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Thread: Vichy French and the UK MN

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    Default Vichy French and the UK MN

    About three years ago I wrote to my MP regarding payment from the French Government to UK Merchant seamen, I got no reply. I wrote before Christmas reminding her, and attached is her response.
    Vic


    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 13th January 2021 at 07:36 PM.

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    Default Re: Vichy French and the UK MN

    Thanks for that Vic, i also wrote to my MP, he booted it on to the correct dept he said, since then have heard nothing, but at least you have a reply now, kt
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    Default Re: Vichy French and the UK MN

    It seems to me a typical Govt and very condescending letter and a brush off answer and telling you to read history books bloody insulting. I bet the persons who decided to recoup the Govt's cost before any further distribution had never seen any service, and the French offer was very derisory, even in those days.

    How soon they forgot despite all the fine words in Hansard in 1945

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    Default Re: Vichy French and the UK MN

    Very typical of the sort of reply one gets from an MP who has put his, her nose into the trough, a sort of up yours and try elsewhere. But thanks for trying Vic
    Des
    Last edited by Des Taff Jenkins; 14th January 2021 at 12:47 AM.
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    Default Re: Vichy French and the UK MN

    #3... I doubt if the MP wrote it, she signed maybe , but her secretary , probably composed it. I have one from Maggie Thatcher composed in November 1990, written in lieu and signed by her private secretary , however she has an excuse as signing that epistle was probably one of her last commitments to the office of PM as she was on her way out the door at the time, so like to think I kept her busy right up until she went out of office. JS
    PS I think that BBC tv farce Yes Minister was closer to the knuckle than most people realize. JS.
    I also have one from Malcolm Rifkind the the ruler of the D.O.T. The parts that required his handwriting reminded me of a doctors prescription only worse. These people are not used to doing a lot of things for themselves , they have flunkies. JS.
    Last edited by j.sabourn; 14th January 2021 at 01:59 AM.
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    Default Re: Vichy French and the UK MN

    Does anyone know of any advances made, as stated in the letter, and how much was paid out?
    It seems a typical Civil Service decision made from the comfort of a nice warm office.
    Vic

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    Default Re: Vichy French and the UK MN

    Vic I would think in those early post war years people in general weren’t taken too much notice among all the europhia of the peace in the world which only lasted a few years until the police action in Palestine followed by another war which they also decided to try and call a police action the Korean War and ever since there has been some war or other going on in the world. Amidst all this Britain had huge war debts to pay off, which was still doing I believe up until well in the 60s. Or even much later. The losers of the last war appeared to come out later much better off than the victors. France for propaganda purposes mainly has always been advertised as an ally , but most of us know Vichy France was the enemy also. I too think that British seamen got the sticky end of the stick ( for a better word) and will be a miracle to see proper compensation paid at this late date , I hope the miracle does occur it’s the way that justice should work. Cheers JS
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    Default Re: Vichy French and the UK MN

    If in 1947 the French Government made an ex gratia payment to the British Government in compensation,
    surely it is the British Government that needs to be pushed further but, as you say it will be a miracle to
    see proper compensation paid at this late date.

    Keith.

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    Default Re: Vichy French and the UK MN

    John, the total cost of wars will never be known in fiscal terms, but the social and physcological cost is always with us.

    Yet govs across the globe, USA, Russia, France UK and China continue to poor our more munitions, many of which cannot be stored so must be used.
    Any one for a new war anywhere?
    Happy daze John in Oz.

    Life is too short to blend in.

    John Strange R737787
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    Default Re: Vichy French and the UK MN

    Hi John S.
    I remember reading something years ago about a payment that the British Govt had to make to a church in France who's fence was damaged in the Napoleonic Wars, they had been paying compensation ever since. Don't know the truth of it but at the time there was also payment going to America over the war of Independence.
    Des
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