His dream, before the war, was to be a British Army officer, finely turned out in a red coat and brass buttons.

NEWYORKER: How David Beats Goliath

Brass bands and bunting, anthems and ermine - Britain will be garlanded in red, white and (this year at least) blue as the Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee coincide to celebrate our sovereignty in extravagant and ostentatious style.

BBC: Is brand Britain losing its lustre?