The RAF’s decision to drop the historic “Crusaders” nickname from 14 Squadron after a single complaint has drawn criticism from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Here’s the full story.
Anti-Woke Warrior
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK and elected MP for Clacton, has recently been back in the news headlines for his favourite extra-parliamentary activity: complaining about things he regards as “woke.”
Nickname Complaint
Farage’s most recent egregious complaint concerns the change of nickname of the 14 Squadron of the Royal Air Force.
Historic Nickname
The 14 Squadron, which has a long history dating back to the First World War, first earned the nickname “Crusaders” for its missions over Gaza, Palestine, and Egypt.
Quranic Motto
Interestingly, the Squadron’s motto, “I spread my wings and keep my promise,” is an extract from the Quran suggested by the Emir of Transjordan about their brave actions on the battlefield during the Great War.
Complaint Upheld
However, the Daily Mail revealed that following a complaint from an RAF crew member who found the term offensive, the Royal Air Force abandoned the “Crusaders” nickname after a senior officer upheld the complaint.
Modern and Diverse
An RAF spokesperson stated, “As a modern and diverse service, our focus must be on not giving prominence to any offensive term that goes against the values of the Royal Air Force. Therefore, 14 Squadron have ceased using their historic unofficial nickname.”
Farage’s Disagreement
Unsurprisingly, however, Farage disagreed. In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, Farage stated, “So 14 Squadron, the Royal Air Force, involved in two World Wars, and busy today with intelligence and reconnaissance. Their nickname is the Crusaders. But a senior boss in the Royal Air Force has decided that name now has to be dropped because it might cause offence to Muslims.”
History of Crusades
The Crusades were a series of Holy Wars directed by the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages between 1096 and 1492, which were launched in an attempt to reclaim Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the Muslim Rashidun Caliphate, which had conquered the area in 637.
Numerous Crusades
Over the hundreds of years, there were a number of separate crusades in which, for various reasons, Christian crusaders invaded the region in an attempt to overthrow the Muslim leaders.
Crusades Death Toll
The death toll of the Crusades is hard to know, with modern estimates varying widely. Still, it is generally accepted that somewhere between 1 and 3 million people died as a result of the years of disease, famine, and war the Crusades caused at a time when the population of all of Europe was only around 65 million people, far fewer people than in just in Britain today.
Farage’s Priority
Despite the brutal death toll caused by years of religious violence and persecution in the Crusades, Farage seemed to think it was more important to keep an unofficial nickname than to give in to what he and other right-wing figures love to refer to as “the woke mob.”
Cultural Critique
However, he wasn’t done yet. Farage added, “I wonder whether in Saudi Arabia, they are bending to our culture and our way of life? I wonder even more deeply why we are literally giving in on virtually everything. Tell me I’m wrong.”
Misguided Comparison
It is unclear whether Farage knew that Saudi Arabia is an authoritarian, repressive petro monarchy which regularly imprisons dissidents and murders journalists, including the Washington Post’s Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi, and whether he thought that the UK should be more like the Gulf state in relation to his perceived outrages.
RAF’s Response
Unsurprisingly, the RAF was slightly more level-headed about the entire affair, with a spokesperson stating, “The traditions and informal nicknames used by the RAF in the earlier days have a place in our history. However, some are no longer appropriate in the 21st Century.”
Far-Right Symbols
Aside from the connection with the crusades, crusader iconography and phrases, including the Knights Templar “Crusader Cross” and the Latin term “Deus Vult,” meaning “God wills it,” which was used in the first crusades as a rallying cry, have become symbols often used by the far right around the world.
Historical Terminology Review
The controversy surrounding the 14th Squadron’s nickname is part of an ongoing review of historical terminology within the RAF and other military organisations. The aim is to better adapt to the modern values of diversity and inclusion and avoid perpetuating potentially offensive symbols.
Tradition vs. Inclusivity
The decision has sparked a wider discussion about the role of history and tradition in modern military organisations. Supporters of the change argue that it is necessary to create a more inclusive environment, while opponents, like Farage, view it as an unnecessary capitulation to political correctness.
Cultural Battle
In the culture war battle between preserving tradition and promoting inclusivity, it remains to be seen which side will ultimately triumph and what that will mean for the future of the country’s military.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Max Willcock.