Honouring our military servicemen

Written by Vincent Cable and published in Informer on Tue 4th Jul 2006

This week saw an outpouring of sporting patriotism and hyped press stories about heroism and tragedy on the football pitch. It was pleasing, by contrast, to see some real heroes, at a service in Westminster Abbey celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Victoria Cross.

Britain is very good at ceremonial state occasions which combine pomp and grandeur, with a human touch. The central characters on this occasion were the surviving holders of the Victoria (and George) Cross and descendants of earlier holders. The earliest was a sailor who picked up a live shell and tossed it over the side of his ship during the Crimean War.

Several powerful themes emerged. One is that many of those who show extraordinary courage are in every other respect, unexceptional: not famous; not exceptionally gifted; not powerful personalities. But in conditions of great danger they are brave and think of others, not themselves.

A second is that Britain has drawn on people of very diverse origins at times of conflict. The latest Victoria Cross, Private Beharry, who recently saved the lives of his comrades in a battle in Iraq, is a black West Indian. Other surviving VCs included Ghurkhas, and Indians, who had fought as Commonwealth troops.

A third is that young soldiers had more medals than their generals. Our generals are mostly office soldiers who have served their early years in the uneasy peace of the Cold War. My generation of politicians in parliament, war is something theoretical and remote, far from our experience. But today's recruits have been in almost continuous conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans, and before that in Ulster. It is right that the exceptional courage required of them is properly honoured.