No Princes In The Line

I came across this the other day. It seems a fair observation...

Princes in the Line

Words and Music: Tom Lewis ©2006
(Available for free download here.)

The heir to England's throne stood proud, before a wall in France,
“Once more unto the breach, dear friends!”; he bid the troops advance,
His armour, and his honour, bright; all men could see them shine,
So they followed to the battle for their prince was in the line.

When Charles's cavaliers were called to muster for the king,
The monarch's only nephew heard the call to duty ring,
Foremost in the fighting rode Rupert Of The Rhine,
There was honour in the battle when a prince was in the line.

Chorus:
(But/For) the children of our rulers will not join the fight today,
(and) Kings of Commerce never send their sons into the fray,
The children of the poor will fight the wars that they design,
But what honour's in the battle with no princes in the line?

The South Pacific blazed, and rang with Freedom's fire-alarm,
The name of 'old Joe' Kennedy could keep his sons from harm,
But the Navy needed brave young men; this was the place and time,
So a Once-And-Future President stepped up into the line.

Chorus

A bitter South Atlantic wind blew over icy sea,
The Queen of England's son flew out to face the enemy,
As target for the missiles, to protect the fleet so fine.
This argument's not: 'Right or wrong?' - but: 'Princes in the line?'

Chorus

Prime Ministers and Presidents take us to war with lies,
In parliament and congress they wear flags for their disguise,
Their kids wear trendy camouflage while sipping vintage wine,
But they will not wear the uniform, and step into the line.

Chorus:
For the children of our rulers will not join the fight today,
(and) Kings of Commerce never send their sons into the fray,
The children of the poor will fight the wars that they design,
But what honour's in the battle with no princes in the line?
But what honour's in the battle with no princes in the line?
If there was honour in the battle... there'd be princes in the line.

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Thoughts From Remembrance Day 2013

Just as we finished Piping the Still this morning and after the salute from from Fort Blockhouse, we could hear the Last Post being sounded on a bugle in the distance. The contrast of the simple shrillness of the Bosun's Call with the the faint but tuneful bugle was striking and poignant.

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I am watching my HD recording of the Remembrance Parade from this morning. The various dress uniforms of  the various units look so vivid. Now, I'm obviously biased but there is something simply but supremely elegant and timeless in the way the Royal Navy platoons look in their simple black greatcoats, white caps, belts and gaiters.

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At RNSM today, I paused for a moment to think of a distinguished gentleman and father of an old friend who had been with us in the same place last year but is no longer with us.

No Need For Religion

Sunday 10th November 2013 will see the assembly of a small number of ex servicemen remembering their dead . In previous years, this has been an informal, brief but poignant act of remembrance held in the shadow of the complete list of those several thousand lost, many of which have no known grave.

This is now been formalised and is to have a vicar participating. Why such a simple and perfect ceremony needs the mumbo jumbo of religion inflicted upon it, I don't understand.

Harold Jellicoe Percival

Another ex-serviceman has died alone and without friends or family. The report of his death, and the notice of his funeral have gone viral across the UK and there is no doubt that his funeral will now be well attended by well wishers.

One can't help wondering that 'Coe' and the other lonely veterans who have died in similar circumstances would have been much more appreciative of  this company, and friendship when he was alive.

That's not a blog, it's a scrapbook

When is a blog not a blog, but rather a giant slap in the face for the true authors who have spent time and effort only to see their work being blatantly ripped off?

There are blogs and there are blogs. A good blog contains the original thoughts and work of a writer or a group of writers. It can be observations on pressing current matters, on a particular interest or pursuit, it could be a diary (or log hence web blog and then blog) or it can be rather more philosophical.

Other blogs are just scrapbooks of other people's work, sometimes just blatantly lifted from other blogs. Not to comment or to include a large amount of original work just makes that plagiarism. And it's wrong to take any credit for it, especially if the original work isn't credited.

Discuss

I Love My Job.

I had a great day at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum today. Of the visitors today I met an X-craft submariner who served on X20 and X22 

as well as the training boats, an officer who served on the pre-World War 2 era S class submarine HMS Sleuth,

an anglicised American Supply Officer who had served on the NR-1 and worked in the Nautilus museum, and a retired ex pat British A class veteran who joined the RAN.

NR-1

You know? I can really love this job sometimes.

The Yomp For Steve

Saturday, 18 May 2013 saw the Yomp For Steve*. A group of Steve Sharpe's friends have gotten together and for the past 2 years, they've walked from one of his favourite places at Titchfield Haven to Shore Leave Haslar, a walk of about 8 miles along the Hampshire coastline.


The assembled throng, included friends from Gosport with whom he grew up, ex field gunners, fellow Commandos, a lab tech, an RAF air traffic controller, an ex naval Medical Assistant and assorted spouses and dogs. And last but not least, his lifelong friend Brian (or Bj).

We chat, some bring their dogs, we amble, some stop for a beer, some stop for a New Forest ice cream (I recommend the rhubarb crumble and custard one) and others stop for a cuppa. We each chip in £10 and all the proceeds go to Shore Leave Haslar. This year we raised £280. They in their turn provide us with a simple but tasty barbecue, drinks and cake in the wonderful gardens they've recovered.

Last year Steve's mum and dad were there to see us off, but earlier this year Steve's mum died suddenly and his dad needed his time to grieve and to get over her death and so didn't attend.There was one person missing and I hope she can join us next year after all that she has gone through, and continues to do so.

You, too, should join us next year.

*Yomp has two meanings in the Royal Navy it can (and used to mean) to eat, but once the Royal Marines landed on the Falkland Islands in 1982, it's other meaning took precedence and entered popular culture. It means to walk across country, usually burdened with a small house, no sleep, and a pair of underpants that passeth all understanding.