life in England Under the Terror

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 286, 4 December 1945, Page 6

life in England Under the Terror

MB. W. J. JORDAN’S MOVING ADDRESS TO ROTARIANS

Aa intensely human and colourful portrait of life in England during the war years was painted for his listeners by New Zealand’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mr. W. J. Jordan, in the course of an address to the Palmerston North Rotary Club last evening, when Mr. and Mrs. Jordan were the guests of honour at a social evening arranged by the Rotarians and their wives.

Avoiding the larger and betterknown events, Mr. Jordan, in simple, moving language, told the story of the ordinary people—their reactions to the war, their common bravery, and their humour at times of greatest strain. He took his audience on a tour of the coastal towns at the time of the return from Dunkirk; to Dover, during the most intense period of cross-channel shelling; to a London hospital, where preparations were in train for receiving casualties from the nightly air raids; into the streets during the height of the German blitz; into the homes of Londoners.

Mr. Jordan was introduced by Mr. C. W. Teppett who said he had known the guest of honour for 25 years. During Mr. Jordan’s absence in England he had kept a close contact. His appointment for a further term as High Commissioner not only created a record for the office, but also would meet with wide approval* throughout the country. There was no doubt that Mr. Jordan had been one of the most successful holders of the office, as well as one of the most popular. Glimpses of Britain at the time when the threat of war became a reality were the forerunner of Mr. Jordan's address. The period of tension was followed by the smash when war was declared, and the people of Britain engaged in a game of guessing when the war would end. He remembered one man saying it would be over by Christmas because hia brother never kept a job for more than two months, and his brother had enlisted.

Describing the stark drama of Dunkirk, Mr. Jordan said it was a period of testing for the British people such as had never been experienced before. Little craft of all descriptions began bringing the troops back from France — men who had stripped off most of their clothes the more easily to swim out to the boats* from the Dunkirk beaches. The people at Southgate and other coastal towns immediately had to find clothes and food. There was no plan, but the people answered the demands placed upon them. Britain under the strain of air raids by night and shelling by day, was wonderful. Everybody seemed to be ready for all the emergencies which occurred, and there was no 40-hour week. Mr. Jordan described tn« Teadiness of the hospitals to receive patients, the ambulances and fire brigades coping with emergencies in the streets. The full story of the British people’s heroism would never be to’d because it was too great to rec » :d. Thu disorganisation caused to transport ser vices was partially met by bringing buses from Glasgow, Hml and other distant cities.

Teh part played by the women of New Zealand was referred to by Mr. Jordan who described how the clothing sent to Britain by the Lady Galway Guild was disposed of to do the greatest possible good. He asked his listeners to picture people being rescued from bombed-out buildings in their night-attire, and all their other possessions destroyed. Their need was immediate, and the Women’s Voluntary Service (W.VJ3.) had lorries which went around loaded with clothing of all sizes. Among this clothing were the articles sent over by the women of New Zealand.

In expressing admiration of the British people, Mr. Jordan also expressed gratitude on behalf of millions of British people to the women’s organisations in New Zealand for their generous and wholehearted cooperation. "It makes us all proud to be of British stock when we hear such a story as Mr. Jordan has told us," said the president, in proposing a vote of thanks to the guest of honour.

On arrival Mrs. Jordan was presented with a shoulder spray of pink carnations by Mrs. Scott, wife of the president. Pleasure was given to the company by Miss K. Williams, witn vocal solos accompanied by Mrs. Esmer Rickard, also by Rotarian H. Pierard, Mrs. Pierard at the piano.