Harrods bans soldiers on Poppy Day (Remembrance Day outrage)

Daily Mail ^ | 11-18-06 | Staff

[atomic conspiracy]

Harrods bans soldiers on Poppy Day By Mail on Sunday Reporter

A serving Army officer was banned from entering Harrods on Remembrance Day in case his uniform upset other shoppers.

Lieutenant Daniel Lenherr had just taken part in a parade honouring Britain's war dead when the London department store turned him away at the door.

The security guard told him other customers might be intimidated by the uniform.

The 26-year-old soldier, who serves in the 1st regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery, had been at commemorations in Hyde Park Corner last weekend when he decided to visit the shop with his wife Michelle and their one-year-old son.

Mrs Lenherr, who lives in Tidworth, Hampshire, said: "We were horrified when we were refused entry on a day when we honoured the men who sacrificed so much for our freedom. I find it sad this can happen."

The store has stood by their dress policy, saying: "There is a long-standing tradition at Harrods that would normally preclude customers who are wearing non-civilian attire from entering the store.

"A lot of people assume that somebody in uniform is either there on official duty, which could cause them alarm, or they assume they're a member of staff and ask them where the lavatories are and so on."

But the shop came under fire for its ban.

Shadow Defence Minister Mark Harper said: "It's an outrageous slap in the face to our Armed Forces who are serving our country around the world. On Remembrance Sunday it's even more of an insult. I cannot see any legitimate reason for a shop not to let in members of the Armed Forces in uniform."

And Thomas Carter MBE, a former Warrant Officer in the Royal Horse Artillery, said Mr Lenherr had been treated disgracefully.

The 78-year-old said: "Harrods' policy is a load of rubbish. It treats members of the Armed Forces as sixth-rate citizens. It definitely makes it worse that it was on Remembrance Sunday, as that's the day everybody wears uniform."

Rival department stores Selfridges and Harvey Nichols said they had no problem with service personnel entering their stores in uniform.

[Sans-Culotte]

"A lot of people assume that somebody in uniform is either there on official duty, which could cause them alarm, or they assume they're a member of staff and ask them where the lavatories are and so on are stupid idiots, undeserving of the freedom their soldiers died to protect."

[ArrogantBustard]

'Course it is. I thought of it, soon as I saw the headline.

These asshats at Harrods (Herod's?) are acting like the filth who maltreated our veterans returning from Viet Nam.

[N. Theknow]

other customers might be intimidated by the uniform

Meanwhile, at Buckingham Palace, the changing of the guard was cancelled as some Brits and tourists were intimidated by the uniforms.

< /sarcasm >

Soldiers and dogs please keep off the grass.

[razorback-bert]

Dogs and Soldiers, keep off the grass.

[sageb1]

Anti-war statement.

[Vicomte13]

al Fayed thinks the British government killed his son.
He hates them.
Therefore, he won't let them onto his property.
If that's really what's going on, it's understandable.
Irrational, and in the end bad for publicity, but understandable.

[stanz]

This is disgraceful.

[ct_libertarian]

Written a long tim ago, by one of their best,
and they still don't get it.
And neither do our moonbats.

Tommy

Rudyard Kipling

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:

O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it’s "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,—
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,—
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.

Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,—
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;

While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,—
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there’s trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool—you bet that Tommy sees!

[PUGACHEV]

What does the uniform of the 1st regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery look like? Does it include one of those tall bearskin hats, which I doubt? Otherwise, what on earth would intimidate shoppers?

[VOA]

Uniformed personnel, ex-military and all their families and relatives
should simply surround Harrods with a solid, deep cordon on next Remembrance Day.

[andy58-in-nh]

I do wonder what Rudyard Kipling or Winston Churchill would have thought of such treatment. Well, I do know what Sir Winston once said, at a very different moment in history:

"The gratitude of every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the World War by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."

[Unam Sanctam]

And it's Tommy this, and it's Tommy that, and it's Tommy get outside...

[Tamar1973]

al Fayed thinks the British government killed his son.

Then why doesn't he move back to Egypt or wherever he came from? If I really thought the country I was living in and paying taxes to killed my loved one on purpose, I would leave.

[PghBaldy]

OMG. Absolutely disgusting. I hope they issue a public apology, and reverse course.

[norton]

I was pretty intimidated by the pricing.

[geezerwheezer]

I think the 1st Royal House Artillery may have acquired a new practice target in London town! (at least they should now!)

[PAR35]

Long standing? I wonder how long?

Since the Muslims took over?

[jboot]

Why don't we freepers send a few (thousand) faxes of "Tommy" to these fine gents?

Harrods Ltd
87-135 Brompton Road
Knightsbridge
London
SW1X 7XL Telephone 020 7730 1234
Facsimile 020 7225 6633

[El Gato]

the 1st Royal House Artillery should post a soldier

With or without a cannon? I vote for with. Might have to be a little WW-II pack howitzer or something like that. Although whatever sort of self propelled the Brits use would be impressive.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

You just named the "people" who are upset by the uniform.