From the Archive ~ Ah! I zee...

FROM THE ARCHIVE

Ah! I Zee…

5 June 2012

A copy of this framed portrait mightily impressed me as a 15 year old newly enrolled cadet in the Air Training Corps own the wall as I entered by invitation the commanding officer’s study. The effect was profound and life-changing. KTW

Chapter One

TALKING TO AN Italian friend over the weekend (in 2012) about his own country’s deposed monarchy, my friend was studying - with great interest - the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. He had had a conversation in town and, as always, a loud voice, the vociferous minority very successfully masquerading as the silent majority.

So that was the first point. Ah! I zee. It is different over here, then. In my country this would not be so.

Quite!

Was I a supporter of the Queen?

You mean the Sovereign?

Sovereign? What is this word, Ken?

In the armed forces we refer to Her Majesty as our Sovereign. We have sworn allegiance ... and I then explained the import of being granted the Queen’s Commission.

Ah! I zee. You take it quite seriously then.

Yes I do, as do all my fellow officers and non-commissioned officers, ranks, ratings and marines, both serving and retired.

I explained that in these matters we do not take these things lightly.

“It is incredible”, he announced, in his strong Italian accent. “It would never be like this in my country”.

We chatted on, enjoying the freedom. As a People, I explained, we tend to refer to the Monarch as Queen and that is absolutely correct. In the armed forces it is just a little different.

How zo?

By now, we had been standing in the kitchen for a while leaning against the sides, so we took our refilled coffees into the lounge just as the Belfast Ferry announced her departure, her shadow briefly catching the corner of the room where the sun was still just holding on.

Chapter Two

Many years ago, there was a very serious incident during the Northern Ireland Troubles. We are going back some 30 years, Adrio. The population and armed forces suffered equally badly at the hands of terrorism. On a housing estate, a detachment of troops was caught unawares, and the troops suffered terrifying ends at the hands of the local population. This is what happens when the rule of law breaks down in any society. We both know this.

Worse still, the terrifying spectacle had been filmed live and ran on all the news channels. I’m talking pre social media. To give you a hint of how bad it was, the footage is no longer in the public domain. It is impossible to find, it is the one singular event that is, now, never mentioned by either side, almost as if both sides in The Troubles knew that they had gone beyond the pale.

Chapter Three

At Command, several days later, no more, it was whispered that a V.I.P. would pay a flying visit by helicopter.

As the helicopter descended onto the lawn in Northern Ireland, it was rumoured amongst the troops paraded in Dress Uniform - and in defiance to terrorism - that they would present arms to a senior politician, maybe even the prime minister. But that was unlikely because the situation had spiralled out of control and all of us were on the back foot.

Simply put, that would be too risky.

Another rumour was that it might perhaps be a royal, perhaps even the Prince of Wales?

What? The future King?

No. Absolutely not! They ‘d never chance it!

Chapter Four

As the downdraft from the rotor blades splayed out sending ripples across the lawn and the doors slid back and the order was given to present arms, a royal did indeed step out ~ The Sovereign!

Her Majesty was doing unflinchingly what her father, The King, had done a generation earlier in refusing to leave London at the height of the Blitz.

Terrorists would not stop her from visiting her People in Northern Ireland and being amongst them at such a terrible time. Nor would she abandon her troops.

I learned later that the emotion in the ranks that day was stunning, unbelievable, though none would have casually detected this as they stood resolutely at the Present Arms.

Chapter Five

We’ve grown to expect this, of course, of the Queen.

But for me the greatest testimony is that of the troops paraded that day – their initial shock, quickly giving way to an absolute and indescribable pride at seeing their Sovereign step nimbly down from the helicopter.

When I watched it on the six-o-clock news, the BBC presenter gave no warning.

It was as much a shock to the Nation as it was, I imagine, to the terrorists.

I recall my emotion.

I recall the resolve too that overwhelmed me. At this time I was still in service. It countered the terrifying scenes we had all witnessed on live television, of a housing estate turning in upon itself, descending upon troops and doing to them that which is usually left to grim Hollywood sets. We will leave it at that Adrio.

