My great uncle Patrick was killed in WW2 and is named on this memorial (scroll down for the WW2 memorial) . Being born in the seventies obviously I never met him but family bias aside I cannot help but think he was a terrible loss by any standards. Having won various scholarships he was admitted to Glasgow University -something his fathers wages as a farm worker could never have supported, my equally intelligent grandmother had to leave school at thirteen because she was 'needed in the house' and by the time war broke out was working in London 'in service' . I'm told that he was given the opportunity to postpone conscription to finish his studies but declined which says a great deal about his bravery and principles given the enemy we were fighting.

I have no doubt that the above is fairly commonplace but even if we only sent total fools out to war their sacrifices shouldn't be forgotten and that goes for soldiers in any conflict however wicked the reasons for sending them there.

Elsewhere the first minister remembers in Colombo I get dumber by the minute in Auschwitz, David Duff recounts a humorous tale and Rose Gentle is vindicated.

Goodnight