I've just started reading Patrick Leigh Fermor's book A Time of Gifts, which is about him walking

[Berni]

through Europe in 1934. It's terribly good, but deeply poignant.

It sounds obvious, but it rally brings home just how much was destroyed in WWII - both physically and culturally. For instance, he describes not only Rotterdam, which sounds as though it was beautiful (look at it today and it's nearly impossible to believe), but entire ways of life that the war simply ended.

I suppose it makes one angry to think quite how much one will never see because of the war.

Anyway, I recommend it.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

There must have been many nights spent sleeping, cold and hungry, under a hedge.

[Berni]

But can you imagine a time when Rotterdam - or for that matter Coventry or Croydon - were actually pleasant, attractive places?

Seems almost unbelievable, doesn't it?

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

It's all very depressing.

I suspect that Rotterdam was always populated by Rotterdammers, mind. And their personalities account for 89 pc of its ugliness, right there.

[Berni]

abducted a German general in Crete.

Based on which, I think it's fair to say that extreme campness didn't seem to be an obstacle to being a rufty-tufty special forces type in those days. :hehe:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Kreipe_Abduction_Team.jpg

[Classic Jorge]

Pass the olive oil, corporal

[Berni]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

Mind you, Regiment and LRDG boys were a right looking bunch of herberts.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Special_Air_Service_in_North_Africa_E_21337.jpg

[Snin]

mills, factories etc were also highly grim ? the welsh valleys no doubt look much better now than they have for centuries, same for Cornwall, east london.. I think he must have been wearing rose c**ted specs

[Berni]

physically unscathed. WWII was much more destructive.


And yes, of course there were horrible bits - there always are. But it doesn't alter the fact that the war absolutely smashed huge numbers of towns and cities that we'll never see again in their former glory.

[Berni]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Abducting-General-Kreipe-Operation-C rete/dp/1444796607/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Abducting-General-Kreipe-Operation-Crete/dp/1444796607/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[Classic Jorge]

https://hikarunu.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/dsc02239.jpg