WW1 commemorations in Britain are under way, and the generation that fought WW2 were asked was the England of today worth fighting for? Many of the 150 people who answered, many now in their 80s and 90s - answered with a resounding No.
They despise what has become of the Britain they once fought to save. It’s not our country any more, they say, in sorrow and anger.
They feel, in a word that leaps out time and time again, ‘betrayed’.
Immigration tops the list of complaints.
Many writers are bewildered and overwhelmed by a multicultural Britain that, they say bitterly, they were never consulted about nor feel comfortable with.
But then political correctness is another thing they take strong issue with, along with politicians generally - ‘liars, incompetents and self-aggrandising charlatans’ (with the revealing exception of Enoch Powell).
‘Our culture is draining away and we are forbidden to say anything’
As a group, they feel furious at not being able to speak their minds.
They see the lack of debate and the damning of dissenters as racists or Little Englanders as deeply upsetting affronts to freedom of speech.
‘Our British culture is draining away at an ever increasing pace,’ wrote an ex-Durham Light Infantryman, ‘and we are almost forbidden to make any comment.’
A Desert Rat who battled his way through El Alamein, Sicily, Italy and Greece was in despair.
‘This is not the country I fought for. Political correctness, lack of discipline, compensation madness, uncontrolled immigration - the “do-gooders” have a lot to answer for.
Tags: betrayed, immigration, racist, soldiers, war, world