GUY GIBSON-SHOT DOWN BY THE RAF
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I admire everybody that served in Bomber Command in WW2. As I admire anybody that ever served, fought or died in the cause of freedom.
Their personal qualities don't enter into it.
Their personal qualities don't enter into it.
Last edited by The Old Fat One; 30th Jun 2013 at 17:01.
TOFO, I think you misrepresent my question. I asked if we should admire the person, not his achievements in WWII. However, if your outburst is merely a random comment about the merits of freedom fighters, disregard the above.
TOFO and OAP,
For some reason, maybe the wine isn't working yet, I feel that somehow you both have it right. I wonder though this incessant need we seem to have developed in the modern era to denigrate famous people of the past. Why can we not accept that Gibson was a great leader of men, as promulgated in most historical records until now. I notice an article in a paper today telling us that Alistair Campbell has given a speech in Australia, in which he suggested that Winston Churchill was a bigger liar than his pal Bliar. It's very easy for, " all knowing" modern experts to analyse and give their take on someone who is long gone. I wonder if they would be so vociferous if the subject were still alive
Smudge
For some reason, maybe the wine isn't working yet, I feel that somehow you both have it right. I wonder though this incessant need we seem to have developed in the modern era to denigrate famous people of the past. Why can we not accept that Gibson was a great leader of men, as promulgated in most historical records until now. I notice an article in a paper today telling us that Alistair Campbell has given a speech in Australia, in which he suggested that Winston Churchill was a bigger liar than his pal Bliar. It's very easy for, " all knowing" modern experts to analyse and give their take on someone who is long gone. I wonder if they would be so vociferous if the subject were still alive
Smudge
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"I wonder if they would be so vociferous if the subject were still alive 
"
No, I doubt it.
Revisionist historians, the worst kind.
"No, I doubt it.
Revisionist historians, the worst kind.
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Gents.
We are in the 21st Century trying to talk about an individual who was born in 1918 in India and who died before most of us were born.
Guy Gibson was 24 when he died and won the Victoria Cross at the age of 23.
His family life as a boy and young man were such that if it were today he would probably taken into care.
He was a product of his time, class, and family and despite his many human failings he was a young man who had enormous responsibilities for one so young and died as many of the "Bomber Boys" did before they had a chance to live as Gibson himself acknowledges in his book "Enemy Coast Ahead"
Bomber Command personnel were just a cross-section of society, good and bad and apparently Leonard Cheshire was loved by everyone as he was just "a nice guy"
Let us just remember Gibson, Cheshire, Tait, Mahaddie, Searby and their comrades sacrifices and be thankful that we did not have to undertake such horrors.
We are in the 21st Century trying to talk about an individual who was born in 1918 in India and who died before most of us were born.
Guy Gibson was 24 when he died and won the Victoria Cross at the age of 23.
His family life as a boy and young man were such that if it were today he would probably taken into care.
He was a product of his time, class, and family and despite his many human failings he was a young man who had enormous responsibilities for one so young and died as many of the "Bomber Boys" did before they had a chance to live as Gibson himself acknowledges in his book "Enemy Coast Ahead"
Bomber Command personnel were just a cross-section of society, good and bad and apparently Leonard Cheshire was loved by everyone as he was just "a nice guy"
Let us just remember Gibson, Cheshire, Tait, Mahaddie, Searby and their comrades sacrifices and be thankful that we did not have to undertake such horrors.
Last edited by DC10RealMan; 30th Jun 2013 at 20:23.
Having been involved with the Pathfinders 50th in 1992, meeting many of the veterans, including Sir Ivor Broom; and Hamish Mahaddie at the Pathfinder Window unveiling in Warboys church (and meeting Mrs Bennett and Mrs Searby) I can only say how fortunate we were that so many stepped up to the plate, and so many gave their lives, and we should perhaps be forgiving of the occasional non-standard personality - they proved extraordinary leaders.
nogger ............ easy mistake on a qwerty keyboard.
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[QUOTE][There's a lot of license taken with Gibson as indeed with others who attain almost mythical status. My grandfather worked with Gibson for a considerable period of time, and what may not be widely known is that his dog was actually called 'C**t' - This was changed to 'Ni**er' for the original film to avoid offending people.
/QUOTE]
Now THAT made me giggle - thanks
/QUOTE]
Now THAT made me giggle - thanks
