Their Finest Hour Part 43

1 Volume 1, page 378. Volume 1, page 378.

2 The French "mobilisation" of five millions included many not under arms e.g., in factories, on the land, etc. The French "mobilisation" of five millions included many not under arms e.g., in factories, on the land, etc.

3 "Operation Royal Marine" was first planned in November, 1939. The mines were designed to float down the Rhine and destroy enemy bridges and s.h.i.+pping. They were fed into the river from French territory upstream. See Volume I, Book II, pages 50810. "Operation Royal Marine" was first planned in November, 1939. The mines were designed to float down the Rhine and destroy enemy bridges and s.h.i.+pping. They were fed into the river from French territory upstream. See Volume I, Book II, pages 50810.

4 As other accounts of what pa.s.sed have appeared, I asked Lord Ismay, who was at my side throughout, to give his recollection. He writes: As other accounts of what pa.s.sed have appeared, I asked Lord Ismay, who was at my side throughout, to give his recollection. He writes: "We did not sit round a table, and much may have been said as we walked about in groups. I am positive that you did not express any 'considered military opinion' on what should be done. When we left London we considered the break-through at Sedan serious, but not mortal. There had been many 'breakthroughs' in 191418, but they had all been stopped, generally by counterattacks from one or both sides of the salient.

"When you realised that the French High Command felt that all was lost, you asked Gamelin a number of questions, with, I believe, the dual object, first of informing yourself as to what had happened and what he proposed to do, and secondly of stopping the panic. One of these questions was: 'When and where are you going to counter-attack the flanks of the Bulge? From the north or from the south?' I am sure that you did not press any particular strategical or tactical thought upon the conference. The burden of your song was: 'Things may be bad, but are certainly not incurable.' "

5 His two volumes, ent.i.tled His two volumes, ent.i.tled Servir, Servir, throw little light either upon his personal conduct of events or generally upon the course of the war. throw little light either upon his personal conduct of events or generally upon the course of the war.

Chapter 4.

1 Semi-armour-piercing sh.e.l.l. Semi-armour-piercing sh.e.l.l.

Chapter 6.

l Reynaud, Reynaud, La France a sauve I'Europe, La France a sauve I'Europe, volume II, page 200 ff. volume II, page 200 ff.

2 See Reynaud, See Reynaud, op. cit., op. cit., volume II, page 209. volume II, page 209.

3 Graziani, Graziani, Ho Difeso la Patria Ho Difeso la Patria, page 189.

4 The Memoirs of Cordell Hull, The Memoirs of Cordell Hull, volume I volume I, chapter 56 chapter 56.

5Ciano, Diaries, Diaries, pages 26364. pages 26364.

6n.a.z.i-Soviet Relations, 19391941, page 138. page 138.

7 Ibid Ibid., page 142.

8 Ibid Ibid., pages 14243.

9Ibid., page 154.

Chapter 7.

1 "Z" means the beginning of the war, September 3, 1939. "Z" means the beginning of the war, September 3, 1939.

2 In In Lease-Lend Weapon for Victory, Lease-Lend Weapon for Victory, 1944. 1944.

3 The Memoirs of Cordell Hull, The Memoirs of Cordell Hull, volume I, chapter 55. volume I, chapter 55.

4 I am obliged to General Ismay for his recollection of these words. I am obliged to General Ismay for his recollection of these words.

Chapter 11.

1 See Appendix to this chapter. See Appendix to this chapter.

2 Translated. Translated.

Chapter 12.

1 A trench-cutting machine for attacking fortified lines. A trench-cutting machine for attacking fortified lines.

Chapter 13.

1 Ciano, Ciano, Diplomatic Papers, Diplomatic Papers, page 378. page 378.

2 Ciano, Ciano, Diplomatic Papers, Diplomatic Papers, page 381. page 381.

3 Ciano, Ciano, Diaries, Diaries, pages 27778. pages 27778.

4 This was an old device which I had used for the Marine Brigade of the Royal Naval Division when we landed on the French coast in September, 1914. We took fifty of them from the London streets, and the Admiralty carried them across in a night. This was an old device which I had used for the Marine Brigade of the Royal Naval Division when we landed on the French coast in September, 1914. We took fifty of them from the London streets, and the Admiralty carried them across in a night.

5 His brother Victor was a subaltern in the 9th Lancers when I joined the 4th Hussars, and I formed a warm friends.h.i.+p with him in 1895 and 1896. His horse reared up and fell over backwards, breaking his pelvis, and he was sorely stricken for the rest of his life. However, he continued to be able to serve and ride, and perished gloriously from sheer exhaustion whilst acting as liaison officer with the French Cavalry Corps in the retreat from Mons in 1914. His brother Victor was a subaltern in the 9th Lancers when I joined the 4th Hussars, and I formed a warm friends.h.i.+p with him in 1895 and 1896. His horse reared up and fell over backwards, breaking his pelvis, and he was sorely stricken for the rest of his life. However, he continued to be able to serve and ride, and perished gloriously from sheer exhaustion whilst acting as liaison officer with the French Cavalry Corps in the retreat from Mons in 1914.

