Re: Singing in the blitz...
Richter-Pearlman (grichter@MICHELE.GCCCD.CC.CA.US)
Tue, 24 Jun 1997 17:25:44 -0700
Tom Holloway wrote:
>
> Hello Christer Gustafson - a good viking surname.....
>
> >I4m writing from Sweden and I4m doing it for the first time, so I hope
> >this is the
> >right way... I4ve become very interested in war-time history and my
>
> Yes it is 'the right way'.
>
> >hear people saying about the bombings of London; "Those were the best
> >days of my life" and "Never before did we sing and dance as much as
> >during the blitz...we were all alike "
> >The spirit among the people must have been very high ? Is this the true
> >picture ?
>
> Yes - very strangely - I think it is, for those who didn't
> need to face up to any personal tragedy. People died, or
> had friends or relatives who died; but for many working people
> there was a real determination to show that we had the will
> to survive and to "smile and whistle under all difficulties".
>
> I spent several nights down in the London Underground, waiting
> for the last train to leave so that we could settle down to sleep
> for the night. Community singing was a way of passing the time
> (but I didn't ever see any dancing - we were all too crowded,
> sorting out which bit of platform we could spread our blankets
> over...). Everyone knew the words to the songs and we all joined
> in. But the first train would arrive before 6am, so as soon as
> that last train had gone we would settle for the night.
>
> ------------
>
> If you would like another view of those years you might look at
> "DOT'S STORY" on our web pages (www.rmplc.co.uk/eduweb/sites/~dot.html)
>
> ======================================
> Tom Holloway - (+44) (0) 1926 888333
> Home: 01926 771772 Fax: 01926 771707
> Internet: t.holloway@warwick.ac.uk
> www.rmplc.co.uk/eduweb/sites/chatback/Here they come again Tom. Any idea why or from where? Michael