Hold The Bastard Accountable
Ok, I do have some sympathy for the descendants of Admiral Byng, but not much really. They have put a petition to Parliment to ‘restore his honor’, but not pardon him. They say
It has been a long time … but if we were moved by the families of World War One, which was a long time ago too, we might be moved on this occasion.
The difference is that Byng’s story is one of the few times someone other than some poor private or sailor was held accountable. The guys in World War One that got pardoned were the poor bloody mud-sloggers, not the Generals or Admirals. Normally Admirals and Generals look out for each other, you don’t see them get shot much, or even really take any hit for their screw ups. I say hold the bastard accountable. How many common troops died for Byng’s half effort? He paid for it, let it stand. Sorry Southill, I have more sympathy for the Scottish witch then I do for Byng. Look forward, don’t try to fix the past.