Unfeeling Bastards

We are governed by a bunch of self serving, selfish, heartless bastards. But then, I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you don't know already.

THE family of Scotland's last survivor of the Great War has hit out at UK and Scottish ministers for failing to express their condolences, even though the French government and Prince Charles have both sent messages.

Alfred Anderson, who was the last Scot alive who served in the First World War and the last veteran anywhere to witness the legendary Christmas truce of 1914, was buried last Friday after passing away at the age of 109.

But while his family received personal messages of tribute from the French ambassador, written in the name of the French President, Jacques Chirac, and from Prince Charles, no letter has been received from the Ministry of Defence or the Scottish Executive.

...

Scotland on Sunday last week contacted the MoD to ask if they had sent messages of condolence to the family.

The ministry first said it knew nothing of the matter and then, more than a day later, that the family could expect to receive a letter. By yesterday, the promised letter had still not arrived.

By contrast, the French Embassy immediately contacted the Royal British Legion and the local parish minister to check family details for Alfred Anderson, who received the French decoration, the Légion d'Honneur in 1998.

The French Consul-General in Edinburgh also attended the funeral.

Filed under: Politics, New Labour Spin