Editor, The Times:
All down through the centuries there has been a reluctance of countries and empires to adequately compensate their fighting men.
In July, 1558, the English fleet under Lord Howard of Effingham (not Francis Drake as legend has it) sent the Spanish Armanda packing up the English Channel.
The English ships then went to anchor, remaining fully crewed.
Low on food and water, these unfortunate men, the true heroes of the battle of Graveline, began to sicken. One ship, the Elizabeth Bonaventure, originally had 500 men. A month later only 300 were left alive.
Lord Howard was horrified. He sent a delegate to the Count of Elizabeth, where there was a huge celebration of the victory over Phillips II’s armada. They listened to what he had to say, sent him on his (or their?) way, and went right on celebrating.
Lord Burleigh, who was Elizabeth’s chief advisor, pointed out rather obviously that more of these men were sure to die and the more that died the less they would have to pay.
The English sailors weren’t discharged before Christmas. By that time one half or more were dead.
Things have certainly improved since that time. Veterans of Canada’s wars are adequately compensated — or are they?
When one observes the niggling clawbacks, the closing down of offices across the country, the lump sum payments — ‘less money too’ – something about this picture simply doesn’t look or feel right.
Even right-wingers like Michael Den Tandt (Vancouver Sun, Feb. 7, 2014, “Conservatives Losing Battle for the Military”) notes that the Harper government’s treatment of veterans moved beyond shoddy to disgraceful and shocking. Other plans to purchase military hardware “are a ramshackle mess.”
We’ve all had to pay a price for Harper’s corporate agenda — environmentally, financially, etc.
However, it is especially galling to see our fighting men nickeled and dimed the way they’ve been under Stephen Harper and Co.
‘The more that die the less we’ll have to pay.’
Dennis Peacock
Clearwater, B.C.
