The Dunkirk spirit really is alive and well

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 6th May 2010 | Richard Littlejohn

[naturalman1975]

Just in case the election hasn't turned out the way you'd hoped, here's a story to warm the cockles. It is an inspirational tale of triumph over perversity, heartening proof that bureaucratic intransigence can be beaten.

What follows is the culmination of a determined ten-year campaign to erect a permanent memorial to the crews of the small ships which took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940.

A former merchant seaman, John Everett, who lives on the River Thames, wanted to honour the achievement of Douglas Tough, a boat builder, who commandeered more than 100 vessels and led them across the Channel to rescue British troops trapped on the beaches.

He had hoped to do this to mark the 60th anniversary of the evacuation in the year 2000. The plaque was to be unveiled at Teddington Lock, close to the Tough family boatyard.

It was to be headed: 'Second World War' and would have read: 'This operation was called Dynamo. It saved our country, enabling us to go on to victory in 1945.'

But when Mr Everett submitted his plans to the Environment Agency, the quango responsible for Britain's waterways, they were rejected on the grounds that the wording was both inappropriate and offensive.

A jobsworth called CJ Woodward, who described himself as 'Recreation officer', said any reference to 'war' or 'victory' would not be allowed. He particularly objected to 'Second World War', which he considered ' not acceptable'.

[naturalman1975]

I know Teddington lock very well - I often stay in a club very near it when I visit the UK - and to suggest it's a "an important arrival point from foreign ports'.

That has to be one of the funniest things I've ever heard.

And an 'Environment Agency' should definitely know better.

[mrmeyer]

Cultural suicide by government agency. We’re not quite where England is at the moment....

[Peter Libra]

Your statement on the official who said about the Teddington Lock - "it is a an important arrival point from foreign ports".I am from Middlesex myself and know the Grand Union Canal.

This has to be one of the funniest things I've ever heard.

A sort of two way connection with this incomprehensible line of politically correct thought. It was in far off Duluth, Michigan that I ran across this kind of thing. I thought it was a spoof. There is something abroad here. Let me explain.

I remember my Dad coming home from Dunkirk and the same age as Mr Everett myself. He said but little. He went to Buckingham Palace to get the Distinguished Conduct Medal. My mother was thrilled and got all dressed up. "Poppy show enough" he said and would not pose for the press. He was at the Dendre Canal in Belgium, a delightful locks too. He was with the French light tanks and the Cameronians (Scotties). They delayed the Panzers at the bridge. Many troops managed to escape prison of war status by this action. Then his platoon of the Dorset Regt. managed to get to the coast. He did not tell me one thing though. Just the citation was known.

One could wonder how Duluth, Minnesota would figure in this. I was there and read letter to the press, from a woman and thought it was an absolute spoof. She wanted the name of the Richard Bong bridge changed. She said the name of the air ace Richard Bong, might offend foreign seamen on ships that now came into Duluth. "Dick" Bong shot down 40 Japanese Zeroes in one on one combat. It was not a spoof. It is still the Bong Bridge.

What the Nazis would have done to some of these wretches with their "sensitivity" only leaves one to imagine.