What are Goaters' views on this campaign
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/25284...-in-the-1943-bouncing-bomb-raid-aged-just-22/
FWIW, whilst I have the utmost respect for what 617 did that night, I am not sure a knighthood now would really mean anything. A raft of gongs were handed out for that night iaw the criteria and standards that applied for such awards at that time. That those awards are now seen as insufficient is, in my view, an indication that the honours and awards system has become 'cheapened' and degraded in recent years through giving what should be considered great honours and awards out for relatively trivial feats or efforts, frequently in a bid for the government of the day to win public favour or political advantage (think disappointed footballers and various 'Lords'). I think The Sun's campaign is somewhat in that vein now.
There were many other equally heroic acts in that era that were 'rewarded' with 'appropriate' crosses and medals at the time; should all the remaining heroes of that era also have their awards upgraded to a knighthood just because, having made it to 1946 they have survived until now? They are all deserving of our respect and I honour them all and the memory of those that have already gone but I wouldn't want their award demeaned by being almost a by-product of a news rag's publicity push.
What do others think?
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/25284...-in-the-1943-bouncing-bomb-raid-aged-just-22/
FWIW, whilst I have the utmost respect for what 617 did that night, I am not sure a knighthood now would really mean anything. A raft of gongs were handed out for that night iaw the criteria and standards that applied for such awards at that time. That those awards are now seen as insufficient is, in my view, an indication that the honours and awards system has become 'cheapened' and degraded in recent years through giving what should be considered great honours and awards out for relatively trivial feats or efforts, frequently in a bid for the government of the day to win public favour or political advantage (think disappointed footballers and various 'Lords'). I think The Sun's campaign is somewhat in that vein now.
There were many other equally heroic acts in that era that were 'rewarded' with 'appropriate' crosses and medals at the time; should all the remaining heroes of that era also have their awards upgraded to a knighthood just because, having made it to 1946 they have survived until now? They are all deserving of our respect and I honour them all and the memory of those that have already gone but I wouldn't want their award demeaned by being almost a by-product of a news rag's publicity push.
What do others think?
