Coffins arrive at Kilross

[anotheoldgit]

I have just watched the sad spectacle of the coffins of the dead servicemen who died in the air crash in Afghanistan, arriving back to their home base of Kilross.

What I ask is why on this occasion did the Duke of Edinbugh and other top dignities attend this sad homecoming? When all of the other serviceman and woman who have been killed in action in Iraq or Afghanistan, did not received this "Top Brass" attention? Are a number of lives lost in a tragic accident, anymore precious than single lives lost in action?

I have said before that all service men & women who lose their lives in these unnecessary conflics, should receive a full military funeral attended by a member of the royal family and top politicians, (that is of course if the families wanted it).

[Drisgirl]

I suspect the old parasite and hypocrite attended as him and his missus and various other hangers on are now firmly ensconsed in Balmoral -a short journey from RAF Kinross.

I dont agree with your suggestion about any top nobs being at a full militay funeral because they would reek duty and insenserity.That is of course my opinion !!!

They unfortunately would be fully booked because of the daily fatalities in this futile conflict which is going nowhere.

Rest their poor souls.

[Drisgirl]

I of course meant Kilross -Kinross is close to me.Sorry

[admarlow]

Drisgirl - please remember many of the ''paracites and hypocrites'' (as you call them) have children and grand children in the forces.

[saxy_jag]

The Duke is Field Marshall and Marshall of the RAF, Captain General of the Royal Marines and Colonel/Colonel-in-Chief of a number of regiments. It is only fitting that he should be present in a senior military role.

[Drisgirl]

Well I daresay I was being fasecious as is my right but funny then why he only attended when it was only a hop skip and jump from where he was and was it a PR job in the wake of 9/11 since he hasnt attended any other occasions when our Service Personnel have been brought home to rest.
I am probably being ignorant - but when did the Duke serve in active duty as he must have to have such an outstanding title.

Is it not seen as almost compulsory for those high in the pecking order to have a moral obligation to sign up to an appropriate regiment.The Duke of York being the only one I recall serving in active conflict in my lifetime.I cant rememebr which regiment Princess Anne was a member of but I suspect someone will enlighten me.
I am not being obtuse -I have only stated the facts as are available to me.

[admarlow]

What about Harry and William, who may one day be on the front line and their uncle who flew a helecopter in the Faklands?

[kick3m0n]

just for clarification, drisgirl only referred to a singular "parasite and hypocrite" that being the old Duke himself (and that's a description of him that I find hard to disagree with). As has been pointed out, it seems odd that, despite his many, many links (both personally through family or "professionally" through the titles bestowed upon him) that he only chose to attend this one homecoming, and not the many many others there have been in the last few months. Being brutally objective It does, regardless of the level of esteem you hold him in, smack of the Duke of Edinburgh (or more likely, his advisors) using it as a handy 9/11-friendly PR stunt, since he was "in the area anyway".

[shaneystar2]

I am not taking sides and my heart goes out to those who have lost their loved ones ....but HRH D of E did see active service during the war.
In 1940 he served on HMS Ramilles in Colombo, Ceylon, as a Midshipman, patrolling the Indian Ocean and escorting troops from Australia to the Middle East. In 1941 he was transferred to HMS Valiant, a battleship stationed in Alexandria, Egypt. Philip acted as the searchlight control on the ship, helping to sink two Italian cruisers. Later service in the war saw Philip promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and serving during the invasion of Sicily. Philip was also present onboard HMS Whelp at the surrender of Japanese forces in Tokyo Bay.

[anotheoldgit]

Wow I did not mean my question to start up so much anti royal feeling. i just asked why a royal had only attended this particular event. But while we are royal bashing.

shaneystar2 You have really done your homework on Phillips WW2 service, but lets face it pretty tame stuff. The Italians, on board HMS Whelp Sicily, search light controller???

admarlow Harry & William on the front line, I don't think so. Incidently how did Harry manage to display a "Gong" on his chest already on his passing-out parade, any ideas?

saxy-jag Yes "Dukie" certainly holds many ranks, but where was he the other times?

Thanks anyway for all your contributions.

anotheoldgit.

[Drisgirl]

admarlow -please read what I said -and I am not being confrontational -I said the Duke of York is the only one in my lifetime who has served in active conflict.Harry and William havent and that is not the issue here.

shaney -I said he must have had to hold such titles and you very kindly provided the information.

So as far as my post goes I'll stick with what I said regardless of how many try to pick holes in it rather than just giving their own opinion to the question asked.

Anyway - still think it was a PR job IMHO !!!

O I just love the fact that people on here often just have opinions on what someone else posts rather than have their own opinion thus allowing a constructive debate to furhter ensue.

[fat rascal]

i feel tony blair should be made to attend each funeral of any service man/woman lost in iraq/afghanistan...

[Beanmistriss]

It's RAF Kinloss

[Drisgirl]

Of course it is -I know that because I have been up there and I'm embarassed by my bloop -just a silly typo but unacceptable in the circumstances.Thanks Bean.

[maviscoull]

raf kinloss !!

[Drisgirl]

Ta mavis -so Bean said in the post 2 above you.Its easy to get confused - even I did and I have been there countless times.It was just a slip !!

[Beanmistriss]

Sorry Drisgirl I wasn't having a go and everyone else spelled it wrong too :) x

[Drisgirl]

Ta Bean -I knew fine well what it was but my tonque got tied !!

fat rascal - to a certain extent I agree he should be there to experience the raw emotions of the families who have lost a loved one -it might make him think twice on the other hand if I had lost someone I would lynch him - because its insincere and would just become PR stunts to boost his flagging support.

Sorry anotheoldgit -I am only replying - I dont want to think I have hi-jacked your thread - oops.

[Booldawg]

Drisgirl - I thought it was Kinross too - I drove past there a few weeks ago on my way to Loch Levin. Kinross looks like a comms site as I saw a couple of dishes there. dont think there are any flights from there.

[Drisgirl]

Think there used to be Booldawg -as I said I live near Kinross and there a few comms dishes etc there.

[anotheoldgit]

That's alright Drisgirl you're not high-jacking my thread, thankful for your imput. I tend to agree with what you have said by the way.
anotheoldgit