Dear Sir or Madam,

Re this mornings program regarding the "Pardoning" of all those young men who were executed in WW1. Such bare faced cheek, showing once again the utter contempt with which the British government actually views their soldiers. The Queen and her government should be on their knees begging pardon from the families of those poor men. It's the wrong way round. They were men even though they were in years only boys. The men are dead and are not in a position to pardon anyone, but they never really mattered anyway. What about the officers who ordered such executions. They did it simply to drive fear into the hearts of their men in order to get them to "go over the top" into the face of German machine guns where they hadn't the balls to go themselves. They didn't just murder these unfortunate men that they are about to "Pardon". They murdered a hell of a lot more. Perhaps the Yorkshire ripper and his like will now "Pardon" all their victims. Wouldn't that be nice? We could let them out of jail then to carry on with their lives. The entire world would be set to rights then, wouldn't it?

And Jesus said "Forgive not too easily lest you encourage bad practice". But what did he know? And who cares anyway? British soldiers have always been treated with contempt by their officers, all the way up to the top; and especially the Royal Family, who hold them in more contempt than anyone. They cover it up well with their usual hypocrisy. I know, because I've had a dose of them, that's why I won't live in England anymore. These excuses for humanity have always been and are even now in point of fact, unfit to clean such courageous men's boots and not responsible enough to be allowed to clean their rifles for them, much less offer them "Pardon" for crimes committed 'against them' by those who do not forgive them. Weird attitude. They should be taken out and shot at dawn. The difference is that they deserve it, those poor lads didn't.

Bob Crosbie.

Tenth Degree in The Way.

C.I.C. Brotherhood of Nazarenes.