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Bomber Command Memorial Fund
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The backers for the construction of the Memorial are faced with a bill for £827,000 to cover the cost of the opening ceremony without lottery or state help. As an ex-aircrew of WW2, should I sell my house for £200,000 to donate, then go into a care home for which the government will have to pay £500 per week or £24,000 per year?
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What a magnificent memorial, Hugh.
http://
Our MPs should recognise that without these men, who gave their lives, the MPs would have no jobs working for the people of this country.
Government would have been a very different thing.
I urge our MPs to pay up and be happy about it.
http://
Our MPs should recognise that without these men, who gave their lives, the MPs would have no jobs working for the people of this country.
Government would have been a very different thing.
I urge our MPs to pay up and be happy about it.
The head of bomber command was the only one not to be decorated after the end of the war because, frankly, they went too far.
While the individuals flying for this country may have been brave and certainly worth honouring - it is difficult to recognise the flattening of Dresden as anything other than disproportionate.
In response to your question Hugh, no, you shouldn't do that.
While the individuals flying for this country may have been brave and certainly worth honouring - it is difficult to recognise the flattening of Dresden as anything other than disproportionate.
In response to your question Hugh, no, you shouldn't do that.
Ed
However, Harris was made Marshal of the Royal Air Force in 1946, and was also made GCB.....not bad really and....
\\\\The head of bomber command was the only one not to be decorated after the end of the war because, frankly, they went too far. \\\
Air Crew Europe Star and France and Germany Star was not awarded to ANY of Bomber Command.
You opinion is valued, but there have always been and still are two sides to the coin.
However, Harris was made Marshal of the Royal Air Force in 1946, and was also made GCB.....not bad really and....
\\\\The head of bomber command was the only one not to be decorated after the end of the war because, frankly, they went too far. \\\
Air Crew Europe Star and France and Germany Star was not awarded to ANY of Bomber Command.
You opinion is valued, but there have always been and still are two sides to the coin.
"You opinion is valued, but there have always been and still are two sides to the coin."
Absolutely. I don't have the answer.
"Whilst I don't like to point fingers, it was Germany's bombing of Rotterdam that opened the door to non-military targets to be bombed.
Also, whilst I can't condone tit-for-tat, you say Dresden, I say Coventry etc."
Yes, but the Germans have the rather valuable excuse of being led by a genocidal dictator. They have now made a break with that part of their history.
We, on the other hand, consider Churchill one of our greatest. It is difficult to do terrible, monstrous things and still want to be considered the "good guys". We very much own our role in WW2 to this day and with that comes some uncomfortable truths about the way we conducted our business.
from wiki: "Prime Minister Winston Churchill later distanced himself from the attack, even though he was heavily involved with the planning of the raid."
Absolutely. I don't have the answer.
"Whilst I don't like to point fingers, it was Germany's bombing of Rotterdam that opened the door to non-military targets to be bombed.
Also, whilst I can't condone tit-for-tat, you say Dresden, I say Coventry etc."
Yes, but the Germans have the rather valuable excuse of being led by a genocidal dictator. They have now made a break with that part of their history.
We, on the other hand, consider Churchill one of our greatest. It is difficult to do terrible, monstrous things and still want to be considered the "good guys". We very much own our role in WW2 to this day and with that comes some uncomfortable truths about the way we conducted our business.
from wiki: "Prime Minister Winston Churchill later distanced himself from the attack, even though he was heavily involved with the planning of the raid."
This thread has gone seriously off topic very quickly!
It isn't about whether Bomber Command should have a proper memorial. They have one.
It isn't about whether there should be an unveiling ceremony. There's been one, and most of the Royal Family attended.
It's whether the £827,000 bill for that ceremony should be paid by eight people, or whether (like lots of other public ceremonies this year) it should be paid for out of lottery/state funds.
[i]Unless funds are forthcoming, they risk losing their homes to pay for it. "It is rather shattering, having raised the money for the memorial, that we’re on the line for this," says Gordon Mellor, 92, from Wembley, London.[i]
That's disgraceful.
It isn't about whether Bomber Command should have a proper memorial. They have one.
It isn't about whether there should be an unveiling ceremony. There's been one, and most of the Royal Family attended.
