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THE SPEAKER, NEW HAMPSHIRE JUNE 5Th, 1941
BRITISH TO FIGHT WAR TO BITTER END April 17th, 1941 South Wales Dear Professor A.: Letters to Canada sent from here March l7th-23rd are presumed lost and I have an idea I wrote a very long rambling letter about that time—probably the U.S.A. mail goes by same route. It really is good of you al to think of writing to Siriol. If it is convenient to you I am sure she will be delighted to come, but she will, I know understand it your plan has to be postponed until next year. I will use stamped envelopes and will try to get some used King George V stamps. I used to collect all stamps for hospitals but a few weeks ago I gave a big envelope full away so it will be some time before I can collect any. I can’t go there (her London home) for a few week—for two reasons—it hasn’t been very safe for John (last week especially) also John has chicken pox—but is quite fit and busy now I am planting vegetables. We are feeling sad at the war news and do hope we shall have better news soon. London had it very badly last night. I am thankful my husband is still here on holiday. I wonder if my house is still standing but I am not going to worry about it—bricks can be replaced! We have great hopes in the Australians—they are fine fighters and have a splendid reputation. The Czechs are supposed to be the most popular of our allies in this country and the Poles the best fighters—They have cause to hate. The stories going round about the Poles may not be true but they show up their fighting spirit. One story is that Polish Air men have to have their petrol rationed else they would be over Berlin—another tale is that when the Poles do their training in the air a Britisher has to go up to see that they do not fly straight to Berlin! We admire their spirit. On the Dutch Queen’s birthday last year all the Dutch soldiers wore orange button holes, most wore marigolds as these were plentiful. The letter sent Air Mail to the Williams arrived March 3rd—Monday though it was posted Saturday, March 1st—I repeat myself as I think a letter or two has been sunk. The news that your ships were coming to the Red Sea cheered us up at time when we needed a little cheering. I don’t know what we should without your help. I think we realize how much we owe to you all. We always knew that the majority you thought as we do. I have at last obtained a copy “Battle of Britain” for you and one for Mr. D. which will be sent to you this week. I am not allowed to send them myself but a news agent allowed to. I hope you will receive it. We received today our pamphlet on, What to do in a Gas Attack. Even the wireless programme was interrupted over and over again last week I remind us to carry our gas masks. I have just got used to wearing my mask now. I used to dread wearing but it isn’t so terrible after all! The pamphlet says “We can beat gas attacks if we know what to do and do it.” We await the news anxiously these days, we have no doubt of final victor but it is terrible to have to prolong the war and lose more of our fine men. I am afraid France is very quiet and too well behaved. We shall have little inside help from them. They haven’t the spirit of the Poles or Czech. April 28th I am sorry I have left this letter so long. I have been fairly busy. Although we have had to leave Greece we all feel that we were morally bound to fight in Greece and we would all have been ashamed had we left no forces and help. We hay lost prestige we know, but it is what we ourselves feel is right that counts. Shame does not help us in any way—but we can always recover prestige and we shall do so. We can see no end to this war—But one thing we are certain of and that is that we go on fighting to the bitter end and that we shall, with your wonderful help, and our stubborn unconquerable spirit win in the end. We met a naval officer who was a Narvik and I asked him whether our attempt in Norway was in vain! And he said “Definitely no—we did enough damage to make certain places unfit for use of the Germans for six months at least and in some cases for duration of war.” He was full of praise for t he Poles “really fine men” he said. I wonder what France will do. We cannot rely on them. I have tried hard o forgive them but some things can never be forgotten when lives are involved. Yours sincerely, E.L. Institute of World Affairs, British Correspondence, contributed by the Lower Warner group.
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