(This really is a sad story and not a joke at all. It illustrates how brave the English are)

During WW 2, a military plane is flying across the Atlantic. Suddenly one engine of the four engine airplane quits.

Aboard are a number of people but the only important people are an Irishman and an Englishman.

The co-pilot comes back and asks a number of people to jump with the parachutes that they have because the load has to be lightened. He explains that they are within a thousand miles of the British Isles and that military flying boats as well as motor torpedo boats will be there to pick them up.

After they have jumped, the Irishman and the Englishman face each other silently.

A few minutes later, the co-pilot comes back again and says: " We still have to lighten the load and have to get rid of excess poundage"

Without a word, the big Irishman hustles the rather small Englishman over to the door and heaves him out.

The Irishman shouts:" Up the Republic!"