UK: War hero, 88, told he is too old to carry flag in honour of the fallen (Nanny State madness)

The Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | November 7, 2008 | Matthew Drake

[Stoat]

For two decades he has proudly carried his banner of remembrance above a tide of poppies in honour of those who have fallen.
 

But amid the memories and tears at Westminster Abbey this Sunday, Peter Miller will stand alone, head bowed and without his regimental flag for the first time.
 

In a cruel blow, the 88-year-old great grandfather has been barred from his duties as an official standard bearer of the Royal British Legion after being branded too old. He was given the shattering news just a few days ago.
 

 

Peter Miller, 88, has been barred from his duties as an official standard bearer of the Royal British Legion after being branded too old

Mr Miller, from North London, served in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the Second World War, He was captured during the retreat to Dunkirk and held prisoner for almost four years.
 

During that time he worked in appalling conditions in makeshift operating theatres to help treat victims of the fighting. Now the retired lab technician is angry that he was not given a last chance to carry the colours.
 

Mr Miller said: 'I understand someone dropped their banner and it injured someone at an event in the North recently. I suppose my regiment was concerned that it didn't happen again.
 

'Really this is another example of health and safety madness.

[Stoat]

Each cross a name, each name a life lost in war: This was the scene yesterday at Westminster Abbey where a sea of 30,000 crosses covered the Field of Remembrance

In 1998, Mr Miller was a standard bearer for the Queen Mother at a centenary celebration for the RAMC at the Abbey. He was honoured by the Queen in 2002 for the voluntary work he does with his wife Ann for the St John Ambulance Brigade. He plans
to attend the service, but will stand with the public to pay his respects.
 

An Army spokesman said RAMC officials felt that Mr Miller appeared a little frail carrying at the Abbey last year. He added: 'The regimental secretary of the RAMC has told Mr Miller he must stand down because of a problem with insurance.'

[Stoat]

[2ndDivisionVet]

He looks awful fit for a man aged 88 to me! I've seen 60 year olds that are much more frail. This is just a slap in the face to the WWII generation that kept Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo from taking over the world!

[Stoat]

He looks awful fit for a man aged 88 to me! I've seen 60 year olds that are much more frail. This is just a slap in the face to the WWII generation that kept Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo from taking over the world!

Agreed on all points.  From the Daily Mail article:

'Really this is another example of health and safety madness. I may be getting on but I'm in reasonable health for my age and quite capable of holding up the flag without dropping it.'

(edit)

Mr Miller, who said the 8ft standard weighs only 5lb, added: 'In my experience it's oldies like me who can take the strain at these events. I can carry the flag for half an hour or so or stand without dropping it. I don't think many of the youngsters are up to it.

A Daily Mail reader posted this solution, which apparently wasn't considered when making this insulting decision:

Why can't they nominate a young Army Cadet or Scout to accompany him as a 'safety measure'.
This would provide dignity and aplomb, avoid the (potential) situation and also be an honour for the young person.

- David Mills, Altea Spain, 07/11/2008 08:28

[MathDoc]

Mr Miller said: 'I understand someone dropped their banner and it injured someone at an event in the North recently. I suppose my regiment was concerned that it didn't happen again. 'Really this is another example of health and safety madness.

This war hero faced the Nazi army, and some nanny state liberal or predatory lawyer has decided to stop him from representing his heroic brothers in arms? Disgusting. It's time for this generation's heroes to defend his country and ours against the nanny state activists and against the frivolous lawsuits that some loser is scared of.

The right answer is to let this hero decide whether he wants to carry the flag. A close to right answer is to give him an honor guard - let him carry the flag while flanked by one of the regiment's youngest soldiers. Tell the young guy what this hero did and that it's his job to catch the colors if necessary and otherwise to stand by the side of a soldier from the generation that faced Hitler. That should satisfy the advocates for "health and safety madness".

[Stoat]

Agreed; essential points all.

This illustrates, among other things, how the Left will in the most brutal manner possible suck the lifeblood out of any or all of us, destroy our history and eradicate our culture with the stoke of a pen....and always have a convenient lawyer to hide behind.

I could EASILY see such a scenario as this happening here in the USA under an 0bama ‘administration’.

[ought-six]

If Mr. Miller is not careful they will be harvesting his organs while he’s still alive.

[ought-six]

“This illustrates, among other things, how the Left will in the most brutal manner possible suck the lifeblood out of any or all of us, destroy our history and eradicate our culture with the stoke of a pen.... I could EASILY see such a scenario as this happening here in the USA under an 0bama ‘administration’.”

Agreed. We must fight the left with everything we have, with every fiber of our being. Welcome to the Resistance!

[Daffynition]

This is the same nation that supports Gurkhas who have served so valiantly for 200 years, eh?

[Tainan]

Someone usually posts a Kipling on threads like this. It might as well be meself.

Tommy

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!"

-- Rudyard Kipling

[Stoat]

If Mr. Miller is not careful they will be harvesting his organs while he’s still alive.

Well, they have to do what they can to keep the Socialized medicine plan afloat after all.....and did anyone actually tell Mr. Miller that the country's requirements for his services had 'completely' ended after he was discharged from active military service?

[Stoat]

We must fight the left with everything we have, with every fiber of our being. Welcome to the Resistance!

I just hope that there will be something remaining of our country four years from now...  "sigh"

[Stoat]

This is the same nation that supports Gurkhas who have served so valiantly for 200 years, eh?

It's so sad that the Government had to be dragged kicking and screaming through the courts to do the right thing.

Joanna-Lumley-celebrates-victory-Gurkhas-win-legal-battle-stay-Britain

Gurkha war heroes have won the right to stay in Britain after the Government was ordered to recognise its 'debt of honour' to them.

Veterans wept with joy and bellowed the traditional war cry of 'Ayo Gorkhali!' - 'the Gurkhas are coming!' - after the landmark judgment.

More than 2,000 former Gurkhas were refused permission to live here because they had retired before July 1, 1997.

(edit)

The Gurkhas' cause provoked widespread outrage that Britain had abandoned former soldiers to a life of poverty while opening its doors to hundreds of thousands of economic migrants.

Their supporters included the actress Joanna Lumley, 62, whose father served alongside them in the Army for more than 30 years.

 

[Stoat]

Tommy

Thank you so much for posting.

[Daffynition]

My heart bleeds from the disrespect of the Gurkhas’ extreme valor.