D-Day snub to Queen

**Command_doh** · 03-06-2009, 16:31

Has anyone mentioned that the paps are saying Charlie boy 'ASKED' to be invited - so as to defuse a supposed diplomatic row? (I can't be arsed to read the thread) How humilliating if it is indeed correct....

The one - eyed laptop thrower should have ensured this debacle never made it to light. It seems that Slimey Sarkozy only relented when Uncle Obama asked him why we were not involved.

**the_boy_syrup** · 03-06-2009, 16:48

Originally Posted by RCT(V)

Originally Posted by Murphy_Slaw

The next question is which uniform should HRH wear? I'm not sure what the protocol is, but I reckon as CinC the Parachute Regt, he should wear the maroon beret, with lots of bling and stand next to McBruin....sneering.

:D

He's got his wings up hasn't he ?
He should show them all up by jumping in full kit and strolling up to the podium to take his place

As to the BBC they seem to be using the Stephen E Ambrose version of the invasion which seems to start with 101AB and 82nd AB landing in France and kicking everything off

Perhaps someone should drop a copy of his other book Pegasus Bridge off to Auntie

**fantassin** · 03-06-2009, 16:52

Why truth is a casualty of war in the battle of 'Obama Beach'

The D-Day anniversary has become a battleground with politicians accused of plotting to exclude the Queen. Nonsense, says John Lichfield: this so-called scandal has been a cock-up rather than a conspiracy

Tuesday, 2 June 2009

In the history of British bloody-mindedness, "Obama Beach" is one of the greatest calamities. Rarely have so many people been sent all verbal guns blazing into an all-out assault on a scandal whose basic facts have been so wilfully misrepresented.

False fact one: The French have "snubbed" the Queen by failing to invite her to celebrate the 65th anniversary of D-Day on Saturday. President Barack Obama and President Nicolas Sarkozy will attend an "international ceremony" but not the British/Canadian head of state.

False fact two: The British government, and diplomatic service, have behaved despicably because they failed to ensure that the Queen was sent an invitation by the French.

False fact three: The French government has traduced the memory of British and Canadian troops – more then half of the forces engaged on 6 June 1944 – by describing D-Day as "mainly a Franco-American affair."
None of these "facts" are true. The history of the celebrations of the 65th anniversary of D-Day is a history of cock-ups, false-starts and changed minds by the British Government (Obama Beach mirrors Omaha beach to that extent.)

But it is also a history of the winding-up of British public opinion. This heated and vacuous row has nothing to do with the British D-Day veterans themselves. Their views and interests are largely being ignored by those who claim to venerate them.

More at:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...h-1694529.html

Things put in a perspective that most won't care about of course (hey, it's the Independent after all) but that is nevertheless worth knowing.

**BuggerAll** · 03-06-2009, 17:08

Lets hope that the idiot is out on his ear soon. He has now been humiliated by this issue. No doubt the spiteful vindictive b'stard will blame the Queen and will want revenge. Stand by for No 10 briefing against the Palace.

Johny Gurkha is in his sights as well.

**Archimedes** · 03-06-2009, 17:10

The piece starts to fall down about here:

Fact four: There is no British official ceremony to match the event at Omaha Beach because the government is following the practise of successive governments, Labour and Tory. Big military commemorations should be relatively sparing or such events become so banal that public interest fades. Years ending in 10 yes; years ending in five no. There is something to be said for such a policy, if the government had only stuck to it. British D-Day veterans themselves understand the policy and broadly support it.

So there's something to be said for denying many veterans, now at least 83 (unless they sneaked in under age) what could be their last chance to visit their fallen comrades, is there? Mmmmm....

The upshot: Gordon Brown will attend these veteran-led ceremonies on Saturday. He also decided to attend the Franco-American ceremony at Omaha Beach. This was a mistake. It was his decision to go to the US-French ceremony, without the Queen, which made the event "international" and produced the barrage of sanctimonious disapproval last week.

Should the Queen have gone as a last-minute guest to a ceremony to celebrate American heroism on an "American" beach? If she had done so, she and the government would also have been criticised (and with more justification).

