One way to spend a Friday by Milly Adams
Him indoors and I had returned from Krakow with the grandchildren on Thursday evening but desperately wanted to make it to the rally at Parliament Square in support of Sgt A Blackman, so leapt onto a train the next morning, and then dashed down Whitehall, following the river of green and red berets as ex-marines, ex servicemen and supporters like us, rushed along, pitching, up, just in time.
In time for what? Sgt Alexander Blackman was jailed for life in 2011 for killing a Taliban Insurgent in Afghanistan. His appeal lawyers, originally alerted by Frederick Forsyth to what he felt was an injustice, argue he should have been convicted – at worst – only of manslaughter.
It transpires that Forsyth paid for the initial assessment, since when funds have been raised by the public to pay for legal support, with strong help from the Daily Mail. Without exception, the speakers were excellent but in particular, Jonathan Goldberg, the QC who is leading the appeal team, shone as he explained succinctly and clearly the 8 points on which he feels that if there is any justice, the verdict of guilty of murder should be overturned.
He explained that had these points been made at the original trial, a verdict of manslaughter – at worst – instead of murder, should have been brought in. In January 2016 the CCRC decided Sgt Blackman’s case was worthy of the highest level of priority for consideration at the Court of Appeal. Since then, it has suffered what Richard Drax MP called – from the podium – outrageous delays.
The demeanour of the ex and current soldiers, including I was delighted to see, Gurkhas, was dignified, as they were directed to stand easy behind the hollow square by the Sgt Major, or so I presume he was – as his voice carried without trouble. Before the proceedings began, a cavalcade of bikers arrived, some ex-Marines I believe, and some supporters.
I was talking to an ex serviceman who told me the conditions under which Sgt Blackman and his men had been operating in Afghanistan. He also told me of the body parts of killed Marines which are routinely strung as trophies in the branches of trees by insurgents, and the horrific tortures captured Marines endured. War is a grim and dirty business, one that our military performs to the best of its ability, in spite of its ever criminally decreasing strength, if you look at the destabilisation of the balance of world power. It is the most professional army in being, the best disciplined, the most loyal, but they must truly wonder why they bother.
I am a supporter of Words for the Wounded, founded by saga author Margaret Graham, and at WforW we know exactly the toll paid by our soldiers for their role. A role in which the reward seems to be too often that of a scapegoat, or egrigious hounding by legally aided lawyers on the Ihat trail. That particular issue is far from over.
The press and TV were there in force but whether it will get through the editors’ beady eyes is another matter. No one expected it to be mentioned on the BBC or Sky news.
It was inspirational, and I felt proud of our military in all its forms, as Margaret Graham did when she was ‘In Conversation’ with General Sir Richard Shirreff at the Yeovil Literary Festival. Richard Shirreff agreed that our military is the best in the world.
The Marine Corps motto is “always faithful,” (Semper Fidelis). It guides Marines to remain faithful to the mission at hand, to each other, to the Corps and to country, no matter what. I’m struggling to believe the country deserves that level of commitment anymore. Sgt Blackman certainly does, as does the Marine Corps.
Good luck to them all, especially Mrs Blackman, exemplary in her dignity, and my thanks for reminding us of what is important.
Milly Adams: author of Sisters at War pb £5.99