« Reply #7 on: Wednesday 24 May 17 19:34 BST (UK) »
I don't mean this to sound rude, but to a certain generation it was not nonsense. People did stand for the national anthem, as Ringrose father did. It was a mark of respect and national identity.
My late father in law would stand up when the anthem was played at the end of the evenings television viewing. Who remembers that? and no programmes before lunchtime the following day.
Yes, I remember Empire Day and I also remember I wore "Empire Made" plimsolls.
My husband was born 1937 and always stood to attention whenever the national anthem was played, whether in the cinema, during a televised football or rugby match, etc., or at the end of TV viewing. I think you're probably right about the age group who remember the sacrifices made for "the realm", and as there's no conscription anymore when every soldier, sailor, airman (airwoman) on these islands worked with other British nationals, it's probable that there's no close affinity these days.
Aberdeen: Findlay-Shirras,McCarthy: MidLothian: Mason,Telford,Darling,Cruikshanks,Bennett,Sime, Bell: Lanarks:Crum, Brown, MacKenzie,Cameron, Glen, Millar; Ross: Urray:Mackenzie: Moray: Findlay; Marshall/Marischell: Perthshire: Brown Ferguson: Wales: McCarthy, Thomas: England: Almond, Askin, Dodson, Well(es). Harrison, Maw, McCarthy, Munford, Pye, Shearing, Smith, Smythe, Speight, Strike, Wallis/Wallace, Ward, Wells;Germany: Flamme,Ehlers, Bielstein, Germer, Mohlm, Reupke