Chapter Six

My friend and I chatted on.

This is no ordinary monarchy. We are talking about a country that - having ruled the greatest empire in history, fought the worst war in history, even declaring war upon the tyrant causing the problems - that within something like 10 years, all within the Queen’s reign, we had actively dismantled that empire; and then extraordinarily witnessed its metamorphosis into the British Commonwealth and, one very and vitally important short step later, to the Commonwealth of Nations [a] that we know today.

Empires demonstrate a country’s power. Today’s Commonwealth rests not upon power but - as one BBC analyst reported - upon sentiment and voluntary association. This Commonwealth of Nations comprised eight nations at its inception and in 2012 comprises 53 nations (56 in 2025) [c]

My friend’s eyes widened with fresh perspective.

I wondered how many empires had achieved this. Had the Roman Empire done so? Had Mussolini? And what does 60 years represent? This single head of state has seen off twelve United Kingdom Prime Ministers, including Sir Winston Churchill, HM’s first prime minister, not to mention all the prime ministers of the Commonwealth, at least six US Presidents starting with President Truman, and six Popes[1].

Chapter Seven

We see today an extraordinary affection by the British People for the Union Flag, a fact that is by no means universal.[2]

The Times reports that ‘great’ has been put back into Britain. I know what they mean. But I dislike that. We are simply Britain or the UK. BBC America is more popular than ever. Seventeen million people around the world watched the Buckingham Palace Pop Concert on Monday night.

Chapter Eight

Let no one doubt the resolve of the British people and all the nations and peoples of the Commonwealth.

As I have often reported in my writing, Winston Churchill’s advice - at that time still in the political wilderness - to a German Ambassador shortly before the Second World War. It went something like this: The British People are a curious people and few can understand her mind. But put a great cause before the people, and Britain will rally in a way that is inconceivable to many. I repeat, do not underestimate [England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.][3]

Chapter Nine

That same spirit is alive today in the hearts and minds of the greater British Public. But note this. It is our Young People too. They are as strong and resolute as their parents and grandparents.

And for me, as I mentioned on social media yesterday, the best moment of the day was when I beamed at the small boy being asked what his favourite moment was.

Well, firstly that he had actually seen the Queen. But much more important was the fact that he had actually seen Her Majesty driving the boat! Wicked!!

Wunderbar!!!

On that note, we both decided that our third coffee was in order …

[1] As at June 2012

[2] Again, this is the view as expressed in 2012 not 2021.

[3] History of the English-Speaking Peoples by Winston Spencer Churchill and also his six Volume History of the Second World War

[a] The Commonwealth of Nations by Essential Magazine

[b] The Commonwealth now comprises 54 nation states, the most recent member being the Maldives which re-joined the Commonwealth on February 1, 2020

[c] In 2025, there are 56 nations in the Commonwealth. These countries are united by shared goals of democracy, development, and cooperation. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of independent and equal countries.

Kenneth Thomas Webb
Liverpool

There are times in life when we all come under malign influence. The original Commissioning Scroll was multicoloured and layered. The Signature of the Monarch seemed to hover over the document not be connected to it. When religious fundamentalism takes hold, a person can in the moment’s heat, do extraordinary and very damaging acts. Hence, the Scroll no longer exists and its destruction caused the family tremendous concern and hit my parents hard, for they saw it as a direct connection to their brothers they had lost in the RAF and in whose steps I proudly walked. Then, one day, my elder sister walked up to me. I remember the hesitancy. Ken, I think you might like to see this… A creased photocopy of the original. Life and decades had gone full circle. I retained my stoicism and expressed delight. But on my own later that day, as I found a near identical frame, in the peace and quiet of my home I completely broke down. And it still moves me every day as I descend the stairs past the gallery.

This is why I attach SO much importance to the work of Professor David Olusoga. In this 21st Century, we have to move with the times. If the Union ends, that is fine. If it remains, that is fine. The thing that matters most is that we live together in harmony and equality. And nothing thrills me more than to see the return of our languages. Kenneth Thomas Webb 2025

This superb four Episode series is available on BBC iPlayer, of Amazon Prime and IMDb. KTW 2025