This tells you all you need to know about this country.
Daily Mail.
Why not honour the REAL heroes? War veterans recognised by French,
snubbed by Britain
Last updated at 12:45 AM on 13th June 2009
They are the last survivors of a generation which sacrificed everything for this country - and whose bravery has been marked by Britain's allies.
But First World War veterans Henry Allingham and Harry Patch have not been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, a move provoking fury from politicians and defence campaigners.
While political cronies, celebrities and sports stars were awarded honours, the only surviving British veterans from the Great War were missed out.
Bravery: War verterans Harry Patch (left) and Henry Allingham have missed out on Queen's Birthday Honours, while political cronies, celebrities and sport starts get a gong
Politicians called for the men to be recognised on behalf of their fallen comrades, and to honour a generation of 'incredible sacrifices' - before time runs out.
The omission was made even more striking by the damehood awarded to businesswoman Gail Rebuck, the wife of New Labour polling guru Philip Gould, who was himself made a lord in 2004.
LibDem defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: 'It is deeply disappointing that these two extraordinary men appear to have been overlooked.
'They are a reminder of the incredible sacrifices made by their generation to preserve our freedoms, and deserve to be recognised as such.'
Tory MP Patrick Mercer, a former Army colonel who served in Northern Ireland, said: 'It is scandalous that we have had to rely on the French to decorate our men.
'This omission is made worse because there is no shortage of Government hangers-on who have been honoured. What shot or shell have they seen? Nothing, that's what.'
Friends of Mr Allingham, the oldest man in Europe at 113, and Mr Patch, 110, said they remained modest as ever and insisted they would never seek honours for themselves.
Dennis Goodman, founder of the World War One Veterans Association, said: 'These are the last remaining men of that generation. What happens when they go?
'There should be some recognition, but perhaps a special commemoration for the whole generation, rather than something in the Honours List.
'Harry Patch has always said that any recognition given to him is for him and for all the brave lads, and I think Henry in particular has become symbolic for many people of the sacrifices made by their own grandfathers and great-grandfathers.'
Among those who were recognised in the Birthday Honours were the Queen's plumber who looks after the pipes at Windsor Castle.
Anthony Chambers receives the Royal Victorian Medal, a reward for personal service to the sovereign.
John Gripper is given an OBE for services to rhino conservation. He founded a charity in 1988 to set up a conservancy for rhinos in Zimbabwe to protect the animal's numbers.
Britain's two-time Paralympic gold medalist Peter Norfolk is given an OBE. He won wheelchair tennis titles in the Games at Athens and Beijing.
And an OBE went to Britain's Paracycling team manager Anthony Yorke for services to sport after his athletes brought home a record 17 gold medals from the Games in Beijing.
And David Blanchflower, the Bank of England policymaker whose warnings on the recession went unheeded by fellow rate-setters, was made a CBE.
Posts
