Hearts of Oak
They defeated the Spanish in the English Channel, the Franco – Spanish fleet at Trafalgar, stopped the German High Seas Fleet at Jutland, sank the French at Toulon and the Italians at Toranto. From Cape St Vincent to the River Plate, the Royal Navy has built an unsurpassed fighting tradition. Finally however the Senior Service has met its nemesis.
In its latest ruling, the Brati Boys at the European Court of Human Rights has forced the entire Courts Martial system to be suspended because the officers that chair the court light not meet their definition of impartial – whatever the hell that may be! Furthermore, because of the Human Rights Act of 2000, every conviction since that year might have to be declared unsafe & set aside.
You could swear that we still keel-hauled people; I don’t recall any errant matalo being “flogged around the fleet” for some time – still in the interests of European Union hegemony, lets revisit some moments of our nautical heritage in light of current legislation;
Drake (surveying the Spanish from Plymouth Sound during his game of bowls) – “Can’t put the sea old boy, under the EU Working Hours Directive, I’m on my leisure break”
Nelson (before Trafalgar) – “England expects every man or women to do his or her duty while complying with Health & Safety Regulations”
Oates (leaving Scott’s tent in the Antarctic to walk to his death) - “I maybe gone some time, but have my human rights been infringed”
Beatty (as another one of his battle cruisers blew up) – “There must be something wrong with our bloody ships today – maybe we can hold the designer liable for inherent defects”
And even Sir Winston doesn’t escape, I suppose his “Naval traditions, I’ll give you naval traditions – rum sodomy & the lash” becomes something like…….. “fruit juice, same sex marriage & an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights”
I’m sure you have all got a load more, but I shall leave you now as I’m off to ponder the further emasculation of once-Great Britain
Comments
The problem is really that officers sit in judgement on sailors and the definition of being tried by ones peers is never met.....if they only have 50-60 DCMs a year in the Navy why can't they have a jury of sailors or similar ranks to sit and find guilt THEN let the officers decide the punishment? Mind you the Army have Warrant Officers sitting on DCMs nowadays and I'm not sure they are 100% impartial either bearing in mind that they are often in line for a commission at some stage.
Posted by: Dave T | December 18, 2003 9:48 AM
This is a black day for England. When the European Arrest Warrant Legislation was passed some time ago the UK effectively lost control of its judiciary. God I feel sorry the UK. Its not the England I knew....
Posted by: Richard Cook | December 18, 2003 8:49 PM
Torino?
Wasn't the Italian fleet attacked at anchor at Taranto?
(Go Stringbags!)
Posted by: SteveH | December 18, 2003 11:43 PM
SteveH
You are of course completely correct & I am wrong.....post ammended - thanks to trying to keep me on the straight & narrow
Cheers
Posted by: Mr Free Market | December 19, 2003 10:48 AM
After ceding sovereignty in yet another sphere to some gray, blobby, unelected group on the Continent, I have a question (as an American): why do the British (or, indeed, any European people) still have elections? Aren't nearly all substantial decisions now made in Brussels? E.g., how bananas may curl, bacterial content of cheese, the maintenance and certification of healthy game animals, and so forth. Isn't it just a matter of time befoe every regulatable thing in your lives will be written down in a rulebook somwhere?
Regards,
Seymour Paine
Posted by: Seymour Paine | January 22, 2004 6:31 PM