Humbling And True And A Real Brit

May 31, 2013

I put my carry-on in the luggage

compartment and sat down in my

assigned seat.

It was going to be a long flight from Gatwick.

'I'm glad I have a good book to read

Perhaps I will get a short sleep,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of British Army Youngsters

came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats,

totally surrounding me.

I decided to start a conversation.

'Where are you blokes headed?' I asked the

Young man seated nearest to me.

Cyprus . We'll be there for two weeks

for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan .

After flying for about an hour,

an announcement was made that

lunches were available for five pounds.

As It would be several

hours before we reached Cyprus ,

and I quickly decided a lunch would

help pass the time..

As I reached for my wallet,

I overheard a soldier ask his mate if

he planned to buy lunch.

'No, that seems like a lot of money for

just an airline lunch.

Probably wouldn't be worth five Quid.

I'll wait till we get to Cyprus ....

His mate agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers.

None were buying lunch.

I walked to the back of the plane

and handed the flight attendant a

fifty Pound note.

'Take a lunch to all those soldiers..'

She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly.

Her eyes wet with tears,

she thanked me.

'My young bloke was a soldier in Iraq ,

it's almost like you are doing it for him..'

Picking up ten lunchboxes,

she headed up the aisle to where the

boys were seated.

She stopped at my seat and asked,

'Which do you

like best - beef or chicken?'

'Chicken,' I replied, wondering

why she asked..

She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute

later with a dinner plate from first class.

This is your thanks.

After we finished eating,

I went again to the back of the plane,

heading for the rest room.

An old bloke stopped me.

'I saw what you did.

I want to be part of it.

Here, take this.'

He handed me twenty-five

Pounds..

Soon after I returned to my seat,

I saw the Captain coming

down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he wasn't looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers

only on my side of the plane.

When he got to my row he stopped, smiled,

held out his hand, and said,

'I want to shake your hand.'

Quickly unfastening my seat-belt I stood and took the Captain's hand.

With a booming voice he said, 'I was an army pilot a long time back.

Once someone bought me lunch.

It was an act of kindness I never forgot.'

I was embarrassed when applause

was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane

so I could stretch my legs.

A kid who looked about 18 was sitting about

six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine.

He left another twenty-five Pounds

In my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to depart.

Waiting just inside the aeroplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word.

Another twenty-five Pounds!

Upon entering the terminal,

I saw the soldiers gathering for their

Trip up to their training area..

I walked over to them and handed

them seventy-five Pounds.

'It will take you some time to

reach your training area. It will be

about time for a sandwich.

God Bless You Blokes.'

Ten young blokes left that flight feeling

the love and respect of their fellow Brits.

As I walked briskly to my car,

I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were

giving their all for our country.

I could only give them a couple of meals.

It seemed so little...

A British Serviceman is someone who,

at one point in his life, wrote a blank

cheque made payable to

' United Kingdom '

for an amount of

'up to and including my life.'

That is Honour

May 31, 2013

an attitude that all Brits should have.

May 31, 2013

well said sir i also would like to shake your hand

Walter swanston · May 31, 2013

Congratulations to you sir, the British soldier is very much unappreciated,sixty two years ago I disembarked from a troopship on the Bitter Lakes in Egypt where I was immediately issued with a Lee Enfield rifle and 20 rounds and told to get on with it so I have some idea of how these young men felt.once again congratulations very well done.

May 31, 2013

an attitude that all Brits should have.

if only that were the case Gareth

Congratulations to you sir, the British soldier is very much unappreciated,sixty two years ago I disembarked from a troopship on the Bitter Lakes in Egypt where I was immediately issued with a Lee Enfield rifle and 20 rounds and told to get on with it so I have some idea of how these young men felt.once again congratulations very well done.

If ever there was a gentleman that was proud to be British then it must surely have been that passenger