Talk about a decay in patriotism just read about these British retailers. How pathetic are these companies. The Royal Irish Brigade would have been better off sending off a letter to some American or Australian Retailers!

The 70-strong Royal Irish contingent is currently the only British Army unit serving in Baghdad. A source said: “Baghdad is a tough assignment so we wrote to the firms hoping that we’d get some high-class figgy puddings, mince pies, brandy butter and so on, just to make Christmas a bit special this year. In the letter, we said how much we enjoyed each firm’s products during Christmas back home, and that if they wanted to send anything postage would be free through British Forces Mail for parcels under two kilos.

Retailer Response:

snip….Marks & Spencer that it cannot give them any gifts in case it is seen as support for the war.

snip….from Fortnum & Mason also vexed the troops. The Piccadilly emporium wrote: “As you will appreciate, there are thousands of registered charities in England and Wales, many of whom at some point or other write to us requesting our support. We cannot unfortunately respond favourably to every action.”

snip….from the John Lewis Partnership, said: “We cannot find any trace of the letter from Baghdad.” While Richard Gray, a spokesman for Harvey Nichols, said: “We have no knowledge of any receipt of such a letter.”

snip….Harrods spokesman said: “The request was for something typically British to boost morale and so that’s why we sent the bear, as a bit of a mascot.”

Wow, I sure hope that teddy bear didn’t break the bank for Harrods.

Telegraph | News | We won’t be seen to support the war, says M&S as it refuses to send gifts to British troops

h/t Lucianne