ANON - OUTSET OF WAR

During the week preceding the outbreak of World War 2 my husband and I were enjoying an idyllic honeymoon in the Lake District. The weather was perfect. the surroundings were beautiful and for us everything in the garden was lovely.

 

After weeks of dashing around putting the finishing touches to our bungalow and making the final arrangements for our marriage, we were able to relax and appreciate the magnificent countryside. There was one puzzling occurence; each day after dinner all the residents crowed into the manager's office to listen to the news on the wireless, in our selfish naivety we preferred to forget the outside world. How much more enjoyable to stroll through the grounds to the edge of the Lake Windemere, or to walk along to a nearby inn and join the locals in a game of darts or dominoes. 

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The week sped by and we headed for home. On the outskirts of York we stopped for petrol and the grave-faced attendant announced in words to the effect that war was inevitable. This time the Prime Minister would not be returning from Germany with a patched up conciliation. We returned to earth with a sickening thud.

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On the Sunday morning we listened to the solemn words of Neville Chamberlain telling us we were at war with Germany. Little did we realise the long years of destruction, sorrows and deprivation that lay ahead. May this horror never inflict our land again.