85 replies to this topic

[Leeds Wire]

As for WearyRhino's posts, it woudl be interesting to hear from him who on this forum doesn't like free speech in this matter.

Well, Number 16's response wasn't exactly inviting a reasoned debate, was it?

[JohnM]

Weary Rhino wasn't after reasoned debate, he was after deniers of free speech, though.

[Marauder]

Given that we still (just about) have a welfare state, and conscription to the British armed forces ended decades ago has the poppy appeal got any legitimate appeal any more?

Professional soldiers should surely make their own insurance arrangements, and also be covered by their suitable schemes set out by their employers.

How much would the policy cost for a soldier going into the green zone in Afghanistan, and how much do you think these brave men and women actually get paid

Edited by Marauder, 10 November 2010 - 02:27 PM.

[Millman]

How much would the policy cost for a soldier going into the green zone in Afghanistan, and how much do you think these brave men and women actually get paid?

Thankyou for your well thought out and reasoned comments. Did I not state that they should be covered adequately by their employers?

[Marauder]

Thankyou for your well thought out and reasoned comments. Did I not state that they should be covered adequately by their employers?

And you really thought it out, my son has just returned (last Saturday) minus two very good friends.

[Tiny Tim]

How much would the policy cost for a soldier going into the green zone in Afghanistan, and how much do you think these brave men and women actually get paid

How much do you think somebody should be paid to be a soldier (private)?

[GeordieSaint]

How much would the policy cost for a soldier going into the green zone in Afghanistan, and how much do you think these brave men and women actually get paid

£75 a month for Personal Accident and Life Insurance a month with PAX, who are the best provider. So nearly a grand a year. There is no difference between ranks so a young tom earning £17'000 will be expected to pay the same as the Bde Comd. Expensive business...

Which unit was your son with? I may have bumped into him!

[WearyRhino]

I think you do not understand the army system. A Private soldier just finished training will be on £17,000. For that, they are available for work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you go on exercise for 3 weeks where you're doing 20-ish hour days every day, you get the same pay. If you go abroad on detached duty, you get a pitiful extra separation allowance if you're married. Your food and accommodation must be paid for, contrary to some reports, and until you get a couple of promotions as a single soldier you're living in shared rooms with 1-6 other soldiers. If you were to add up every genuinely worked hour for a soldier, you'd find that the wages often come to below minimum wage and it takes a few grade progressions before that improves to above minimum wage.

I used to know an RAF Signals Corporal who worked as a taxi driver and painter and decorator, despite being on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

[Marauder]

How much do you think somebody should be paid to be a soldier (private)?

As an ex-squaddie with 3 Northern Ireland tours under my belt in the mid-70's, I actually lost money going into the fore mentioned theatre.

It's not really about the pay structure or that our armed forces are all volunteers, they will know they will be going into a war at some point in their career, it's how this country treats it's injured and dead service men/women, so many charities have had to be set up to provide for the goverments (all parties) shortfalls

[Wolford6]

1. Nobody "buys" a poppy. You make a contribution to the British Legion and they offer you a poppy as thanks. I give £10 every year.

2. Afghanistan is not the only war. I would guess that just about every person in Britain has a relative and/or friend who died fighting for this country. They did more for this country than 99% of the members of this forum have done or will do. Poppy / Remembrance Day honours their commitment, as well as those follwing that tradition.

3. Please go to the Remembrance Day parade in your local town on Sunday. If you dont cry, you're short of emotion. If you're opposed to the current war, just leave before they play the National Anthem (which is the final act in Bradford).

4. After the Falklands War, Thatcher wouldn't let wounded servicemen walk or wheel in the Victory Parade ... it would have spoiled her moment of triumph. I bet Blair would have acted the same ... he has studiously avoided taking any interest in the welfare of wounded personnel since his disatrous decision to send them to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Go to the Remembrance Day Parade to reassure those men, women, boys and girls that we the public wont forget their commitment and efforts ... they didn't have any choice but to go and fight. They deserve the sympathy and support of the true honest citizens who can recognise an opportunistic politician when they see one.

5. No amount of "insurance", "compensation" or "pension" or "invalidity benefit" can compensate for a continuing life without limbs or sight. Let's pay tribute to what the British Legion does for our former servicemen and women.

