War dead to be driven down side streets "to avoid the public"

There has never been any issue in the past over the route taken, it is only since the current route has been taken that people have been paying their respects in such a noble manner and it has become a tradition, it’s been known for a quite a while that the route is going to change anyway so this is hardly news.

On the flip side of the argument it would be nice for the MOD to take into account the wishes of the public in the area and I am sure that it is appreciated by those who serve and the families of those who sadly have to come back this way.

You haven’t read any of the article have you?

Does he ever? :rolleyes:

The answer is perfectly simple, and I’m amazed that no-one has suggested it.

Simply move Brize Norton to where Lyneham is now, and everyone will live happily ever after.

Won’t they?

“War dead”?I thought it was just another conflict the government had got us into!

You haven’t read any of the article have you?

I actually think they are being more respectful, not less. I’ll bet not every family wants to see their loved ones paraded in public anyway. Dignity is the important word here and not allowing the repatriations to succumb to media-driven sensationalism.

funny the media cover armastice every year and that was for over 60 yrs ago !!

you can’t have it both ways !!

Some people would get outraged at anything really…

Precisely.:rolleyes:

You haven’t read any of the article have you?

I actually think they are being more respectful, not less. I’ll bet not every family wants to see their loved ones paraded in public anyway. Dignity is the important word here and not allowing the repatriations to succumb to media-driven sensationalism.

like hell they will be !! they died so i can walk where i want to !!

the least we can do is give them the same right in death !!

maybe they do need to go a difrent way , but still as public

not one should cower down backroads !!

Sensationalist reporting at its best

Lyneham is closing (and has been for several years) flying ops cease soon. landing at brize and the change of route is as A.P suggested completely reasonable. I think even the side gate is a main access gate just not one that opens up into the village.

Lots of ridiculous “outrage” in the Telegraph comments. The cortege needs to go from Brize Norton instead of Lyneham so it needs to go a different way. I don’t see the issue really. It isn’t being disrepectful at all.
A deliberate avoidance of another media circus would seem like a good idea to me.
Some people would get outraged at anything really…

Possibly a bit of sensationalist reportage….but….I am reminded of this:

Tommy this and Tommy that….

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!

by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)