A tale of sympathy and understanding:-

We were corralled at Barton Stacey early in 1958 waiting shipment to Cyprus. A Sergeant sauntered into our barrack-room that evening and asked if anyone was a Manchester United supporter.

One young lad eagerly and brightly said that he was. Well said the Sergeant, there's been an air-crash and they're all dead.

I hope that Sergeant never had to break that sort of news to someone about a close relative.