Apology to Rob and other members. (1 Viewer)

[OzDigger]

I apologise to Rob and any other forum member I offended in my recent rant about who exactly "stood alone" in the Battle of Britain etc. In my mind I did think it was Rob that said it. However having re-read the recent King & Country dispatches it is now clear to me I got confused with a similar phrase mentioned there regarding the new Spitfire, i.e: "During the summer of 1940 Britain stood alone...."

I don't know how I thought Rob said it, maybe when I see King & Country I think Rob, am I "alone" in that And of course King & Country didn't mean the phrase to be taken literally either. For example, they wouldn't have chose a "Kiwi" (New Zealand) piloted Spitfire to be the first issue if they believed that it was strictly true.

My Grandfather served in Gallipoli and my Father performed as a Bomb-aimer, as well as undertaking Observer and Navigating duties in Bomber Command with RAAF 460 Squadron and subsequently RAF 156 (Pathfinder) Squadron. They survived of course but both suffered mental and physical problems to the day they died.

And as with servicemen from all countries they believed "their guys" seemed to get the dirty end of the stick more often than others, and without much recognition. They didn't hate the English for this and neither do I (I wouldn't let my youngest son go out with a girl from Birmingham if I did). Yes, some bias is involved now and then, but never hatred. In fact, I can recall coming to the defence of Monty and Churchill on this forum on more than one occassion, and you don't get more "British" than those guys. Another lesson I learned was not to post after drinking more than I should, no it wasn't beer, but a nice bottle of Red.

 

[Cornwallis]

I did not see your 'rant' however I'm sure your apology will be appreciated and I don't think you will be the last person to regret saying (or typing) something after to much of the good stuff!

 

[Rob]

I apologise to Rob and any other forum member I offended in my recent rant about who exactly "stood alone" in the Battle of Britain etc. In my mind I did think it was Rob that said it. However having re-read the recent King & Country dispatches it is now clear to me I got confused with a similar phrase mentioned there regarding the new Spitfire, i.e: "During the summer of 1940 Britain stood alone...."

I don't know how I thought Rob said it, maybe when I see King & Country I think Rob, am I "alone" in that And of course King & Country didn't mean the phrase to be taken literally either. For example, they wouldn't have chose a "Kiwi" (New Zealand) piloted Spitfire to be the first issue if they believed that it was strictly true.

My Grandfather served in Gallipoli and my Father performed as a Bomb-aimer, as well as undertaking Observer and Navigating duties in Bomber Command with RAAF 460 Squadron and subsequently RAF 156 (Pathfinder) Squadron. They survived of course but both suffered mental and physical problems to the day they died.

And as with servicemen from all countries they believed "their guys" seemed to get the dirty end of the stick more often than others, and without much recognition. They didn't hate the English for this and neither do I (I wouldn't let my youngest son go out with a girl from Birmingham if I did). Yes, some bias is involved now and then, but never hatred. In fact, I can recall coming to the defence of Monty and Churchill on this forum on more than one occassion, and you don't get more "British" than those guys. Another lesson I learned was not to post after drinking more than I should, no it wasn't beer, but a nice bottle of Red.

Oz your apology is not only accepted it is much appreciated.

For my part I apologise for what I honestly meant as a joke about the Australian Navy but can see how it could have caused offence.In some ways we are alike,very very proud of our country and its military heritage.The combination of being so bloody proud of what the RAF did in the Battle of Britain and being over excitable can cause me also to rant and rave a bit.

I would never belittle or disregard the efforts of pilots and ground crew from all those different countries who came to this country and helped defend it from the Nazi's, I would not live the wonderfully free life I enjoy if it were not for the efforts of every single one of them.

Lets put it behind us Oz

Rob

 

[Scott]

"Never apologize; it's a sign of weakness."

John Wayne in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

But we aren't John Wayne.

Sometimes in making a point to intelligent people we have to generalize rather than qualifying to the smallest detail hoping they "get it."

 

[Louis Badolato]

To attempt a colloqualism, good on you, Matt!

