Soldiers and where they fell

[JustOne]

3,431 UK soldiers have died since 1945


Whilst it's incredible (perhaps honourable depending on your point of view) that people continue to give their lives I couldn't help but think that figure is very low for 65years considering all the fighting that seems to constantly be taking place.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11743727

 

[Iaing]

The nuclear deterrent doing its job.

 

[Yerman]

Might be even less if politicians made the same sacrifice, how about we shoot a politician for every so many soldiers who lose their lives. 100 to 1 should do it, 100 politicians for every soldier sounds reasonable to me.

 

[Toby_LeRhone]

Iaing is correct about the deterrent. Since 1945 we have not engaged in a war of national survival; ie, much of our conflict has been discretionary and we have been careful of who we pick our fights with (fighting the battles we can win). Casualty figures somehow reflect the quality of selection.

 

[Tiger]

I understand where you are coming from but it's 3,431 too many for me. WW2 was about liberating the world from a maniac but since then most conflicts have been about money/religion and I have no time for either motivation.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Way too many. I was surprised about the Korean War. It's not something we did at school and it sort of past me by. Thought the Falklands would have been higher than it was (thankfully) and I agree that everyone of those is one too many

 

[Birdman]

I do feel for the injured as well as we seldom hear about them and some of the injuries that they have to live with are horendous.
Travelled the WW1 and WW2 battle fields and visited many many cemeteries......exceedingly moving

 

[Toby_LeRhone]

Youre right about the injured, it is a shame that the general publics awareness is all too limited. The flip side I suppose is that few of the injured might appreciate their personal circumstances being paraded for what could quickly become viewed synically as polical posturing. For what its worth, being close to the problem, I am confident that the majority of individuals are cared for very well within their own close communities, regiments etc.
Another important angle is political; the frequency of serious injury is such that if the general public were being constantly reminded, public support for the war would likely be less. Once committed as we are, soldiers on operations need the unwavering support of the public.

 

[viscount17]

far too many but I'm a little surprised that it's not more tbh

Palestine, Malaysia, Korea, Kenya, Cyprus, Suez, Aden, Borneo, Dhofar, Northern Ireland, Falklands, Gulf, Balkans, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Afghanistan, and that will not be the whole of it

unfortunately British History as taught in schools is a mockery

 

[mancity101]

I read yesterday, a member of the armed forces has been killed in action in every year since 1945 except for 1968.