

Ben Griffin

In 1914, fighting "For King and Country" was the main propaganda message used to justify sending millions of young men to fight in the first world war. Over 700,000 were killed, many more seriously wounded.

As David Cameron, Michael Gove and others seek to use the centenary of the first world war to promote a nationalistic view of war as a "noble cause", it is worth recalling what Ben Griffin had to say about "that false religion patriotism", when he spoke at the Oxford University Union debate in favour of the motion "We Will Not Fight For Queen and Country".


In 2008, after he spoke at the Stop the War Coalition World Against War demonstration regarding British complicity in extraordinary rendition and torture by US forces in Iraq, the British government had him served with an injunction effectively to silence him from critiscising UK foreign policy.

Ben Griffin has remained active in the anti-war movement, particularly in the organisation Veterans for Peace UK, which he and other veterans from the British armed forces formed in 2011.

In 1914 it was "For King and Country". Today it is "For Queen and Country". Ex-British soldier Ben Griffin, speaking in an Oxford University debate in February 2013, says why we should reject the "false religion" patriotism used to take us into war.

We Will NOT Fight For Queen and Country

By Ben Griffin







We must look at what lies behind this decrepit phrase.

Who is it doing the fighting?




What does the fighting involve?


In my experience the reality is a lot darker.

Long periods of waiting punctuated by unforeseen moments of extreme violence.

Having your legs blown off by an IED.

A supposed ally shooting holes in your chest.

Dying in a helicopter crash.

Burning to death in a transport plane.

Being beaten to death by an angry mob.

Being shot in the face as you break into someones home.













They cultivated the myth of the soldier as hero.







I no longer accept the lies which perpetuate war.

I no longer accept that violence can lead to Peace.


Never again will accept the vile religion of Patriotism.

I refuse to pull on that rancid uniform.

I refuse to fight for Queen and Country.

Source: Veterans for Peace UK