And why would HMQ have been 'justifably' criticised? Brown could have gone to Omaha and HMQ to one of the UK veterans' ceremonies easily enough (bar the security aspects - but it's not as though the French aren't robust on security threats - ask Greenpeace....).

HMQ does not need to be accompanied by the PM, and putting the Head of State and the head of government at different locations, one UK/Canadian, one US would be quite appropriate as a display of commemorating allies, particularly, say, if we'd asked for Mrs Obama or Joe Biden or a prominent American to join the commemoration at Sword, Juno or Gold.

While the article is correct - and some days behind a number of posts here on this thread, I might add - in pointing out that the French shouldn't be blamed for this, from point four in the article onwards we get some limp apologia for a completely avoidable cock-up by No.10.

There was, actually, a British presence on Omaha in the form of an RAF Base Defence unit, by the way...

**fantassin** · 03-06-2009, 17:23

There was also a French presence on Omaha in the form of a lone Frenchman from the Free French 2nd Armoured Division attached to the US 18th Infantry Regiment as a German translator. He is now 85 and there is an interview of him (in French) there

http://lemamouth.blogspot.com/

See "Omaha Jake"

**BuggerAll** · 03-06-2009, 17:35

Originally Posted by fantassin

There was also a French presence on Omaha in the form of a lone Frenchman from the Free French 2nd Armoured Division attached to the US 18th Infantry Regiment as a German translator. He is now 85 and there is an interview of him (in French) there

http://lemamouth.blogspot.com/

See "Omaha Jake"

Clearly I would not wish to mock a veteran of D-Day but I think you are on a bit of a loser here. In the UK it is not considered clever to speak French therefore nobody here is going to be able to listen/understand your link.

Blair could speak very good French - 'nuff said.

**Archimedes** · 03-06-2009, 17:42

The Queen can speak French, and rather better than most of her recent Prime Ministers could/can (Ted Heath, for instance).

**Still_Stagging_On** · 05-06-2009, 19:32

I have had the misfortune to read, out of curiosity, all sixteen pages of this thread. I have never read such a load of old rubbish. I also get the impression that few of you have actually got you boots dirty, and if you have it was only during recruit training

**jagman** · 05-06-2009, 19:35

Originally Posted by Still_Stagging_On

I have had the misfortune to read, out of curiosity, all sixteen pages of this thread. I have never read such a load of old rubbish. I also get the impression that few of you have actually got you boots dirty, and if you have it was only during recruit training

Oh aye?
If you don't like it, don't read it. Mind the door doesn't hit you on the way out.

**Goody1964** · 06-06-2009, 08:31

Hi Jagman

Thats a bit harsh, how would you know thats the case with those on the forum, why are you be seriousarse about it, if you dont like whats read practice what you preach on your own comments, tut! tut! shame on you.

Are you still serving if not do you still contribute, and what infantry reg were/are you

**rickshaw-major** · 06-06-2009, 08:33

Originally Posted by Still_Stagging_On

I have had the misfortune to read, out of curiosity, all sixteen pages of this thread. I have never read such a load of old rubbish. I also get the impression that few of you have actually got you boots dirty, and if you have it was only during recruit training

I did 24 years - how about you cnut?

Oh BTW - shut the door behind you!

**seaweed** · 06-06-2009, 09:10

Can't let the Crabs have all the credit for Omaha. The RN was going to be i/c unloading merchantmen on the beach (my gt uncle (on the Retired List!) was going to be in charge of it. He spent 3 days 'in a hole in the sand' waiting for it to happen. Eventually was i/c unloading at Rheims and got US Legion of Merit for it. Which two sentences are about all I could get out of him about it. He didn't know his son was a few miles up Channel off one of the othe rbeaches in the only RN warship to be knocked out (mined) on the day.

**snapper** · 06-06-2009, 14:24

Well, having just listened to Browns speach I now know why the Boss's invite went 'astray'

A right 'political' spouting if I ever heard one from Brown while President Obama pretty much got it spot on and talked about D-Day and those that took part.