Comments on: Need More Heroes

By: GREG COOK

GREG COOK — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:46:17 +0000

I’ve won four of ‘em, me. In the last fortnight. So don’t start all that exclusive shit, or I’ll machine-gun you single-handed.

By: Major General Pissflaps

Major General Pissflaps — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:20:28 +0000

I think the problem is that not enough people are getting themselves into peril and thus their colleagues and friends are not being given the opportunities for heroism. More car crashes, aircraft fires, knife attacks and air raids are required to get the numbers of GC recipients back up to the proper levels.

Oh and Bob’s stats are dodgier than a 7 year old Vesta curry.

By: simon

simon — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:38:46 +0000

Also the entire island of Malta was awarded that very cross. Not so you notice much as it’s only part of the flag. ‘Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism -how passionately I hate them’(Einstein)

By: Mr Blackett

Mr Blackett — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:52:44 +0000

I won a medal for the high jump when I was seven. I came second to a girl. I’ve tried to adopt this position in other aspects of my life with variable levels of success.

(Do you see what I did there? Very clever, I know.)

By: arsebanana

arsebanana — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:04:17 +0000

Whatever happened to those medals the size of a frying pan? They could give those out together with a lifetime’s supply of bacon and sausages.

By: :-)

:-) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:32:43 +0000

“Only 11 have been awarded since 1946 - the last two occasions were to Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Jones and Sergeant Ian McKay, who both died in the Falklands war in 1982 (None in this period according to Bob).”

I think one was awarded last year to a soldier in Iraq.

The George Cross was institutued in 1940, so according to Bob’s list 150 people qualified by means of time-travel.

By: Setyourfacestostunned

Setyourfacestostunned — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:25:39 +0000

Nice that Bob is concerned about a lack of British heroes.

No doubt this is why he moved to California, to observe fine American heroes.

Abu Ghraib anyone?

By: Toby

Toby — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:00:56 +0000

The George Cross also comes with an annuity of £1,495. Perhaps we could look at creative uses of the George Cross to massage some of the other figures a little?

By: Oliver

Oliver — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:54:19 +0000

Also Bob is a terrible researcher or perhaps a lying turd. According to the BBC:

The Victoria Cross is the highest award for gallantry that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. It is given only for great acts of bravery in times of extreme danger.

Only 11 have been awarded since 1946 - the last two occasions were to Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Jones and Sergeant Ian McKay, who both died in the Falklands war in 1982 (None in this period according to Bob).

The George Cross, instituted by the Queen’s father, George VI, during the World War II, is awarded primarily to civilians and ranks second only to the Victoria Cross.

A total of 155 GCs have been awarded, 82 posthumously.

The most recent was awarded in 1999 to the entire Royal Ulster Constabulary, which was then renamed the Police Force of Northern Ireland.

By: Neil M

Neil M — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:50:56 +0000

Yeah, we could call the new award the Tony or something. The have-a-go-hero award, always awarded posthumously