RAF Personnel, London

These RAF personnel had spent the day at the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park which was unveiled today. On the way to work this morning I saw quite a few veterans displaying their medals very proudly on their chests as they made their way to the opening ceremony. The costs of the ceremony have spiralled to £800,000 and many of the elderly trustees of the Bomber Command Association have been left with the bill after the Ministry Of Defence refused to pay for security, seating or facilities. Many are now worried they may lose their homes. Yet the Defence Secretary shamelessly decided to attend thus depriving a veteran of a seat at the ceremony. Whatever people think of the bombing of cities like Dresden during the Second World War these men deserve to remembered, commemerated and saluted for their acts of bravery, many knowing full well that they would never come back from the raids they embarked on. Very nearly one in two perished, a truly terrible casualty rate.