 

[Beaufighter]

Matt:
An apology coupled with honesty can often be tough. Character means the world to me so I commend you on your actions!
Hang Tough,
Marc

 

[uksubs]

Oz your apology is not only accepted it is much appreciated.

I would never belittle or disregard the efforts of pilots and ground crew from all those different countries who came to this country and helped defend it from the Nazi's, I would not live the wonderfully free life I enjoy if it were not for the efforts of every single one of them.



Rob

Well put Rob

 

[Northgate Woods]

Matt mate,
Good on yah cobber, you have the true oz digger spirit.
Cheers Howard

 

[thebritfarmer]

I have deleted a post here as the 1st one was probably best left unsaid and the other two were in relation to that post.

I feel this would have been best made as a private apology to the members concerned and then any untoward comments would not have been made.

 

[OzDigger]

I did not see your 'rant' however I'm sure your apology will be appreciated and I don't think you will be the last person to regret saying (or typing) something after to much of the good stuff!

Thanks Cornwallis, I like your avatar

 

[OzDigger]

Oz your apology is not only accepted it is much appreciated.

For my part I apologise for what I honestly meant as a joke about the Australian Navy but can see how it could have caused offence.In some ways we are alike,very very proud of our country and its military heritage.The combination of being so bloody proud of what the RAF did in the Battle of Britain and being over excitable can cause me also to rant and rave a bit.

I would never belittle or disregard the efforts of pilots and ground crew from all those different countries who came to this country and helped defend it from the Nazi's, I would not live the wonderfully free life I enjoy if it were not for the efforts of every single one of them.

Lets put it behind us Oz

Rob

Thank you very much Rob, you are of course correct, we are both very, very proud of our country, be it military heritage or national anthems

 

[OzDigger]

"Never apologize; it's a sign of weakness."

John Wayne in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

But we aren't John Wayne.

Sometimes in making a point to intelligent people we have to generalize rather than qualifying to the smallest detail hoping they "get it."

True, but I am soooo into "smallest details" - ask anyone.

 

[OzDigger]

To attempt a colloqualism, good on you, Matt!

Thanks Louis, we go back a long way on this forum don't we mate.

 

[OzDigger]

Matt:
An apology coupled with honesty can often be tough. Character means the world to me so I commend you on your actions!
Hang Tough,
Marc

Matt mate,
Good on yah cobber, you have the true oz digger spirit.
Cheers Howard

Marc and Howard, thanks for your words and assistance with that miscreant poster.

 

[OzDigger]

I have deleted a post here as the 1st one was probably best left unsaid and the other two were in relation to that post.

I feel this would have been best made as a private apology to the members concerned and then any untoward comments would not have been made.

I am sure Rob would have been happy with a private apology, but imo he deserved a public one. I have to learn to accept that sometimes I am actually wrong

 

[panda1gen]

Hey Oz, like most things in life, there are different and probably equally valid views. I miss the chats we had a few years back, especially when things got a bit lively and think the forum has lost a lot when everything got a bit sanitised.

Testing some of these views can really help you to see the other person's perspective. Kids might be on the forum so we should mind our P's and Q's, I forget sometimes, but as long as there is no abuse I don't see much wrong with an honest opinion.

I want to add my thanks for you having the balls to apologise if you feel that it crossed the line somewhere, and maybe a 'one glass rule' when posting might be sensible, but hey, isn't it part of relaxing sometimes after a hard day?

I believe the Aussies have every right to be suspicious of the British high command after WW1, and they and the Kiwis in the WW2 desert were still cautious - with good reason. Just spare a thought for the lower class brits who have always had to lump the lot. Can any nation claim their high command always got it right, don't think so?

I would also like to pay tribute to your relatives in the RAAF and the 'lost command' of RAF bomber command. How any of those guys went on I don't know. I am very sorry they had problems afterwards, but not surprised.

Good on yer mate.

