Band of Brothers

Sadly, I have received my first flag flying request from The College of Arms.

Captain Sir Tom Moore
As a mark of respect following the passing of Sir Tom Moore, Government buildings are being requested to lower their Union Flag to half-mast as soon as possible until 2000 hours on Wednesday 3 February.

As you know Sir Tom Moore served in the army in the war loyally but without any special distinction. However, cometh the hour cometh the man and last year Captain Moore in his hundredth year inspired the country and in this febrile time deserves to be admired and mourned; a late but great achiever. Others had a more hazardous war.

I have changed gear today and am racing through SAS Band of Brothers. At first I thought it was fiction but it’s that great thing – history written by someone who is not an historian, as a friend told me. My favourite war movie probably should be Das Boot, but it’s too long and too claustrophobic. Where Eagles Dare has a tortuous and satisfying plot, some super action scenes (the cable cars), excellent sound track (rat-a-tat-tat) and a good cast. To digress, I know somebody who has dined with Clint Eastwood. He didn’t ask him about Richard Burton. I would have, but my friend is too genial to spoil a good party.

 

5 comments

  1. Curious that Tom Moore continued to call himself ‘Captain’ long after retiring from the Army. I thought that tradition only persisted in Ireland – e.g. ‘Captain Terence O’Neill’.

    1. You are spot on. It is old-fashioned and these days seldom used by retired Captains. But Captain Mark Phillips and my sister’s husband, the former seriously the latter less so retained their military rank. My paternal grandfather retired in the rank of Captain at the end of WW I but did not use his rank. As a result he was addressed as Major, or Colonel! But when you and I will, probably, be pushing up the daisies Captain Tom Moore will remain as a Covid icon and example.

    2. Ireland and perhaps not surprisingly the UK horse racing world; Capt Ryan Price, Capt Cecil Boyd Rochfort spring to mind and to a lesser extent my father.

  2. Loved that, your blog always makes me smile benevolently!
    Particularly the remark about not wanting to spoil a party!
    Clearly a good read if you’ve extended your stride, Amazon here I come!

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