大象传媒

In March 1938 I went on a school trip to Germany. I spoke to my opposite numbers in German but the Hitler Jungjugend always replied in English as they had been instructed to do so. We walked and talked with them. They all said that England had most of the Globe (Red for Canada, Australia etc.). assuming we could live in any Red areas (The British Empire was coloured Red on all maps and Atlases of the time). They said they needed "Lebensraum" living space). All had knives with a motto on them - I think "Blood and Honour" or something similar. Whilst I was in Cologne the "Auschlum mit Osterseed" took place when Austria was invaded. There were celebrations everywhere and we watched a massive parade through central Cologne with all the watchers giving the Nazi salute- except us. We deliberately did not. At the end of the holiday I returned to Peterborough where I was at school at the time.

During 1937 my parents made an agreement with a Braxelles Hotel owner, that one of their daughters should come and stay with us so she could improve her English (Summer 1938), and I should go to Braxelles in the summer of 1939 to improve my French.

I arrived at Mme. Roegiers Hotel in Braxelles on 31st July 1939. This is the excerpts from my diary: 05.08 Cycle to Waterloo and back with Paul (son): 10.08 Part of the family and I go by train to La Panne (seaside near french border): 23.08 Buy Daily Mail paper, full of German Russian agreement: 25.08. Belgian Troops mobilised: 01.09. Le Soir (newspaper) says Germany invades Pland: 03.09. Sunday morning I travel to Ostende my passport having been brought with a few other things from Braxelles.

Board boat at 11.20 am, mainly refugees on board. Delayed landing at Dover - Destroyers are there, forms to fill, Barrage Balloons are up in London. Get home that evening.

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