KING PRAISES BRITAIN’S MANY HEROES

Southland Times, Issue 24240, 25 September 1940, Page 5

KING PRAISES BRITAIN’S MANY HEROES

Assurance Of Victory After Stern Trials

(British Official Wireless) RUGBY, September 23. The King this evening in a broadcast heard by the whole world said:

“It is just over a year now since the war began. The British peoples entered it with open eyes, recognizing how formidable were the forces against them, but confident in the justice of their cause. Now, after a year, let us consider together where we stand. “Much has happened since September 1939. Great nations have fallen. The battle at that time was so far away that we could only just hear its rumbling. Now it is at our very doors. The armies of invasion are massed across the Channel, only 20 miles from our shores. The air fleets of the enemy launch their attacks day and night against our cities. “We stand in the front line to champion those liberties and traditions that are our heritage. As we brace ourselves for the battle there is much to encourage us. We have with us brave contingents from the forces of our Allies. We have behind us the goodwill of all who love freedom. Our friends in America have shown us this in many ways, not least by their gifts for the relief of suffering in this war. Nearer home, in the British Commonwealth itself, the struggle of the Mother Country has been made the struggle of the whole family. From every part of it, men and material are coming in an increasing flow, and there is an eager desire to share in the sacrifices which will bring us victory. LONDON IN FOREFRONT “In this battle for Britain, London, the mighty capital of the Empire, occupies the forefront. Others of our cities are being subjected to barbarous attacks and our sympathy goes out to them all. But it is London that is for the time being bearing the brunt of the enemy’s spite. lam speaking now from Buckingham Palace with its honourable scars to Londoners first of all, though, of course, my words apply equally to all the British cities, towns and hamlets who are enduring the same dangers. The Queen and I have seen many places here which have been most heavily bombed and many of our people who have suffered and are suffering most. Our hearts are with them tonight. Their courage and cheerfulness and their faith in their country’s cause and final victory are an inspiration to the rest of us to persevere. “To the men and women who carry on the work of the Air Raid Precautions services I should like to say a special word of gratitude. The devotion of these civilian workers, firemen, salvage men and many others in the face of grave and constant danger has won new renown for the British name. These men and women are worthy partners of our armed forces and our police, of the Navy, once more as so often before our sure shield, and of the Merchant Navy, of the Army and the Home Guard, alert and eager to repel any invader, and of the Air Force, whose exploits are the wonder - of the world. “Tonight indeed we are a nation on guard and in the line, each of us—each bit of duty done, however simple and domestic, is part of our war work. It takes rank with the sailors’ duty, the soldiers’ find the airmen’s duty. “Men and women in factories or on railways who work on regardless of danger though the sirens sound, maintaining all the services and necessities of common life and keeping the fighting line well supplied with weapons, earn their place among the heroes of this war. No less honour is due to all those who night after night uncomplainingly endure discomfort, hardship, and peril in their homes and shelters. NEW DECORATION ANNOUNCED “Many and glorious are the deeds of gallantry done during these perilous, but famous days. In order that they should be worthily and promptly recognized I have decided to create at once a new mark of honour for men and women in all walks of civilian life. I propose to give my name to a new distinction, which will consist of the George Cross and will rank next to the Victoria Cross, and the George Medal for - wider distribution. “As we look around us we see on every side that, in the hour of her trial, the Mother City is proving herself to be built as a city of unity. It is not walls that make a city, but the people who live within it. The walls of London may be battered, but the spirit of Londoners stands resolute and undismayed. As in London so throughout Britain. Buildings rich in beauty and historic interest may be wantonly attacked; humbler houses, no less dear and familiar, may be destroyed. But ‘There’ll always be an England’ to stand before the world as the symbol and the citadel of freedom and to be our own dear home.

“And here I would like to tell the sorrowing parents how deeply we grieve for them in the loss of their young ones in the ship torpedoed without warning in mid-Atlantic. Surely the world could have no clearer proof of the wickedness against which we fight than this foul deed.

“We live in grim times and it may be that the future will be grimmer yet. Winter lies before us, cold and dark, but let us be of good cheer. After' winter comes spring and after our present trials will assuredly come victory and a release from these evil things. Let us then put our trust, as I do, in God and in the unconquerable spirit of the British peoples.”

His Majesty broadcast from an underground shelter in Buckingham Palace during an air raid warning.