Most of us have family and friends who served in one of many branches of the service, and, in one of many wars. I have family who served in WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. I have friends who also served in each of these wars, the Vietnam war, and the various wars that have followed.
I am fortunate through the Grace of God, that none of my immediate family members perished in the wars of their service, and I enjoyed them throughout my childhood and into my adulthood.
Soooo...we move on to a novel that I have been reading of late. It centers around a young London woman of 18, who, within 45 minutes of war being declared, has left her finishing school unfinished, and signed up to serve in WWII 1939.
This young lady had no idea in what capacity she would serve, and was aghast to find that she would be sent off to a school in need of a school mistress. Since she had never taught before, Mary (her name), worked hard to learn the children's names and establish a rapport with the students. One week later, she was instructed to get the students packed up for evacuation to the country. It was eminent that the Germans would bomb London very soon, and the evacuation of the children was a protective measure against the devastation the bombing might bring.
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Operation Pied Piper
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Huddersfield Examiner * England 1939
Women were being recruited to assist in the safe evacuation of the school children.
There were 7 students who were left behind at the school, with some mention that these were special needs kids, and, kids of color, who were less likely to succeed academically, The headmistress of the school opted to leave Mary behind also. She was accused of being incorrigibly attentive and friendly with the students, not a good candidate for a productive teacher.
Devastated at having lost her students, Mary went to the Education Authority and sought out a position to return to the school and teach the students who were left behind. After much pleading and begging, she was finally granted a chance to teach them. And, a romance eventually began between Mary and the Director of the Education Authority (Tom), who stuck his neck out to grant her the position.
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London class in wartime
Eventually the bombing did come, and teacher and students were forced to continue their studies in the cellar of the school with very little room.
This brings us to:
The Education Director Tom's, roommate, (Alistair), who enlisted to serve in the military and was deployed to the island of Malta, a British Colony. Malta was a military and naval fortress, and was desired by the Germans and Italians, who were seeking to gain control of the island.
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Royal Malta Artillery
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Malta Convoy
Alistair is granted a 48 hour leave before traveling to Malta, and returns to London to visit his friend Tom, and meet Tom's new lady, Mary. Mary has a friend, Hilda, who is single and from a pretty well-to-do family. She agrees to join Mary and Tom, and meet Alistair, for an evening of dinner and dancing. These four young adults must go their separate ways, but always come back around and reconnect, in the best of times, and in the worst of times.
Tom and Mary stay together to school the poor children, who hadn't much hope for a good education. The Germans are bombing London during the Christmas program at the school, and Mary moves the children and families downstairs to the cellar to continue the program. Only a few persons survived this December 1940 night's rounds of bombing, and the school ceases to operate.
Mary and her friend Hilda are at a loss as how to continue in the aftermath of the tragedy, and, both have strong desires to make a difference in this war. They want to help!
* Women ambulance drivers in UK 1940 *
Mary was still enlisted, and Hilda joined to work alongside her friend driving an ambulance at all hours of the night and day, rescuing the wounded and searching for casualties.
We can see that all four of these young adults are experiencing atrocities and heart-warming situations, yet, continue to serve proudly for their country.
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As I mentioned previously, I have not completed reading this book...I am now three-quarters of the way toward the end. I just couldn't get the experiences off my mind, before I finish the book. I want to share a passage that continues to ring in my mind and heart.
*** So, this post is not actually a critique of the book...you may want to acquire a copy and read it for yourselves.
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This novel is fiction, however, the author was inspired and has shared excerpts from his grandparents' 'real-life' love letters.
* photo of my book
Mary and Alistair (Tom's friend) begin to correspond while he is serving in Malta, and she in London, as an ambulance driver. In one letter of their discussion regarding the trials of war, Mary says,
"It is my constant regret that my class would still be alive if I had not insisted on carrying on once the air raids began. We live, you see, and even a mule like me must learn. I was brought up to believe that everyone brave is forgiven, but in wartime, courage is cheap and clemency out of season."
I guess you are wondering why this passage hit a nerve with me. Although I wasn't born during WWII, (I am a baby boomer, though), I grew up always proud of my father, grandfather and my other Veteran relatives for their service.
I don't know what kind of welcome home the servicemen and women received as they set foot on American soil in 1945. By the way...my mother served as a WAC in India, where she and my father met. They came back together on a destroyer, and docked in San Francisco with other servicemen and war brides. Mom said the women cried out of fear of being in a new country with a new life.
There were various organizations for these war brides to help them with their transition into American life, and make them feel welcome.
Our pledge to welcome servicemen and women home properly, continues today. And it is extended to all branches of service, in all countries who are fighting for freedom.
*** I am not real "war savvy", however, I see the posters and I know that some of our servicemen and women have had troubles with health and mental health while trying to cope with their re-entry into the normal state of everyday-non-war life.
*** I am thanking all of our men and women who have served, and are now serving in all branches of the military ***
Thank you all for coming by today...I welcome any comments you may have. If you are too shy to leave a comment, just say hello!
*** Prayers go out to the folks who are suffering the tragedy of the tornadoes in Alabama.
And, Happy International Women's Day! 👩👍
Be Kind, Love and Laugh!💓
This is what I mean by "be Kind, Love and Laugh"!
I am blessed with all of the above everyday!
* Anything for a laugh *
