Damn! Missed the 100 and lost the plot while I was at it. Who are these Irishmen at Kings College? I was just begining to re-enjoy it as well!

Thanks, Guest of 8:16, I begin to see, at last, where you and ard are coming from. You say To call trained troops "scum of the earth" is acceptable. and, believe or not I now understand the sentiment. I quoted a few lines of Kipling earlier on - From Tommy Atkins to be precise. The Soldier, it seems, has been considered scum from those times at least. A lot longer I suspect!

I must admit I picked up more on the 'British Army' bit than the trained troops aspect. In the context that the British Army is part of that group of 'trained troops' (Perhaps the Universal Soldier to give us a musical leaning?) I will accept that they are, to many, the 'scum of the earth'. I disagree in other ways as all the soldiers and ex-soldiers I know have been decent human beings - But I have only seen thm in civies!

Rememeber of course that in war there are only allies and enemies. The scum of one side are the angels of the other. Chances are neither view is the whole truth though.

Cheers

DtG