Dunkik
After Dunkirk
June 4, 1940
We shall not flag nor fail, we shall go on to the end,
We shall fight in France and on the seas and oceans,
We shall fight with confidence and growing strength in the air,
We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be.
We shall fight on the beaches, landing grounds, in fields,
in streets, and on the hills.
We shall never surrender and even if,
which I do not for the moment believe, this island,
or a large part of it, were subjugated and starving,
then our Empire beyond the sea,
“armed and guarded by the British Fleet”,
will carry on the struggle, until in God’s good time,
the New World, with all it’s power and might,
sets forth to the liberation and rescue of the old.
Winston Churchill
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Winston Churchill Below is a clipping from Wikipidia There is so much to say about this man and I though that Wiki said it best
Churchill was born into the aristocratic family of the Dukes of Marlborough. His father, Lord Randolph Churchill, was a charismatic politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer; his mother, Jenny Jerome, was an American socialite. As a young army officer, he saw action in British India, the Sudan, and the Second Boer War. He gained fame as a war correspondent and wrote books about his campaigns.
At the forefront of politics for fifty years, he held many political and cabinet positions. Before the First World War, he served as President of the Board of Trade, Home Secretary, and First Lord of the Admiralty as part of the Asquith Liberal government. During the war, he continued as First Lord of the Admiralty until the disastrous Gallipoli Campaign, which he had sponsored, caused his departure from government.[neutrality is disputed] He then briefly resumed active army service on the Western Front as commander of the 6th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers. He returned to government as Minister of Munitions, Secretary of State for War, and Secretary of State for Air. After the War, Churchill served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Conservative (Baldwin) government of 1924–29, controversially returning the pound sterling in 1925 to the gold standard at its pre-war parity, a move widely seen as creating deflationary pressure on the UK economy. Also controversial were Churchill’s opposition to increased home rule for India and his resistance to the 1936 abdication of Edward VIII.
Out of office and politically “in the wilderness” during the 1930s, Churchill took the lead in warning about Nazi Germany and in campaigning for rearmament. On the outbreak of the Second World War, he was again appointed First Lord of the Admiralty. Following the resignation of Neville Chamberlain on 10 May 1940, Churchill became Prime Minister. His steadfast refusal to consider defeat, surrender, or a compromise peace helped inspire British resistance, especially during the difficult early days of the War when Britain stood alone in its active opposition to Hitler. Churchill was particularly noted for his speeches and radio broadcasts, which helped inspire the British people. He led Britain as Prime Minister until victory over Nazi Germany had been secured.
After the Conservative Party lost the 1945 election, he became Leader of the Opposition. In 1951, he again became Prime Minister, before retiring in 1955. Upon his death, Elizabeth II granted him the honour of a state funeral, which saw one of the largest assemblies of world statesmen in history.[1] Named the Greatest Briton of all time in a 2002 poll, Churchill is widely regarded as being among the most influential persons in British history.
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Dieppe Gefallen
We tried the same two years ago,
To smash this Nazi’s wall,
And tho we failed to overthrow,
We made a decent haul.
By haul, I mean statistics and types of craft to use,
The strength of Jerries’ wire, the layout of the beach,
The calibre of his cannon, the timing of each fuse,
All this and more – they took – to learn – and then to teach.
And now it seems our effort – was worth it after all,
Yet while they took it from the land, – they didn’t break the wall,
Now who did solve this problem? That’s what I’m waiting for,
The men who died in forty-two – or the boys of forty-four.
T. Fulthorpe,
H.M.S/M Sahib
HMS/M Sahib Photo Credits wikipedia
I cannot find anything about T. Fulthorpe, so we shall just have to accept he was a submariner as he mentioned the name of his ship. So I found a photo of the submarine.
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I do not need to say much about these two entries . Churchill’s speech says it all and it is good to see it in it’s entirety and not miss quoted and out of context. Many mistakes were made at Dunkirk. Many mistakes were made all through the war on both sides.
The second poem by T Fulthorpe shows how mistakes were made and remade and claimed as victories air brushing ( or the 1940’s equivalent ) the number of dead. Yes many mistakes were made a Dieppe too.
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Poetry Challenge #7 is to create a journal of links and your reactions to poems by established (living or dead poets.) Details are here. Example response is here. Mr. Linky for Challenge #7 is directly below:
willowdot21 
Apr 08, 2012 @ 11:48:21
Re: Many mistakes were made all through the war on both sides.
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The first mistake was when France and Britain declared war on Germany and began wwi when the Germany army was sent after the Yugoslav nationalist terrorist that had killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary and his wife. Less than a hundred years later the us of a would invade {with the help of Britain} Afghanistan in its quest to get Osama Bin Laden the mastermind behind the bombing of the world trade center in new york city.
I can’t help but think that if Germany wasn’t justified in its actions in 1914 then neither was the us of a when it invaded Afghanistan and later Iraq. Especially since the us of a through the cia were involved in the coups in Iraq that led to Saddam coming into power. And in Iran when the us installed the Shah of Iran whose brutality towards his own people eventually led to the rebellion that brought the current extremist religious government into power there.
The second mistake was the Treaty of Versailles. The harsh conditions of the treaty {insisted upon by the president of the us of a at the time} led to the hyperinflation that caused the collapse of the German economy which created the social and political conditions that gave rise to Hitler and the misery to follow.
Both ww1 and ww2 would never have happened had France, Britain and the usa minded their own business and allowed Germany to go after the Serbian terrorist just as the usa was allowed to do in both Afghanistan and Iraq less then a hundred years later. Had the usa not chosen to interfere in the affairs of the middle eastern countries the bombing of the world trade center would never have occurred.
And the history of the world would have been a whole less bloody.
Apr 08, 2012 @ 13:06:34
I agree that is why I said “mistakes were made on both sides” perhaps I should of said “mistakes were made on all sides!” See now I have made a mistake. I agree no one was snow white. But as for the coulda, shoulda,mighta, woulda and history being less bloody we shall never ever know. Sadly what happened, happened with all it’s consequences.
Apr 08, 2012 @ 20:49:16
One thing is for sure I wouldn’t want to be in the shoes of the leaders who started and fought both world wars when they come face to face with the Father Above and have to answer for their crimes against humanity.
Apr 08, 2012 @ 21:20:55
No to mention the men and women who have started wars before and after those wars………… the Lord has a lot of sorting to do!
Apr 08, 2012 @ 22:02:00
Yes he does. Over my lifetime I have learned to look deeper into events instead of following the crowd off the cliff. Because more often then not things are never as they at first appear to be. And far too many of those I once thought of as a hero have, unfortunately, turned out to a cleverly disguised villain.
Apr 08, 2012 @ 22:06:29
Yes that is so true just look at Bush Blair Thatcher just to name three.
Apr 11, 2012 @ 18:11:33
A completely appropriate way to meet this current challenge you have taken on, willowdot! Appropriate to honor those brave men making possible the saving of thousands of lives on the retreat from Dunkirk during this blessed Easter Week, as we continue to celebrate the ultimate sacrifice of God’s only begotten Son and His victory over death and the grave we celebrate on Easter in His victorious Resurrection! So very appropriate, as well, to call to mind this very, very great and incredibly dedicated and inspired British statesman, Sir Winston Churchill!
Apr 11, 2012 @ 18:45:53
Winston Churchill, Winnie as he was popularly referred to, had a hard life as a child though not poor by any means he was sent away to school young he was not a good scholar but he made sure he got his point across. He was born with a job to do and he did it no matter what it took. He braved the derision of his early years and when the war was won he was surplus to requirements, until his funeral….. similar story in parts does it ring any bells.:) 😉 😀