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RELATIVES OF THE FALLEN

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LETTERS

GENERAL COMPLAINTS

A letter posted in the Daily Mail today 8th October 2007.

I think most service men and women would agree.

As mother of Phillip Hewett, who was killed so tragically in Iraq in July 2005, I with my husband - along with other bereaved families - were invited to the unveiling. We have been to Alrewas many times but this time, as you would expect, numbers were limited.

But, it seems, even with bereaved families, there is no equality in death. After being told that each family could only have two tickets, however, we found that other families had four. This, I thought was more than a little unfair as my father who had himself served for 17 years in the Army. Had I not phoned up to inquire about more tickets, he would have been disappointed but, as it was, I was used to the way of the authorities. I managed to get another ticket.

When the tickets arrived, they were coloured green. This had no particular meaning for us, but we were to find out that colour was everything. We began to learn this when I inquired about parking at the arboretum. I was asked whether my tickets were "red or green". Then, I found out that for "greenies", there was no parking – even though I was also giving a lift to parents of another soldier killed in Iraq, one of whom was disabled.

Even then, the penny had not fully dropped. It was not until the night before the event when I was phoned by a father of another lad that the official "colour prejudice" became clear. He told me that had red tickets and had been told to park at Alrewas itself. When we got there, us "greenies" had to go to some distance to a "park and ride" area and were forced to wait for a bus for the last part of the journey.

It was at the arboretum, though, that we really began to feel the effects of our colour. Us lesser mortals – that we were – were herded off to a green-coloured marquee, to be given plated sandwiches to eat while standing, while the "reds" wined and dined in the comfort of a fully equipped dining area.

The "reds", we found, were classed as VIP guests. We, the "great unwashed", were fenced off from them in a completely different part of the site, allowing the "reds" to meet the Queen and prime minister and other guests. And while they had freedom to roam, we - as befitted our second-class status – were herded from place to place like cattle.

As one of the parents said to me, "how many children do you have to lose to be classed as important the officers and there (sic) wives the people who had lost nobody?"

For all that, when we actually came to look at the monument, I felt quite disappointed. It was not the work that had gone in to the structure, but the way the dead had been treated. There were no ranks and no regiments - just a names, like out of a school register. I do not know what I expected but it was not what I saw.

I know that was not alone in feeling disappointed in the way we were treated. We were never given the chance to meet the Queen or anyone in the privileged "red" section. All we saw of Her Majesty was the rear of her Bentley as it disappeared down the drive after the ceremony. Everything was geared to making us feel like second-class citizens. Even when we got on the coaches to depart, priority was given to those with red tickets. It was a sad day made even sadder by the exclusion of all the families involved.

Of course, the suspicion is that people like myself, who have spoken out about the way our troops have been treated, and several other families who speak out – members of the "awkward squad" - were kept as far away from the VIPs as possible.

The affair had to be "sanitised" and us rabble had to be kept from polluting our betters. We were tolerated as "extras" for the TV cameras and the press, on the day – and we were allowed to send our sons to die for the nation – but we must still know our place.

SUSAN SMITH

Dear Arthur,

> In addition to the item from Mrs Smith who lost her son (reds and
> greens) in your latest email I have just been reading and re-reading
> everything on the nesa website, including pictures of those young men
> with appalling injuries in USA. I just don't know what to say. What can
> one say to try and apologise for the dreadful way she and her family has
> been treated with her 2nd class green ticket. I have sat here staring at
> the computer for the last hour knowing I have promised to write to the
> nesa site, and the pain I have seen is so raw that it knocks away any
> words I attempt to say.
> All I can say is to thank you for having your nesa website and making
> this terrible state of affairs publicised.
> I enclose my letters hopefully for inclusion on your website. Feel free
> to edit as appropriate if they are too long. Actually I also kept the
> letter from Daily Mail 8th Oct from Sgt Wilkie in Iraq and agree
> wholeheartily with every word he said, I had intended posting it to you
> but you have beaten me to it and published it on the site, so I'll send
> it to Jimmy J instead when the post strike finishes.

> Best wishes, Geraldine
>
 

Think about it.

June 21st to June 27th has been selected as veterans week. This suggestion by NESA was proposed in 1995 and was not supported by the Legion or any other association.

Our idea was and has been for some time, that we should stop the sale of poppies as a means of begging. We were soldiers sailors airmen and mariners. We were proud, of the fact that millions gave their lives for this country,

Yet all their families ever received in return was charity.

Today especially when members of parliament are lining their pockets and building up vast amounts of money for their retirement.

It should be the government who should be paying for the care and rehabilitation of those of us who survived.

NESA suggestion was that a week should be dedicated where former service men and women could meet again with comrades of the past and swing the lamp.

Instead the idea has been taken totally out of context and it has now been turned into a commercial project, where leading towns and cities vie for which ever is going to be the host.

The winning council naturally gets to put on a performance to draw the tourists money. First it was London, then Birmingham. Now its Blackpool’s turn to host the parades and create whatever razzmatazz will jingle the tills.

We were all simple service men and women, all we ever asked for is to be remembered for what we and our fallen comrades did and in return we will acknowledge your salutations on their behalf.

Was there any fighting for who would manage the annual memorial service or the now annual Holocaust day.

The NESA idea was and is, for each and every city town and village to show their own appreciation. Because they were the only ones to look after the returning veterans from all wars and campaigns.

If the people of this country really do wish to contribute to a fund for damaged vets. Then just send a small donation to one of the main service charities and cut out the idea of showing a poppy to prove that you care

The poppy fund takes a lot of money to administrate

If the annual veterans week is instituted and people give freely to service charities, there will be no requirement for an annual service of remembrance the night before the annual day of remembrance, that in itself would save a vast amount of money and allow those who are paid to set it up to find a better use of their time,

Far too much money is created in London using sympathy for the forces as focal point.

Arthur Lane

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