Friday, May 25, 2012

White Cliffs and Women During Wartime


A few days ago The Heiress took herself off for an adventure and sent me this photo of a small section of the iconic white cliffs of Dover.  There was an eerie moment when I opened the file as just two hours earlier I had been thinking of asking her to send me some pictures should she ever find herself going out that way.  My train of thought came from being completely engrossed in the book Millions Like Us by Virginia Nicholson.  This is a brilliant work of non-fiction from the World War II era and despite not even hitting the halfway mark yet I thought I would share a few anecdotes....

Lady Diana Cooper, married to Duff Cooper, would carry a bag stuffed with some of her diamonds, 200 GBP in cash, make-up essentials and passport to a cubicle in a subterranean Turkish bath.  Popping a sleeping pill she would spend the night and when the all-clear sounded in the morning she would head home.  Her staff would bring a breakfast tray to her room and she would enjoy The Times, have a nap and then it was off to The Ritz for drinks. 

The Henreys were living in Normandy with their infant son when the Germans crossed into France.  As they watched the coastline burning they knew escape was their only chance for survival.  Madeleine took a last look around the house, gathered a few things and with her husband, their baby and her mother they left for the British Consulate.  She had a British passport, her son had a British father but her mother was barred entry despite their pleas.  Can you just imagine how heartbreaking a scene it would have been for mother and daughter?  I was so relieved to find out that five years later they were reunited, thank goodness.

As Frances walked home, dressed in her first-aid uniform, after a heavy night of bombing, she passed the remains of a building.  A doctor, a nurse and some other wardens shouted for her assistance as they stood over a gaping hole leading down to the basement.  Frances were very tiny, just the right size to squeeze into an opening to administer aid to a man they could hear below crying out in agony.  The space was so tight she had to remove her dress to be lowered into the opening, head first.  The poor man's injuries were so horrific that she vomited repeatedly when she was pulled back up.  The doctor gave her a cloth soaked in chloroform and Frances was lowered once again to end the man's suffering.  It was euthanasia but the poor man welcomed it as he inhaled deeply from the cloth.

Mrs Milburn, like many other women, blew apart the culture of womanhood and began cursing as they never would have dreamed of before and using the word 'hate' with such passion.  I did have to laugh when she wrote that the vermin eating the vegetables in her garden were given names like Hilter, Goering and Himmler before being dispatched.  One woman working in an aircraft factory in Bristol broke three hammers as she worked on Spitfires, each blow she delivered was with Hitler in mind.

We have all read stories or watched films in which young lovers marry in the blink of an eye during wartime but I am still amazed by just how quickly some went about binding themselves in holy wedlock.  In some instances a call for duty after a couple of evenings out dancing with a young girl was enough to have a man down on one knee.  There were also loads of young women and girls sitting through a night of bombing in a tube station vowing to have sex at the first chance they got.  There was no way they were going to die virgins!  Less exciting perhaps, but hilarious, were the two friends who made a pact not to die in their curlers so with every air-raid siren they whipped off their headcover and unrolled their hair, no matter how tired.  Once the all-clear was sounded their curlers were put back in to place.

This is such an addictive read and I can't count how many times I have said to myself 'just one more page and then I'll get going'.

18 comments:

  1. This is a lovely coincidence for me too Darlene as I've just finished her Singled Out which I raced through as well! Now I know this one is just as good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have picked up and put down Singled Out so many times because I thought the type was a bit on the small side but I am just going to bite the bullet. The time just melts away and you completely forget you're reading from another era as the descriptions are so vivid! Thanks for letting me know how much you enjoyed your book!

      Delete
  2. I've been there! How amazing is that! It's St Margaret's Bay, I'm positive, just a mile or so from Dover itself, and it's the nearest point to France, and Noel Coward lived in the white, flat roofed house on the beach - I think there are three or four houses on the beach. There's a museum and tea rooms with lots of stuff about Coward way up at the top of the cliffs, which are incredibly steep at that point, and there was a beautiful park or garden. Views from the clifftop walks are spectacular, and there was an information centre somewhere and lots of notices along the way, telling you about the wartime connection, and the plants and wildlife. We went there on holiday once, and the village was the quietest, neatest, tidiest place I've ever visited. It was kind of how I imagined Miss Marple's St Mary Mead to be, but The Man Of The House said it was so perfect it was spooky, like the Midwich Cuckoos, or the Stepford Wives... Sorry to waffle on, but the photo brought it back! I do hope The Heiress is enjoying herself - did she go to Dover Castle?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha, feel free to waffle away! I loved your description of the area and how interesting to find out the house in the distance once belonged to Noel Coward, wait until I tell my daughter. She wrote that she got roaming charges on her cell phone as she was that close to France, which sounded silly to me as she was on English soil but there you have it. The Heiress only passed by the Castle but one of her friends wants to go back with her so hopefully they stop in. Thanks to you painting such a lovely picture I am going to make a point of stopping by on my next trip over, thanks so much!

      Delete
  3. I've just put this on my list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh good, my work here is done then. Summer isn't typically the time readers delve into non-fiction but not only is this an informative read, it's incredibly entertaining. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, Audrey!

      Delete
  4. I am glad to have read about this book, I have seen it so often but never sure about picking it up.i will now, some of the stories are just unbelievable that I think younger generations believe such a thing would not happen. Sadly it did, and the war was actually not that long ago compared to other historical events in our time.

    Hope Heiress is enjoying the UK.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am quite resourceful but an empty bag of milk when I want a cup of tea could just about ruin my day, imagine turning the corner and half of your street is in ruins! These women and their stories are absolutely fascinating and I can't get enough. Don't hesitate to plunk down your money for this book, Jo!

      Delete
  5. I've got it on my library list, but now I think I might have to just buy it. Oh, the hardship.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The book is certainly chock full of stories so it would be nice not having to worry about a due date. I wish that BMV Books catalogued their books as then it would be a quick call to see if they have one in at a super price. I was just out on the patio enjoying more of my book but the sun is making me sleepy so it was time for a change of scenery!

      Delete
  6. I think she writes just wonderful books. I have Among the Bohemians and Singled Out and look forward to reading them. I love the subjects she chooses to write on. For some reason Millions Like Us isn't available here or from Book Depository.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh Nan, try TBD again. I just had a peek and it was available for $13 (I am so bad and ordered another book while I was there, I blame you!).

    Nicholson's writing, as well as Amanda Vickery, really appeal to me. And let's face it...female historians writing about women for we women to read is a pretty good formula! All the best with finding a copy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is so strange. I tried both the UK and the US versions and neither one has it. I clicked on the notify me when it becomes available.

      Delete
  8. I can't wait to read this! I would start now but I've got another NF on the go already. I am also reading (as part of my diary project) Few Eggs and No Oranges! I'm also about halfway through a novel set in London during the Blitz--it was published in 1942 (or thereabouts) and makes for fascinating reading! Love the photo by the way--it's beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Danielle, what's the novel?

      Delete
    2. Hi Susan, I checked Danielle's blog earlier because I wanted to know the same thing. It might be 'Darkness Falls From the Air' by Nigel Balchin. Let's see if she appears back here to let us know if that is right.

      Delete
  9. You have more than enough on the go at the moment but you will be so glad you bought this one, Danielle. I absolutely devoured Few Eggs and No Oranges, too bad the size of it puts off so many people, it's excellent!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Glad The Heiress is getting out and about exploring!

    Darlene you are naughty. I now have to have this book! Brilliant review as always. And yes do give Singled Out another bash because you will absolutely love it once you get into it, I promise!

    ReplyDelete