I think you'll find that "Nigger" was Dambuster Guy Gibson's black Labrador, who was killed when he ran into the road in front of a car, while the squadron were carrying out the Dams Raid.

Bader, as far as I recall owned either Retrievers or Setters, but don't quote me on that.

Nonetheless, your comments are entirely valid IMO, since there was never any malice in the use of that word in the UK at that time.

Later, with the influx of immigrants mainly from the Caribbean, racial tensions did arise but, even then I rarely heard the N word used.

Mostly I remember signs in windows of rental accomodation and boarding houses, which said "No Coloureds", and strangely (which has almost been forgotten) also "No Irish".

Conversational references I overheard usually involved the words "Black", "Coloured", or "Darkie".

Don T.