General Brooke had another brother, Ronnie. He was older than Victor and several years older than I. In the years 1895-1898 he was thought to be a rising star in the British Army. Not only did he serve with distinction in all the campaigns which occurred, but he shone at the Staff College among his contemporaries. In the Boer War he was Adjutant of the South African Light Horse, and I for some months during the relief of Ladysmith was a.s.sistant Adjutant, the regiment having six squadrons. Together we went through the fighting at Spion Kop, Vaal Krantz, and the Tugela. I learned much about tactics from him. Together we galloped into Ladysmith on the night of its liberation. Later on in 1903, although I was only a youthful Member of Parliament, I was able to help him to the Somaliland campaign, in which he added to his high reputation. He was stricken down by arthritis at an early age, and could only command a reserve brigade at home during the First World War. Our friends.h.i.+p continued till his premature death in 1925.

6 H.M.S. H.M.S. Erebus Erebus was a monitor of the First World War mounting two fifteen-inch guns. After being refitted, she went to Scapa for target practice in August. Delay arose in her working up practices through defects and bad weather and she did not reach Dover until late in September. It was therefore not until the night of September 29/30 that she carried out a bombardment of Calais. was a monitor of the First World War mounting two fifteen-inch guns. After being refitted, she went to Scapa for target practice in August. Delay arose in her working up practices through defects and bad weather and she did not reach Dover until late in September. It was therefore not until the night of September 29/30 that she carried out a bombardment of Calais.

Chapter 14.

l Actually the Actually the Scharnhorst Scharnhorst and and Gneisenau Gneisenau which had been at Trondheim had both been torpedoed and were out of action. which had been at Trondheim had both been torpedoed and were out of action.

2 Here I omitted to mention the twenty thousand which might come from the distant Biscay ports; but, as will be seen, my proposed disposition of our forces guarded against this potential, but, as we now know, non-existent, danger. Here I omitted to mention the twenty thousand which might come from the distant Biscay ports; but, as will be seen, my proposed disposition of our forces guarded against this potential, but, as we now know, non-existent, danger.

3 That is, their approaches from the rear. That is, their approaches from the rear.

4 These are, of course, These are, of course, proportions, proportions, not divisional formations. not divisional formations.

Book Two

Chapter 3.

1 I was coming in one night to the Annexe when there was a lot of noise and something cracked off not far away, and saw in the obscurity seven or eight men of the Home Guard gathered about the doorway on some patrol or duty. We exchanged greetings, and a big man said from among them: "It's a grand life, if we don't weaken." I was coming in one night to the Annexe when there was a lot of noise and something cracked off not far away, and saw in the obscurity seven or eight men of the Home Guard gathered about the doorway on some patrol or duty. We exchanged greetings, and a big man said from among them: "It's a grand life, if we don't weaken."

2 Trepanning consisted of making a hole in the bomb casing in order to deal with the explosive contents. Trepanning consisted of making a hole in the bomb casing in order to deal with the explosive contents.

3 It seems incongruous to record a joke in such sombre scenes. But in war the soldier's harsh laugh is often a measure of inward compressed emotions. The party were digging out a bomb, and their prize man had gone down the pit to perform the delicate act of disconnection. Suddenly he shouted to be drawn up. Forward went his mates and pulled him out. They seized him by the shoulders and, dragging him along, all rushed off together for the fifty or sixty yards which were supposed to give a chance. They flung themselves on the ground. But nothing happened. The prize man was seriously upset. He was blanched and breathless. They looked at him inquiringly. "My G.o.d," he said, "there was a b.l.o.o.d.y great rat!" It seems incongruous to record a joke in such sombre scenes. But in war the soldier's harsh laugh is often a measure of inward compressed emotions. The party were digging out a bomb, and their prize man had gone down the pit to perform the delicate act of disconnection. Suddenly he shouted to be drawn up. Forward went his mates and pulled him out. They seized him by the shoulders and, dragging him along, all rushed off together for the fifty or sixty yards which were supposed to give a chance. They flung themselves on the ground. But nothing happened. The prize man was seriously upset. He was blanched and breathless. They looked at him inquiringly. "My G.o.d," he said, "there was a b.l.o.o.d.y great rat!"

4 The reply was rea.s.suring. The reply was rea.s.suring.

5 These were the official categories: "Yellow" civil servants were those performing less essential tasks and who could therefore be evacuated earlier than "black" ones. The latter would remain in London as long as conditions made it possible to carry on. These were the official categories: "Yellow" civil servants were those performing less essential tasks and who could therefore be evacuated earlier than "black" ones. The latter would remain in London as long as conditions made it possible to carry on.

Chapter 4.

1 See the table at the end of chapter. See the table at the end of chapter.

Chapter 5.

l Used by President Wilson in 1917. Used by President Wilson in 1917.

2 Also a Wilsonian word. Also a Wilsonian word.

Chapter 6.

1 To render undrinkable. To render undrinkable.

2 This was the wretched word used at this time for "undrinkable." I am sorry. This was the wretched word used at this time for "undrinkable." I am sorry.

Chapter 7.

1The subject is discussed in Volume I, Book II, Chapter IV.

Chapter 8.

lDefenceless from air attack, as at Namsos.

1Ciano, Diaries Diaries, page 281.