Over Here

I have nearly finished a most impressive book. "Over Here - the GI's in Wartime Britain", Juliet Gardiner.
First and foremost; Thank You urgh!!
What hits the hardest is when you consider that Brokaw's book "The Greatest Generation" extolling the virtues & sacrifices of the American Soldiers and US Citizens during WW2. Reading this book, those inconveniences pale in light of the austere conditions endured by our Allies. Something that really stands out to me that I had not fully considered or maybe just didn't realize before, is the Geographical area comparison. If one considers the whole of the UK, (England, Scotland & Wales) would nearly fit within the borders of Minnesota. Needing just a sliver of Wisconsin to hold the rest.
The hospitality of the British people welcoming into their homes of US Soldiers. Not enough for themselves and not merely sharing the meager rations but insisting on it. We had our "Victory Gardens" while The British version might be a couple of plants growing along the border fence. Two "almost" the same Cultures colliding head-on and combining to create a lasting Friendship strengthened forever by our shared sense of Honor, Duty & Country.


"Over Here" should be in everyone's Library who has an interest in WW2.

 

Thanks for the report on this book. The difficulties experienced by the Americans, while I knew the suffering of the British, are as nothing in comparison. Your reporting on this book shows those extremities. This is definitely on my reading list.

 

A most interesting book.
Now for : "Buddhism for Sheep"! Don't ask After I look up "dipping my hob nob in a plate of gravy" that is.

 

Here is part of what Mr. Sanford had to say about the British in our book, Old Hickory Recon:

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The book Turning the Tide touches these shortages tangentially. When the convoy system improved, so did the variety of the British diet, but that wasn't until late 1943 or 1944.