Support the Armed Forces

Literally Just In

by NotBob @ 2008-11-18 – 00:28:29

I've just received this email, yet again from the lovely Joanna Lumley:

On Thursday, I will be in Parliament Square, Westminster at 11am before handing in the Gurkha Justice petition.

We've had fantastic support from across the country, and the petition we'll be handing in will be one of the biggest ever collected in the country - in a little over six weeks. Thank you so much for the support.

Our team are sorting the petition ready to hand in, but they tell me any signatures up until Wednesday night will be included. A really big last burst of signatures would be fantastic - please remind any friends, family and colleagues to make sure they sign at www.gurkhajustice.org.uk before 9pm on Wednesday!

I really hope that, on Thursday, the Government will finally bow to the pressure from our thousands upon thousands of petition signatories from across the country, to the Home Office Select Committee, and to the High Court, all of whom have backed justice for Gurkhas.

If there was ever a time to stand with us, then that time is now.

A really big turnout on the day will really add to the pressure of the petition. It will show how strongly we all feel about righting this wrong. If you can come along to Parliament Square in Westminster by around 10.30am on Thursday 20th November, I would simply love to see you there.

We will be joined by a number of the real stars of the campaign themselves - the ex-Gurkhas who have served our country so loyally. Amongst them will be Honorary Lieutenant Tul Bahadur Pun VC who served with my father, and who has been such a huge inspiration to the campaign.

At around 11am I've been asked to say a few words in Parliament Square, and I'll be joined by other members of the Gurkha Justice Campaign and some special guests are joining us from Parliament. After that, a small delegation will go to Cenotaph and lay a wreath, before going on to Downing Street to hand in the petition.

Finally, we'll return to Parliament Square to thank ALL those who have come to show their support. That will take some time - on Thursday there will be people that have helped the campaign from across the country. I'm honoured they are coming - the commitment of those from across the country on this campaign has been incredible, and I'm so grateful for their support.

So, I hope to see you on Thursday, and that you can make one final push to encourage EVERYONE you know to add their name to the petition at www.gurkhajustice.org.uk before 9pm on Wednesday.

Onwards! One last big push for our Gurkha heroes, and I hope to see you on Thursday.

With warmest good wishes,

Joanna
www.gurkhajustice.org.uk

So if you haven't signed it yet, you've got until 9pm, Wednesday.

Go on, you know you want to!

A little perspective

by free-bird ^Pro @ 2008-11-17 – 14:37:22

A video i found on YouTube...to offer you all a little perspective into the worries of our lives.

In Flanders fields

by free-bird ^Pro @ 2008-11-17 – 14:11:38

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Poem To a Fallen Soldier

by free-bird ^Pro @ 2008-11-09 – 17:22:44

I don't know who wrote this. I found it on a website, however I DO think that it is a deeply moving poem and that for people like my cousin, who is in 3 Para, it is comforting to know that people DO value their actions and believe they will be honoured with a better place if the worst happens.

A Poem for Our Soldiers

The soldier stood and faced his God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell

Gurkha Justice Campaign Update

by NotBob @ 2008-11-08 – 00:02:41

Received this morning from the lovely Joanna Lumley:

I have some great news about the Gurkha Justice campaign that I want to update you on.

Firstly, we now have over 120,000 online signatures with over 20,000 returned in the post. If you haven't done so already, please spread the word to all your online contacts and ask them to sign up online too at www.gurkhajustice.org.uk

Second, there have been some exciting steps forward in the House of Commons.

Earlier this week the Home Affairs Committee of the House of Commons considered the right of Gurkhas to settle in the UK. The committee considered evidence from a range of different people, including our lawyers, a submission from me, and representatives from a number of Gurkha organisations.

I'm so pleased to be able to tell you that they agreed with us entirely, and have sent a letter to the Home Secretary urging her to take "urgent action to redress the currently unfair situation by extending settlement rights in the UK to all Gurkhas". You can read the full text of the letter at http://tinyurl.com/5ou59q

This is a big step forward, with an influential cross-Party committee of MPs backing our cause. This is on top of the High Court's ruling in late September that the Government's action was "unlawful and unfair".

But just unbelievably, the Government has still not changed the law, and has still not yet agreed to offer a fair deal for Gurkhas.

In this week in particular, when we have seen the tragic death of a Gurkha serving in the British Army in Afghanistan, and four soldiers from the Royal Gurkha Rifles awarded the Military Cross, we need to redouble our efforts to make the Government see sense.

Please do whatever you can to ask as many people as you can to sign the petition at www.gurkhajustice.org.uk - I want to take a simply huge petition to Downing Street on the 20th November.

And I'd like you to join me in Parliament Square, Westminster, at 11am on Thursday 20th November, before we hand in the petition. I want to stand together with you and our Gurkha heroes and show just how strong the support for the Gurkhas cause is. Will you join me? I hope to see you there.

Finally, especially for those who can join me on the 20th of November, you can buy Gurkha Justice t-shirts, sweatshirts, bags and more from our online shop with Spreadshirt at http://gurkhajustice.spreadshirt.net. Wear yours with pride - I certainly do - and for the next few days only (until this Sunday), Spreadshirt are offering free postage on all items to show their support for the campaign. Simply use the coupon code GURKHAFREE when ordering, and the postage for your items should be free.

With warmest good wishes,

Joanna
www.gurkhajustice.org.uk

PS. On Sunday, millions of us across the Country will be honouring those who fought and died for us on Remembrance Sunday.

One hundred thousand Gurkhas fought in the First World War. They served in the battlefields of France in the Loos, Givenchy, Neuve Chapelle and Ypres; in Mesopotamia, Persia, Suez Canal and Palestine against Turkish advance, Gallipoli and Salonika. One detachment served with Lawrence of Arabia. 250,000 Nepalese Gurkhas served in the Second World War.

It's time to repay our debt of honour to them. www.gurkhajustice.org.uk

Lest we forget...

by NotBob @ 2008-11-01 – 15:23:35

Remembrance Sunday will soon be upon us. Let us never forget the efforts of those who have fallen and those who still stand strong.

There aren't enough Poppy Appeal collectors at the moment, so if you want to help the Royal British Legion click on the above link for more information.

Honouring Heroes

by cj592 ^Pro @ 2008-10-30 – 18:18:06

A Royal Marine reservist who shielded his comrades from a grenade blast in Afghanistan has been awarded the George Cross by the Queen.

Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher, 24, of Solihull, West Midlands, lay in front of the grenade after walking into a trip wire in Helmand Province.

Full article here

Help for Heroes

by cj592 ^Pro @ 2008-10-26 – 15:24:46

Find out about Help for Heroes here

Poppy Appeal

by cj592 ^Pro @ 2008-10-23 – 20:02:43

This year's Poppy Appeal has been launched in Iraq, the first time the campaign has been launched from an active war zone

This year's appeal is accompanied by "Poppy Man" - a life-size figure constructed from scores of poppies - that has toured operating stations in Iraq

Read full report here

Nearly created this group weeks ago

by cj592 ^Pro @ 2008-09-05 – 19:45:14

I nearly created this group a few weeks ago, when I was reading about n 'armed forces day'. I still think this could be a worth while day to 'celebrate'... perhaps use it to raise money