I picked up a copy of- "The Struggle for Europe" by Chester Wilmot, first impression 1952 in a secondhand bookshop over the summary which is remarkable and highly readable account of the events leading to, during and at the conclusion of WW2 in Europe. Mr Wilmot was a correspondent reporting on those times and had access to and refers frequently to very detailed documentation from both the Allies and Axis Powers military, political and bureaucracy.
Coincidentally as we're again visiting the Normandy beaches I'm currently reading the chapters of D-Day landings so the references are very real, standing on the exact places as described in the text.
Chester Wilmot sadly died when the BOAC Comet he was traveling in crashed in 1954.
In Chapter 11. Assault from the Sea, there's an exert form Winston Churchill's broadcast to the French people made on October 2nd 1940.
"Remember, we shall never stop, never weary and never give in, and that our whole people and Empire have vowed themselves to the task of cleansing Europe from the Nazi pestilence and saving the world from the new Dark Ages.... Good night then sleep to gather strength for the morning. For the morning will come."
D Day was that morning.
While we were in Normandy for half term we visited the British Normandy Memorial at Ver Sur Mer which overlooks the very beaches where the allies landed to begin the liberation of Europe.
He chose to wear his Sea Scout uniform as a sign of respect and was clearly moved with an appreciation of the enormity of the events and the sacrifices that were made.
Locally St Paul's church where the fence around the War Memorial was badly damaged by a car crash has this rather lovely memorial of poppies around the entrance which were knitted by a team of parishioners.
Whoever decorates our local post box has excelled with this armistice tribute
In the shadow of recent events lets hope for a peaceful day so we can reflect and honour those who gave their lives in our defense.
Posts
