IN reply to John Hinton (Letters, Friday, April 8) I have never intended to moralise. I refute the allegation that I was being hypocritical when I quoted another person.

In 1940, like so many others, I simply answered the call in the situation that existed at the time. However, that situation was disastrous from any point of view and we hoped it would never be repeated.

Alas, we have to regard ourselves as being at war once more. Externally, we face the heinous threat posed by Osama Bin Laden and his evil al Qaida. Internally, we have an ever-escalating crimewave.

D E MARGRETT,

Worcester.