What were they thinking !!!!!
There are several aspects to this incident. Images taken 'are of theat time' and don't always give the context. There is an infamous photo taken in Malaya in the mid 1950s of a Royal Marine office holding up a severed head. The photo was immediately siezed by the Left as evidence of colonial brutality in Malaya; except it wasn't. The photo was explaining that to ensure PID, rather than carry bodies of dead CTs from the jungle, often only the head would be brought back - or sent in by other CTs wanting the reward. Still rather unpleasant, but a completley different story. (I won't poropose to post that image here).
Secondly, the average reading age (and level of academic achievement) of a typical infantry recruit is about 7; additionally they are typically from a disfunctional family and have a probable history of petty criminality (see DASA reports etc, which I can't be bothered posting). Your average young soldier won't have much of a clue except what they have picked up from their mates and from school; Northern Ireland - as a major conflict - stopped when they were at primary school.
Last Friday I travelled down from London on the ECML. Sitting at my table were two young Glaswegians and I could tell by their haircuts that they were probably in the Army. Unfortunately I couldn't determine this for over two hours because their accents and dialect was so broad as to be unitelligible to me. It transpired they were RRS and heading home on leave from a course. I explained I was in the RAF, but I fear I could have siad I was from Mars and it would have had a similar impact. They asked (I think) which Barracks was I on and what was my capbadge?. I patiently tried to explain I was in a staff job in London abd that was followed up, again, with which Barracks was I at. I gave up. Their world was thier company and possibly their Bn; outside of that was Terre incognita...
Secondly, the average reading age (and level of academic achievement) of a typical infantry recruit is about 7; additionally they are typically from a disfunctional family and have a probable history of petty criminality (see DASA reports etc, which I can't be bothered posting). Your average young soldier won't have much of a clue except what they have picked up from their mates and from school; Northern Ireland - as a major conflict - stopped when they were at primary school.
Last Friday I travelled down from London on the ECML. Sitting at my table were two young Glaswegians and I could tell by their haircuts that they were probably in the Army. Unfortunately I couldn't determine this for over two hours because their accents and dialect was so broad as to be unitelligible to me. It transpired they were RRS and heading home on leave from a course. I explained I was in the RAF, but I fear I could have siad I was from Mars and it would have had a similar impact. They asked (I think) which Barracks was I on and what was my capbadge?. I patiently tried to explain I was in a staff job in London abd that was followed up, again, with which Barracks was I at. I gave up. Their world was thier company and possibly their Bn; outside of that was Terre incognita...
TTN and Wendslydale, thank you for your kind and measured responses.
I am very aware that "sectarian/Catholic/Protestant" isn't all there is to the issues in NI.
Consider the reasoning to be of the if not P then Q sort, rather than if P then Q.
Back into lurk mode.
I am very aware that "sectarian/Catholic/Protestant" isn't all there is to the issues in NI.
Consider the reasoning to be of the if not P then Q sort, rather than if P then Q.
Back into lurk mode.
Last edited by Lonewolf_50; 3rd Oct 2013 at 12:29.
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WhenURH
Agree with your post. There was a similar episode in Borneo which resulted in the slogan "if you want to get ahead, join the Green Jackets".
What you say in your second paragraph about recruits has much truth, but don't be blinded by the stereotype. Infantry soldiering is no longer a question of holding steady in line, dishing it out and taking it. The complexity of modern weapons, technical equipment and vehicles requires a great deal of skill and knowledge. Applying them successfully in a combat environment requires an equally high level of skill and knowledge. Then there is the moral aspect of loyalty, courage, determination, sacrifice that lead to success in combat.
Don't underestimate the trained infantry squaddy. He has exceptional qualities and abilities.
Don't send him to a partisan soccer match in uniform though and expect him to behave like a nun.
Agree with your post. There was a similar episode in Borneo which resulted in the slogan "if you want to get ahead, join the Green Jackets".
What you say in your second paragraph about recruits has much truth, but don't be blinded by the stereotype. Infantry soldiering is no longer a question of holding steady in line, dishing it out and taking it. The complexity of modern weapons, technical equipment and vehicles requires a great deal of skill and knowledge. Applying them successfully in a combat environment requires an equally high level of skill and knowledge. Then there is the moral aspect of loyalty, courage, determination, sacrifice that lead to success in combat.
Don't underestimate the trained infantry squaddy. He has exceptional qualities and abilities.
Don't send him to a partisan soccer match in uniform though and expect him to behave like a nun.
Hence why I said recruit. I agree, that in terms of an agent for social mobility, the Army is nulli secundis. I've worked with troops in three Theatres and I agree about their ability to be loyal and well-trained, but in many cases, their horizon does not extend beyond their Company, their mates (see Company) and their football team. The Army does an incredible job with the raw material, but sometimes things go wrong. I had the misfortune of spending some time at Aldershot and I ceased to be surprised how, err, enterprising the troops could be to break the law, get into very violent fights, to lie, cheat and steal. Oh course, Gentlemen of the RAF don't get into that sort of thing...
