Seroius question to serving and ex-serving British Military .......?

Question

Have you ever killed anyone? What was the circumstance? How did you feel inside?

I once worked with two ex marines who reveled in their Northen Island posting they told me stories but when it came to the question - 'did you kill anyone' they both said - 'what do you think'

Yes - i know - serious - not seroius

I understand what most of you are saying, in that best not to be discussed etc. Unfortunately i saw a C4 documentory where they interviewed a US tank commander - and he said that 'last time i was here i got 14 confirmed kills, this time i wanna beat that'

Answer 1

Mick the Fish - I wish we were trained to leave it on the battlefield - that just shows your ignorance

no, we arent going to talk about it, how on earth would you civilians ever understand what some of us have gone through ? To the majority of the civilian population we are third class citizens, absolute scum until something dirty needs sorting out. Rudyard Kipling knew this and wrote "Tommy" (1865- 1936)

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o'beer, The publican 'e up an' sez,
"We serve no red-coats here."

The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die, I outs into
the street again an' to myself sez I:

O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away"; But it's ``Thank
you, Mister Atkins,'' when the band begins to play, The band begins to play,
my boys, the band begins to play, O it's ``Thank you, Mr. Atkins,'' when the
band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be, They gave a drunk civilian room,
but 'adn't none for me; They sent me to the gallery or round the
music-'alls, But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the
stalls!

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside"; But it's
"Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide, The troopship's
on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide, O it's "Special train for
Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep Is cheaper than
them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap; An' hustlin' drunken soldiers
when they're goin' large a bit Is five times better business than paradin'
in full kit.

Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy how's yer soul?"

But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll, The drums
begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll, O it's "Thin red line of
'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too, But single
men in barricks, most remarkable like you; An' if sometimes our conduck
isn't all your fancy paints:

Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;

While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind,"

But it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind, O it's
"Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all:

We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.

Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face The Widow's
Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"

But it's "Saviour of 'is country," when the guns begin to shoot; An' it's
Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please; But Tommy ain't a
bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

so forgive me if i dont tell you if i have killed anybody; it's none of your d*amn business

Answer 2

Take it from an Northern Ireland Veteran ..lots of things happened in that period in all our lives that we had to do and would rather move on from. The business end of any war is senseless, bloody and sends you home with a bad taste in your mouth.
When I look back now I can say I was proud of the job we all did in a dirty war that took a piece of all of us. I did things that I am far from proud of, but then it was a policing job and that was that.
If you ask the lads who are coming back from Iraq now about things they have seen and done, you wont get much of an answer ...too soon and too fresh, but with the benefit of a bit of heeling Time, you can just about live with it all.

Answer 3

Yes, I have noticed that this is something military or ex military don't like to talk about once asked my dad this question and I was a little surprised when he said yes. But he left it at that and so did I. Once I worked with guy a while back and he had served in the second world war, he had shot a woman running away she was holding a baby which I don't know if he knew about or not when he approached they were both dead he told me this like 40 years after the war had ended and was really sobbing. I just think he needed to tell someone to get it off his chest, I did not really know what to tell him but I did not judge him. I just tried not to think about it.

Answer 4

If you only 'know ' people who have been on the front line then that is all they will ever say because you have never stood where they have stood or walked where they have walked. My answer to the posted question would be exactly the same - I have served both in Northern Ireland (pre-ceasefire) and twice in Bosnia.

Answer 5

No, never killed anyone.

I know someone who served with the Paras in N.Ireland and who took part in the Bloody Sunday Massacre.

The only person he knows he killed for sure was a young child he ran over while driving his car. He has not driven since. Nor fired a shot in anger.

Say no more.

Answer 6

What possible use is the information to you, you were never there or never served, and whats the connection to a US Tank Commander??

Answer 7

Military personnel don't usually want to discuss that. I think you sound very insensitive. Military people do not usually brag or discuss this openly. Take the hint from your friends.

Answer 8

I also know someone who served in Northern Island and he won't give a proper answer to that question either.

Answer 9

My grandad fought in the middle east (2nd world war and yes he killed someone and he never was proud of it...... in fact he was ashamed.

Answer 10

Do you expect a serious answer on a forum like this?