About Allan Massie: Allan Johnstone Massie is a Scottish journalist, columnist, sports writer and novelist. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He has lived in the Scottish Borders for the last 25 years, and now lives in Selkirk.
We are responsible for actions performed in response to circumstances for which we are not responsible.
Blunders are an inescapable feature of war, because choice in military affairs lies generally between the bad and the worse.
Do you know what a soldier is, young man? He's the chap who makes it possible for civilised folk to despise war.
