This Week at Wootton Bassett

Old Rightie's post 'Out of the Mouths of Babes' has a link to a BBC video in which the children of Wootton Bassett give their opinions of war. Will anyone listen?

Tweet

Radical Muslims Loathsome Plan

Wootton Bassett, the small Wiltshire town which has become synonymous with honouring the return of our fallen from Afghanistan, has been targeted by muslim radicals who plan to hold a parade through the town.

Extremist group Islam4UK are organising a march in the coming weeks, which they claim will be in honour of muslims killed in the Afghanistan conflict.

As a PR stunt, this must be one of the most repugnant ever mooted. Using the people of Wootton Bassett to push their extreme political views is abhorrent and will do nothing for their 'cause'.

Should this march go ahead, I have no doubt the good people of Wootton Bassett will handle it with the contempt it deserves. I suspect they will stay behind firmly closed doors. Silence can speak louder than words.

Although possibly a PR stunt, this is the result of 12 years of a labour government. The silence from our political leaders in today's Sundays will also reverberate throughout the country.

Source

Tweet

Afghanistan - The Rising Toll

Three more of our soldiers, two from the 2nd Batallion The Rifles and the third from 40 Regiment Royal Artillery were killed in Helmand Province this morning.

This bring the death toll of those killed in action to 199.

May their family, friends and colleagues manage the deep pain such tragedy brings from this unnecessary war.

Earlier today the bodies of four British soldiers killed in Afghanistan earlier this month were flown back to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire. Wootton Bassett paid their quiet respects as they have done for every coffin returned.

Tweet

Another Day in Wootton Bassett

With my sincere thanks to Calling England

Tweet

For the People of Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire

The above hearses contain the bodies of Lance Corporal David Dennis, Private Rovert Laws, Lance Corporal Dane Elson, Captain Ben Babington-Browne and Trooper Christopher Whiteside who were all killed in the bloody war in Afghanistan last week.

The photograph shows the hearses moving through the main street of the small Wiltshire town of Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire. The people of Wootton Bassett have taken it upon themselves to honour our fallen who arrive in nearby RAF Lyneham and ensure their arrival back home is given the respect and courtesy they deserve.

The welcome home in Wotton Bassett has become a horribly familiar one over the last two years. It is not organised. Local people, veterans, service personnel stationed locally, leather-clad bikers and bereaved families just turn up, line the street and bear witness.

The people of Britain owe a huge debt of gratitude to this small population for their extraordinary effort to ensure that our protectors are given a dignified farewell on their final journey. Talk is easy, action is more demanding and for these folk to turn out regularly to support such a tragic occasion asks a great deal.

Words of thanks sound trite, but from such a distance they are all I can offer. There are not many communities such as this left in the UK, the kind which show a solid sense of value, understanding and respect for others. Their strength is in living together not apart.

Sadly last week will not be the last time they turn out for such an occasion, but that's another post.

Tweet