It's whether the £827,000 bill for that ceremony should be paid by eight people, or whether (like lots of other public ceremonies this year) it should be paid for out of lottery/state funds.
[i]Unless funds are forthcoming, they risk losing their homes to pay for it. "It is rather shattering, having raised the money for the memorial, that we’re on the line for this," says Gordon Mellor, 92, from Wembley, London.[i]
That's disgraceful.
Seems like paying off the defecit isn't all that important all of a sudden.
Personally I think it's riddiculous to spend that sort of money on a statue for pidgeons to cr2p on - it might inspire your generation but I promise you that in 20 years it'll mean as much to most people as a statue of Bodecia.
Would have been so much better spent founding something like a memorial care home or anything that could have actually have benefitted real people
Personally I think it's riddiculous to spend that sort of money on a statue for pidgeons to cr2p on - it might inspire your generation but I promise you that in 20 years it'll mean as much to most people as a statue of Bodecia.
Would have been so much better spent founding something like a memorial care home or anything that could have actually have benefitted real people
Like Nelson.... etc
Absolutely like that
Ridiculous waste of money to satisfy those looking to validate and glorify their contributions, desperately hoping to be remembered
It will do no good for anybody no more than the steriile statues of other past soldiers.
I'm no real fan of the poppy fund but at least that actually helps people alive today and they set up a body that lived after them and didn't just put up a lump of bronze
They didn't wring their hands and say "What can you do with a one-off lump sum".
Yes I'm biased but I'd say the same if they were going to spend the money in a statue to Alexander Flemming rather than fund research or run hospitals.
IMHO that's the way to found a memorial, not a lump of bronze in a park
Absolutely like that
Ridiculous waste of money to satisfy those looking to validate and glorify their contributions, desperately hoping to be remembered
It will do no good for anybody no more than the steriile statues of other past soldiers.
I'm no real fan of the poppy fund but at least that actually helps people alive today and they set up a body that lived after them and didn't just put up a lump of bronze
They didn't wring their hands and say "What can you do with a one-off lump sum".
Yes I'm biased but I'd say the same if they were going to spend the money in a statue to Alexander Flemming rather than fund research or run hospitals.
IMHO that's the way to found a memorial, not a lump of bronze in a park
No Hugh, you should stay in your house as long as feasible, depending on your health.
That sort of money for an opening ceremony seems excessive, are some of the dignitaries charging a fee? I would think that the cost of getting the veterans to the ceremony and catering etc. should be covered by the government (local?).
just my thought.
That sort of money for an opening ceremony seems excessive, are some of the dignitaries charging a fee? I would think that the cost of getting the veterans to the ceremony and catering etc. should be covered by the government (local?).
just my thought.
perhaps some should read the full story and why there is this shortfall. The government will come up with the extra money after all or so they say..
As to why build a statue to the fallen servicemen, why not, money was raised through donations, and has taken years to get to this point. Britain wastes billions on aid to nations who despise us, then 40 million on a recent failed franchise rail bid, that is without the massive amounts of money that is wasted every year on the NHS through mismanagement, and lost equipment that has to be replaced.
If it hadn't been for these almost 56 thousand airmen that lost their lives then we might not be here to moan about coughing up a few quid for a memorial to the fallen.
As to why build a statue to the fallen servicemen, why not, money was raised through donations, and has taken years to get to this point. Britain wastes billions on aid to nations who despise us, then 40 million on a recent failed franchise rail bid, that is without the massive amounts of money that is wasted every year on the NHS through mismanagement, and lost equipment that has to be replaced.
If it hadn't been for these almost 56 thousand airmen that lost their lives then we might not be here to moan about coughing up a few quid for a memorial to the fallen.
Octavious, the Bomber Command Fund did have the money, used to build a monument that remembers the dreadful losses, paid for by voluntary contributions without any taxpayers help. It was never intended for it to be such an extensive ceremony which increased the bill considerably. If Jake the Peg doesn't wish to discover the reason for aircrew to be prepared to give their lives for the 'free world' where would he be now? Certainly not able to voice his opinions on this website. If he wishes to get some facility for his community, start a campaign or get strong lobbying to the government.
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