3722, you'll see that Cards have proved a "nice little earner" before. :*

Danny.