Todays 70th commemoration of the blanket bombing of Dresden in order to demoralise the civilian population of Germany is an event that we must not overlook. The tragic loss of life at the hands of a coalition determined to end the evil reign of the Nazi’s was something that caused revulsion and opposition at the time. It was an act that proved that not all is fair in war. The opposition to the mass unbridled destruction of civilians rather than the strategic destruction of weapons of war and their controllers resulted in a very public disagreement between George Bell, Bishop of Chichester and Winston Churchill. Some have argued that this resulted in the state blocking the elevation of Bell to the post of Archbishop of Canterbury. This was at a time when the Church and the Government were a great deal closer than is the case today and so Bells opposition was that much more shocking. The bombing was clearly a disproportionate act, punishing innocent people in order to reduce support for a regime which was destroying so many people and nations elsewhere. It is vital to ensure we hold our Governments to account for their specific actions, irrespective of how popular they may be in general.