Truth about poster girl for the Left and ‘George Cross’ won by her gran
‘Not the same thing’
SHE was the Left-wing writer who leapt to the defence of the vandal who defaced the women’s national war memorial at the weekend.
Laurie Penny then tried to justify her widely condemned comments by saying her grandmother had won the George Cross in the Second World War.
But her critics have been quick to point out that Martha Hayston Penny was not one of the four women to be awarded the prestigious honour.
Instead, she was awarded the ‘national commemorative medal’ for her service on Malta – a medal that does not rank anywhere near the George Cross, the UK’s highest accolade for gallantry not in the presence of the enemy.
The saga unfolded when Miss Penny, 28, defended a vandal who sprayed obscene graffiti on a memorial honouring women who served in the Second World War.
It was vandalised as hundreds protested against Britain’s decision to re- elect David Cameron, and as millions of people marked the 70th anniversary of VE Day.
Hours later Miss Penny, who was privately educated at Brighton College before studying English at Oxford, wrote on Twitter: ‘I don’t have a problem with this. The bravery of past generations does not oblige us to be cowed today.’
Within minutes of posting her remarks, she received a barrage of criticism from hundreds of people who called her ‘vile’.
In an attempt to justify her views, she wrote: ‘ My immigrant grandmother received the George Cross in WW2. I honour her memory by staying angry.’
In 1992, Miss Penny’s grandmother was awarded the ‘national commemorative medal’ for services between June 10, 1940, and September 8, 1943, during and after the Siege of Malta.
James Frost wrote: ‘ Pretty cool, [but] not the same as a George Cross as you insinuated though. Probably shouldn’t defend vandalism of a war memorial in the future. I doubt your grandmother would approve.’
Richard Adair added: ‘That’s the 50th Anniversary Medal. Impressive but not the same thing.’ Another critic wrote: ‘Keep digging, won’t you.’ The George Cross was awarded to the island of Malta by King George VI in April 1942 to ‘bear witness to the heroism and devotion of its people’.
Last night Miss Penny, of London, said she did not realise that the George Cross awarded to Malta was different to the medal awarded to her grandmother.
She said: ‘The George Cross was awarded to the island of Malta, and my grandmother got a special commemorative medal. I didn’t realise the distinction and made a mistake. That does not give anyone the right to abuse me or my family.’
Miss Penny added: ‘I couldn’t be prouder of my Nanna. Not only was she a war hero, she was a hardworking mother and a formidable person.’
Police arrested 15 people, including a 16-year- old boy, during Saturday’s anti-austerity clashes.
Twelve were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and three were arrested for allegedly assaulting police officers. All but one have been bailed.
Four police officers – one of whom suffered a dislocated shoulder – and one police staff member, who was hit in the mouth by an object thrown by protesters, were injured, according to the Met Police.
Traffic cones and smoke bombs were among the items thrown at officers.
There were no reported injuries among the protesters.
Westminster Council has cleaned the offensive graffiti off the war memorial.
A Downing Street spokesman described the desecration of the memorial as ‘despicable’.