 

[OzDigger]

Hey Oz, like most things in life, there are different and probably equally valid views. I miss the chats we had a few years back, especially when things got a bit lively and think the forum has lost a lot when everything got a bit sanitised.

Testing some of these views can really help you to see the other person's perspective. Kids might be on the forum so we should mind our P's and Q's, I forget sometimes, but as long as there is no abuse I don't see much wrong with an honest opinion.

I want to add my thanks for you having the balls to apologise if you feel that it crossed the line somewhere, and maybe a 'one glass rule' when posting might be sensible, but hey, isn't it part of relaxing sometimes after a hard day?

I believe the Aussies have every right to be suspicious of the British high command after WW1, and they and the Kiwis in the WW2 desert were still cautious - with good reason. Just spare a thought for the lower class brits who have always had to lump the lot. Can any nation claim their high command always got it right, don't think so?

I would also like to pay tribute to your relatives in the RAAF and the 'lost command' of RAF bomber command. How any of those guys went on I don't know. I am very sorry they had problems afterwards, but not surprised.

Good on yer mate.

Hi Kevin, thank you for your kind words.

I well remember and miss those chats mate. Plenty of us got our perceptions bruised, but at least some were modified. I know I learned to appreciate the value of the Sherman a bit more.

Most of us tend to only watch and read media that supports our viewpoint. This international forum provides us with a wide variety of cultural viewpoints on a more personal level that I think we find harder to ignore and easier to relate to. I think it is a shame that the we don't utilize the forum for such exchanges more often.

 

[Rob]

I remember we used to have good robust exchange of views on many areas of history including often funny and frank threads about Patton,Monty and Rommel etc.Today there does seem to be more I hate so and so producer and love so and so and the recurring LAH question.

Enthusiastic passionate disagreement is a very enjoyable part of this forum and should always be encouraged.There is a tour guide at the IWM who likes to describe the First day of Battle of the Somme as a total success just to shock people and get them talking and questioning him and his position.I think as Sir Kevin said no High command is ever without fault and its good to explore strengths and weaknesses.

Best to all

Rob

 

[OzDigger]

I remember we used to have good robust exchange of views on many areas of history including often funny and frank threads about Patton,Monty and Rommel etc.Today there does seem to be more I hate so and so producer and love so and so and the recurring LAH question.

Enthusiastic passionate disagreement is a very enjoyable part of this forum and should always be encouraged.There is a tour guide at the IWM who likes to describe the First day of Battle of the Somme as a total success just to shock people and get them talking and questioning him and his position.I think as Sir Kevin said no High command is ever without fault and its good to explore strengths and weaknesses.

Best to all

Rob

Rob, I can't understand the hate based on who collects what. I think much of it stems from past personal clashes with company owners and this also transfers to collectors of that company's products. Andy and I certainly had some forum fueds early on, mostly petty on my part. Now all in the past, why dwell on such things.

I have solved my LAH question I have been selling that range off to make more room in my cabinet. Yes Rob, I have forced myself into only using One cabinet. My wife would have been so pleased. She never "went off" about my little addiction but even I could tell she wasn't "over the moon" about so much money being channelled into dust collectors.

 

[Rob]

Rob, I can't understand the hate based on who collects what. I think much of it stems from past personal clashes with company owners and this also transfers to collectors of that company's products. Andy and I certainly had some forum fueds early on, mostly petty on my part. Now all in the past, why dwell on such things.

I have solved my LAH question I have been selling that range off to make more room in my cabinet. Yes Rob, I have forced myself into only using One cabinet. My wife would have been so pleased. She never "went off" about my little addiction but even I could tell she wasn't "over the moon" about so much money being channelled into dust collectors.

Me neither Matt. There are loads of companies I don't collect from,but never feel the need to wind up the fans of said company or clash with them all the time.Its supposed to be a hobby after and meant to be fun.I think you are correct in that some of these ongoing conflicts perhaps go deeper than that and beyond TS's and into personal conflicts,

Now you've made some room Oz, maybe you'll fill it with some of that new Normandy stuff?. They look very nice indeed.

Rob