I don't usually recommend a book that I
haven't read yet, but I am going to make an exception now. It is
Memorial Day weekend again and I have in the past done posts that
have revolved around the US and our experiences. This year I am
going to do it a little differently and pay tribute to one of our
close allies, the United Kingdom, and all those who found haven on her shores during a time period that was pivotal in the world's history. With the
bombing in Manchester it has been a tough week for our friends across
the pond and I think it time to acknowledge and remind those who need
reminding of how special this relationship is and how important the
intangibles of life really are. Intangibles such as hope.
When the second world war broke out in
Europe many countries were scrambling to respond and find some
footing in a world turned upside down. Where do you go when someone
stronger than you steamrolls over your country? How do you not lose
everything that makes your country what it is? While there may have been missteps along the way during this time it
was the United Kingdom that in the end stepped up and acted like an oasis in an
ocean of chaos. It provided refuge for those seeking a safe haven
and a staging ground for those who were fighting to regain that which
they had lost. In effect the UK became the “Last Hope Island”
for a Europe that was on the brink of
losing the freedoms and rights that Europe and America had struggled
so hard to create. Their actions, and those who lived under their umbrella, were an integral part of the war
effort, helping the allies to prevail in what was a massive struggle
for survival.
If you would like to visit a time in
the world's history that helps us understand the complexities of our
relationships and our need for friends in times of trouble then give Last Hope Island a read.
When the Nazi blitzkrieg rolled over continental Europe in the early days of World War II, the city of London became a refuge for the governments and armed forces of six occupied nations who escaped there to continue the fight. So, too, did General Charles de Gaulle, the self-appointed representative of free France.
As the only European democracy still holding out against Hitler, Britain became known to occupied countries as “Last Hope Island.” Getting there, one young emigré declared, was “like getting to heaven.”
As the only European democracy still holding out against Hitler, Britain became known to occupied countries as “Last Hope Island.” Getting there, one young emigré declared, was “like getting to heaven.”
