Black Dog - or The Labrador That Dare Not Speak Its Name

In a recent post, our good friend Councillor Kelly unleashed yet another tiresome diatribe against the armed forces.

In this post, Terry mentions that Guy Gibson (of Dambusters) fame was a particular hero of his.

However, the poor Councillor, in response to a question in the comments section he is unable to bring himself to print the name of Guy Gibson's dog - Nigger.

The councillor's justification?

Anonymous 15:13

The black Labrador, are you saying he was a racist ? This was the early 1940’s and it was Britain not America.

The word you allude did not carry the same subtext as it does now.

I did respond to the councillor asking why he could not bring himself to print the dog's name and whether, during the 1940's only Americans had sole rights to use the word "nigger" as a derogatory insult. Or was it perhaps only after the war that Americans, having beaten the Germans were looking for a new "evil" to fight?

I further went on to ask whether he thought the dog's name would be retained in Peter Jackson's forthcoming remake of The Dambusters.

I'm still waiting for the councillor to respond. I won't hold my breath.