But they were not the only gunners in France and Flanders

I always used to walk on the phase of my commute from Vic to Holborn. 40mins of peace and solace compared to 15mins of crowded stinking noisy shittery on the tube

I could be wrong but IIRC, the Western Front in 14-18 was the first for the British Army (a surprisingly healthy place to be, ignoring the abnormal metal content of the air)

We’re in the truly weird position where McSweeney had to go for giving the PM the advice to appoint Mandelson and Robbins had to go for not stopping him.

Jet fuel hoax is my favourite conspiracy theory

False flag to cover up for the fact that the Belgium doesn't exist

Meh, I've been on aeroplanes that are much faster

I don't think so, both Horrocks and Thomas were also exasperated with Sosabowski's pettifogging

a man with a mustache is sitting in a chair with his mouth open . ALT: a man with a mustache is sitting in a chair with his mouth open .

Greens opposing absolutely anything and everything including the things they're ardently in favour of?

At no point did anyone blame Sosabowski or the Polish Brigade for the failure at Arnhem

"...Finally, I wish to emphasise again that I consider Major-General Sosabowski is a knowledgeable and efficient soldier and up to the average of his rank, but owing to his outlook, temperament and inability to cooperate he should be given a change of employment"

"..However, this good record cannot be allowed to interfere with the present and future efficiency of the brigade. I am forced, therefore, to recommend that General Sosabowski be employed elsewhere"

"...Both Commander 30 Corps and Commander 43 Division will bear out my criticism of this officer throughout the operation... He [Sosabowski] was mainly responsible for the whole of the raising, organisation and training of the brigade..."

He was not blamed for the failure

Browning was critical of his attitude and, considering him unfit for the role, asked that he be replaced

"I was forced finally to be extremely curt to this officer, and ordered him to carry out his orders from then on without query or obstruction..."

Civil servants overruling vetting decisions is far from normal, I've worked in vetted roles for two decades and have never heard of a vetting decision being overruled

The entire concept is bonkers

Here you go

bsky.app/profile/fatu...

The idea that a civil servant just plain old went ahead and overruled a vetting decision for the most important diplomatic post in the universe without any ministerial instruction is simply not credible

And the Lord said Autoglass Repair, Autoglass Replace

There's one that flies out of the nearby aerodrome, would love to have go in it (shotgun optional, but preferred)

Defence Investment Plan to include Tiger Moths and Holland & Holland's finest

Wait till he finds out who's responsible for all of this

*I should of course have said doctrinal as well as strategic

Throwing a civil servant under the bus because of something that's blatantly obviously his own failing is Johnsonian

He's making Sunak look like the competent adult

The US' problem, arguably since Torch, has been Strategic failings undermining tactical and operational efficiency

UK to US: Proper chip off the old block my son

I asked in Parliament about Peter Mandelson's vetting in February. From today's news, it now looks like answer I got omitted a key fact, making it misleading:

Q. To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the vetting process for ambassadors is sufficiently robust. 1/3

Apparently he ain't seen nothing guv, it was some other bloke

In SA I assume the list would include biltong, wors, and klippies and coke. To be honest, I'd probably vote for that 😜

We'd have the largest navy in the world that's also perennially on the verge of collapse 🫡