Thanks for the TA
Sir: I have always greatly admired Heath- coat-Amory MP for his courage in resign- ing from the last government and for his Eurosceptic views. However, I was horri- fied to read his review of Channel 4's Secret History programme on the Home Guard (Arts, 13 June). His remarks about the Ter- ritorial Army were so out of touch it is almost unbelievable that he has been a gov- ernment minister.
The Territorials, who cannot be com- pared with the Home Guard, have served this country splendidly in two world wars, winning many VCs. During the Cold War, they were ready to fight on the North Ger- man plain at 48 hours' notice and have gone on operational tours in the Gulf war, gar- risoned the Falkland Islands and are provid- ing 10 per cent of our army in Bosnia. I have served or been connected with the TA since 1952 and to my knowledge there have been no civilian casualties as they onlY train in drill halls and battle training areas. Incidentally, if the Home Guard killed 768 of their own members, one needs to ask how many the regular army killed since they were also having to deal with large numbers of untrained recruits during the same period (and how many civilians)? Had the Germans invaded, the Horne Guard would have made life very difficult for them and it is sad that Mr Heathcoat- Amory has seen fit to join the debunking by the media of anything or anyone who has served our country well. What does he mean by saying he has lit- tle regard for uniforms or their effect on the wearer'? He would have been glad to see the uniforms in 1940 or if he had been a Falkland Islander or living today in Bosnia. The uniform is the outward manifestation of the honour and the esprit de corps of the armed forces and does not necessarily Will people into little Hitters.
Heathcoat-Amoty's remarks show haw ignorant he is at a time when the TA, sup- ported by many sensible Conservative and socialist MPs, is fighting for its life. I trust Mr Hague, who will get a copy of this letter, will ask him to apologise and go out and visit the TA in Bosnia and see how impor- tant they are to Britain.
James Ogilvie
Willow Reach, Sandford Orcas, Sherborne, Dorset
The editor writes: The writer was not Mr David Heathcoat-Amory, the MP and for- mer minister, but Mr Edward Heathcoat Amory, his nephew and assistant editor of The Spectator. Mr Ogilvie's letter is no less worthy of publication for that, but I thought I would clarify the matter in the interests of both Heathcoat Amorys.
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