6. Millman, I think you are a very jaundiced person.

[T-Dub]

Ive recently got back from my first visit to the isolated Mediterranean island of Malta.

I bought my poppy there, as had countless people I saw walking around Mellieha, one of the worst bombed towns, wearing theirs.

A lady selling poppies on the Gozo ferry said the Poppy Appeal raised c 20000 Euros last year within the islands and was able to also draw twice that from the UK fund to assist locals who still feel the effect of the 2 year siege.

There is a network of tunnels over 500m in length, often barely 6ft tall, dug into solid rock into which the towns population crammed during the daily and nightly air raids, at 4sqft allowed per person.

Buying a poppy is the least I can do. Wearing it means people who dont really appreciate what suffering happened in the two World Wars (ie anyone coming out of school in recent years) might just have their awareness raised.

[Millman]

6. Millman, I think you are a very jaundiced person.

Based on?

[Tiny Tim]

As an ex-squaddie with 3 Northern Ireland tours under my belt in the mid-70's, I actually lost money going into the fore mentioned theatre.

Out of curiosity what was your pay spent on while you were serving that you actually lost money?

It's not really about the pay structure or that our armed forces are all volunteers, they will know they will be going into a war at some point in their career, it's how this country treats it's injured and dead service men/women, so many charities have had to be set up to provide for the goverments (all parties) shortfalls

I agree, all workplace/work-related injuries and deaths should be covered by the employer in their insurance policy.

[Millman]

I agree, all workplace/work-related injuries and deaths should be covered by the employer in their insurance policy.

As stated throughout by all. It's not enough for Wolford6 though.

[l'angelo mysterioso]

Based on?

your fecked up liver

[Severus]

3. Please go to the Remembrance Day parade in your local town on Sunday. If you dont cry, you're short of emotion. If you're opposed to the current war, just leave before they play the National Anthem (which is the final act in Bradford).

I do but have never cried, does that mean I am short of emotion. I have seen veterans getting on in years standing ram rod straight who didn't shed a tear, are they short of emotion.

6. Millman, I think you are a very jaundiced person.

This coming from someone who thought that death of a person was funny. I suppose you found it funny because the people involved were transexual. I'd like to see you explain that to Captain Ian Hamilton of the Parachute regiment, now called Jan.

[l'angelo mysterioso]

I do but have never cried, does that mean I am short of emotion. I have seen veterans getting on in years standing ram rod straight who didn't shed a tear, are they short of emotion.


This coming from someone who thought that death of a person was funny. I suppose you found it funny because the people involved were transexual. I'd like to see you explain that to Captain Ian Hamilton of the Parachute regiment, now called Jan.

here here

[Wolford6]

This coming from someone who thought that death of a person was funny. I suppose you found it funny because the people involved were transexual. I'd like to see you explain that to Captain Ian Hamilton of the Parachute regiment, now called Jan.

I didnt laugh at that person's death, but I did laugh at the circumstances of his death. He had been bisexual all his life, was a leading immigration lawyer and got pushed under a train by another transexual who appears to have been either an immigrant or from an ethnic minority.
It's like something you'd see in a Troma film or one by John Walters.

To be brutally honest, my sympathies were considerably eroded by these facts. Probably I'd have felt different if I'd known him personally, but I didnt.


I am sure that Captain Ian Hamilton was a brave and excellent soldier, but I think he would admit that his behaviour is not normal and many former colleagues would find it humorous.

[Severus]

I didnt laugh at that person's death, but I did laugh at the circumstances of his death. He had been bisexual all his life, was a leading immigration lawyer and got pushed under a train by another transexual who appears to have been either an immigrant or from an ethnic minority.
It's like something you'd see in a Troma film or one by John Walters.

To be brutally honest, my sympathies were considerably eroded by these facts. Probably I'd have felt different if I'd known him personally, but I didnt.


I am sure that Captain Ian Hamilton was a brave and excellent soldier, but I think he would admit that his behaviour is not normal and many former colleagues would find it humorous.

Behaviour not normal? I would agree that transexuals are relatively rare but I wouldn't use the term normal, neither would I use the word 'behaviour'. Unless of course her behaviour has been a little odd.

[amh]

anyways, back OT

It's a shame that they aren't covered....and it's a personal choice to contribute...and at 11:00 tomorrow I will stop work for a moment to have my personal thoughts