South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 05 September 1942
The Fourth Year
In those far-off days of the autumn of 1939, when the war was still a “phoney” one, the Government let It be known that they were basing their plans and preparations on a three years’ war. We have travelled a long and hard road since then, and have more cause than ever to be thankful that the future is mercifully veiled from us. There has been more disillusionment than any of us had bargained for, though in fairness to our leaders even in those early days the three years’ period was never put forward as a positive maximum, but rather as a probable minimum.
Many things have happened to upset these initial calculations, and we enter the fourth year of the war shorn of a good deal of the airy nonchalance which we blissfully maintained until the Iron scythe of Germany’s mechanised army slashed off our closest ally. There have been other catastrophes since the fall of France, but none more baneful to the cause of freedom. Greece, Crete, Malaya, and latterly Egypt emphasised the bitter lesson, but the supine surrender of France still stands out as the biggest single factor in prolonging the war. The defection is thrown into sorry relief by the gallant spirit of continued resistance shown by Poland, Norway, Holland, and Greece, whose leaders slipped through the fingers of the Nails and, refusing the role of Hitler’s puppets, raised the standard in a clime still, thank God, untainted by the rank breath of opposition
Despite all the adversity of the first three years of struggle to which the shrewdest prophets still wisely decline to set term we have solid grounds for satisfaction as we enter the fourth year. Aside from every mounting practical asset (and there are many of these), as • nation we have forged for ourselves a spirit whose temper approaches as near to the unconquerable as any people In history have ever attained. We have withstood grisly ordeals, and many a wrecked and reeking city bears witness to the fact that our portion has not been merely that of a community assailed and affrighted by tidings of disaster.
Under all this we have bent, but there is no sign of breaking. Instead, a new-found resilience can be sensed. Perils still beset us as the critical hours of 1942 run their course, but as we strive with increasing success to throw off the woeful burden of unpreparedness which has most grievously hampered us in the fight, we are conscious of a ; resurgence of the old strength. Side by side with a mighty ally, the United States of America, kindred folk, we turn our faces to the supreme task of democracy. The tide of production comes silent flooding in,” and as the colossal industrial momentum which the United Nations control advances towards its climax ours is the duty unerringly to direct its impact against the innermost strongholds of the Reich and bring them thundering down.
We have passed through great tribulation but have held on, for a weary time almost alone, in our championship of principles which now more than ever seem worth fighting for. The Axis powers and themselves no nearer beating down this retentions resistance despite a string of victories for which history can find no parallel. The struggle is entering its most desperate and remorseless phase: Democracy must not finch in this supreme hour of trial.