Might I just point out that war clouds are gathering in various parts of the world...

[SWv2]

You realise that 'squaddie' denotes someone in the lowest ranks of the British Army, yes? It doesn't just mean 'soldier'.

The young chaps one would have encountered on the streets of Northern Ireland, taking cover in shop doorways and the likes.

[Burney]

The young chaps one would have encountered on the streets of Northern Ireland, taking cover in shop doorways and the likes.

Those were the chaps, sw. The ones pointing rifles at you.

[SWv2]

Those were the chaps, sw. The ones pointing rifles at you.

Indeed, how we would banter off each other.

"Brit ****"
"Fúck off paddy"

Looking back now I have nothing but sympathy for them.

[Burney]

Indeed, how we would banter off each other.

"Brit ****"
"Fúck off paddy"

Looking back now I have nothing but sympathy for them.

It's this sort of high-quality badinage that has kept the United Kingdom together all this time, sw. It's all good-natured, though really, of course.