I'll never know how we survived Dunkirk

This pacifist Government has reduced our once-proud forces to a state of mediocrity, apart from the Marines and Paras we don't seem capable of meeting a real crisis.

I was serving on the destroyer HMS Jaguar during Dunkirk. Two York lads were my shipmates.

Leaving the beaches on our last trip we were bombed and our vessel was badly damaged. We took many casualties.

The destroyer Express took us in tow, but the towline parted so she came alongside and took the troops and wounded on board and left us a sitting duck.

If there was such things as miracles during Dunkirk, Jaguar got its share.

How we survived five hours with no power and only close-range weapons for beating off the air attacks, I don't know. But we did. Steam was raised on one boiler and just before dust we set sail for Dover which we reached at midnight, after quite a day.

Sadly Jaguar was later sunk while convoying an oil tanker to Tobruk. Both York lads went down with her. I have never forgotten them or the lads I served with. They were a race apart, bless 'em.

Fred Barber,

Bramham Road,

Acomb,

York.

...THE very moving scenes of the armada of little ships, some 100 years old, making their way to Dunkirk to remember their fantastic heroism in bringing the soldiers back to England and safety, brought tears to my eyes even after 60 years - and made me so proud to be British.

What a pity that today, the so-called followers of football who go abroad, behave so badly.

Why can't they be loyal to their country? Because if it hadn't been for the gallantry at Dunkirk and other events, we all wouldn't be here now.

Is it boredom, too much money and drink? How attitudes have changed in the last 60 years. For the better? I doubt it. Perhaps some form of conscription might be the answer. A couple of years training and discipline might make them appreciate what we have here in England. We used to have a good name abroad but not anymore.

Barbara Wright,

The Bungalows,

Manor Road, Easingwold,