November 14: Connection to family of fallen VC hero

I WAS very interested in Chris Bond column (The Yorkshire Post, November 7) and his visit to the war memorial at Victoria Gardens in the centre of Leeds,.

As he was glancing down the plaque carrying the names of the fallen VC heroes, one name stood out – David Philip Hirsch. He received a commission in the Green Howards in 1915 and was sent to France. He survived the battle of the Somme but was killed near Arras in 1917.

Chris goes on to say that he’d once held the letters that David had written to his mother back home in Leeds.

I didn’t know him either but knew his brother who was also in the Green Howards; Major Frank Brindley Hirsch, his wife, three daughters and one son who was named David Philip after his Uncle.

They lived in the village of Dacre in Nidderdale where the youngest daughter still resides and I am still in touch.

A nicer family you could never wish to meet. All down to earth and so friendly, none of the great ‘I am’ nonsense. Dorothy, the eldest daughter, served in the WAAF between November 4, 1941, and November 4, 1945. She married fighter pilot in the South African Air Force and has lived there ever since.

Elizabeth enlisted into the ATS in the Spring of 1942 until May 1946. Brother Philip enlisted in the Green Howards in December 1943 but very sadly died of polio in the British Military Hospital in Mhow, Central India, at the age of 19.

On top of all, Major Hirsch also served 63 years as president to the British Legion Summerbridge Dacre and Darley branch. He was presented with the Gold Badge the Legion’s highest honour, he was also involved with the famous Nidderdale Show and countless other things. I saw him last at my father’s funeral to actually speak to two ex-servicemen Ronnie Swivers and Joe Hardcastle in uniform from Middles Moor, Greenhow, Fellbeck, as far as Darley.

Every serviceman and woman long with their photograph are in there wearing their uniform.

I would like to thank Chris for his keen interest.

From: Arthur Quarmby, Underhill, Holme.

IT is, of course, right and proper to remember the fallen in all wars at this time, but it might be even more constructive if we spent as much time in considering recent wars generally, and World War Two in particular. Could it have been avoided? Was it really necessary and was it worthwhile?

Clearly, if we had either done a deal at the outset or surrendered like France or even lost the war, we would have become a substantial member of the new German Empire of Europe. This seems to lead to the conclusion that, national pride aside, the war was a waste of lives, of wealth and resources and we would have been a lot better off had we not fought it. Plus huge numbers of our best young people would have been preserved.

Yes, the fascist regime was particularly nasty, but the EU is hardly a beacon of democracy, is it? So why is this subject not so widely considered as Remembrance?

From : Mrs J Wolfe, Sutherland Road, Lightcliffe.

TO commemorate Remembrance Day this year, I noticed many people wearing poppy brooches.

Attractive as they are, I hope it doesn’t mean that people will no longer buy a “proper” poppy each year?

End is nigh for Cameron

From: Terry Duncan, Greame Road, Bridlington.

I HAD great hopes for David Cameron. Now, with so many U-turns, surely the end is nigh for the present UK Prime Minister.

In the infancy of a new term in office, the Conservative Party must find a real stalwart to lead the party.

Shining examples

From: Michael J Robinson, Park Lane, Berry Brow, Huddersfield.

YOUR correspondent Peter Hyde has mounted his hobby horse about inadequately lit vehicles in fog. May I mount mine, but head off in a different direction? How many vehicles will still have their forgotten fog lamps shining brightly days after the fog has vanished?

Chefs’ flawed tax recipes

From: Hugh Rogers, Messingham Road, Ashby.

WHAT with Jamie Oliver trying to strongarm the Government into imposing a sugar tax and now Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall “spoiling for a fight” over mounds of waste parsnips for which he blames supermarkets – it seems that our so-called celebrity chefs are getting a little too big for their boots.

A sugar tax would be totally unworkable and would merely add to poorer families’ shopping bills without changing consumer buying habits. The big soft drinks companies would ride a coach and horses around any new tax.

And Hugh’s mounds of parsnips are, I suggest there not because they are mis-shapen but because the featured farmer over-produced and failed to take account of the market. He should have diversified, but he didn’t. Supermarkets, who, understand that there are only so many parsnips the public will buy, can hardly be blamed for taking their pick of the crop.