Throwing milkshakes at a war hero? You’ve lost the battle

DESPITE his great age, retired Para hero Don MacNaughton was on duty outside a polling booth, campaigning in the European elections.

Don, 81, wasn’t wearing his uniform — the red beret and insignia of the elite airborne infantry regiment of the British Army. Just slacks, a white shirt, his regimental tie and a blue rosette supporting the Brexit Party.

Within minutes he’d been splattered with a strawberry milkshake, thrown by some ‘imbecile’ — to use his word — who objected to what he was doing, just as his party’s leader had been days before. Although in Nigel Farage’s case it had been an upmarket salted caramel version.

Despite the goo dripping from his shirt, Don refused to abandon his post in Aldershot, Hampshire. He turned down offers from passers-by of a fresh white shirt — and continued to campaign for what he believed in, a United Kingdom free from Brussels.

The former member of the Red Devils parachute display team wore his battle scars with pride, even if they were just strawberry milkshake rather than the blood of past conflicts.

Don MacNaughton’s sole crime was voicing a political opinion. For this he was attacked by a cowardly yob with a ‘milkshake missile’.

Whatever you may think of Don’s political views — although around a third of the country are predicted to have supported the Brexit Party — this kind of behaviour is nothing short of thuggery. True, it was nothing compared to what he’d faced serving in Northern Ireland. Yet even die-hard Remainers such as comedian Ricky Gervais and Match Of The Day’s Gary Lineker were appalled.

Gervais said: ‘I voted Remain. I will argue with people who disagree, always respecting their right to do so. I won’t throw things. That would mean I’d run out of good arguments.’

Lineker said: ‘Throwing milkshakes or whatever else at people is not the answer and is unjustifiable.’

And that surely is the point. Violence and physical abuse are the antithesis of democracy and debate.

During this acrimonious Brexit campaign, many Remainers have vilified Leavers as ignorant, racist fools. In doing so they have emboldened ignorant thugs such as Don’s assailant.

Yet the former Para is refusing to press charges saying: ‘The silly man has cemented the iron will, I’m going to keep fighting on.’

How fitting that a distinguished, elderly ex-serviceman has claimed the moral high ground from a young moron. Don MacNaughton has published a novel based on his time in the military entitled They Stayed A Soldier. And indeed he has.