Above, an Avro Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial flight.
During WW2 many young men volunteered for the highly dangerous role of aircrew for the RAF’s fleet of heavy bombers. Attrition was high. Life expectancy short. Many gave up their tomorrows for our todays.
An uncle of mine was one of those young men. He flew many missions over Germany and on one occasion his aircraft was shot down. He survived by jumping out of the aircraft using his parachute. He was captured by German forces and was sent to a PoW camp. Because it was well into the war and Germany was suffering great civilian causalities he was not very well treated.
The BBC has reported upon the Right Honourable David Gauke (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20wqjn79j9o) leading an independent review into prison sentences. This started in October 2024 when Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer appoint him to this role.
As an experienced politician, Mr Gauke will be under no illusions whatsoever about the reaction to his suggestion that the UK should “make more use of open prisons” will bring forth howls of rage from tabloid journalists and their readerships! The attitude of many Britons is that criminals should be locked up for very long periods of time and that the conditions inside should be harsh and unforgiving. That they should be made to work and that they should suffer. Many think that chain gangs would be a good idea and that this should continue in places such as North West Sutherland even in the biting conditions of winter. Possibly like my uncle did at the hands of his captors (he never talked about his experiences).
Now about this uncle. He in fact was no liberal and were he still living would very likely agree with the tabloid journalists and the many commentors.
Now, BG readers will be under no surprise when I state that I do not and that I in fact agree with David Gauke. I would point to the FACT that the UK lacks prison capacity and also the FACT that open prisons cost less to build (than closed prisons) and less to run and staff!
However, I respect my late uncle as he EARNED THE RIGHT to be tough on offenders and I HAVE NOT!
Nor do I think the vast majority of the “hang ‘em and flog ‘em brigade” have earned that right either!
You see, my late uncle (and his colleagues) strapped themselves into their seats at the airfield in Lincolnshire and carried out their dangerous missions over Germany. They knew the dreadful risks and they did it anyway! That is courage of a rare nature and that gave my uncle the right to be tough on others.
Now I would not have dared to do what my uncle did. If I were to hear gunfire, I would run (as fast as my failing health would enable me to) in the opposite direction!
But I make this challenge to any “tough hard men” who reckon I’m a weak liberal lefty who is soft on criminals and is richly deserving of their condemnation:
This organisation (https://ukparachuting.co.uk/about-charity-skydiving/) encourages volunteers to train and to perform a parachute jump in order to raise money for a charitable cause of their choice. So my challenge to you to any of my critics is this. IF you think you are a “hard man” and “tough” go ahead and challenge yourself AND ME to train and to do a parachute jump on the basis that we BOTH do it!
NB: Upon investigation, due to my age and health the organisers will only permit me to be part of a tandem parachute jump. That is to be securely strapped to an experienced parachutist who will perform the vital actions necessary to ensure that we arrive on terra firma in one piece and not many! This is a pity as doing a solo is more terrifying but the authorities will not permit me to do this!
So Mr Critic, go on – if you think you’re tough…. Prove it!!!!!!!!!!
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