DEFEAT OF ENGLAND

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21992, 18 June 1941, Page 7

DEFEAT OF ENGLAND

“ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE" “It is absolutely impossible to defeat England because of the spirit of the people. Hitler could destroy every single house in London, and he would get no further, because the people cannot be beaten,” said Lady Wrench, wife of Sir Evelyn Wrench, who arrived in Auckland on Monday with her husband on a month’s tour of the Dominion. Lady Wrench, who is a daughter of the late Sir Victor Brooke, and sister of Sir Alan Brooke, Commander-in-Chiel of the Home Forces in Great Britain, has been honorary controller of the Overseas League since 1913. During the last war she was chairman of the Overseas League’s Soldiers and Sailors’ Fund and occupies the same position during the present war. Lady Wrench said the Overseas League in London had six houses in a group and the two best of theSfe were ba.. ,/ damaged during a particularly violent air raid. That day, said Lady Wrench, a luncheon had been previously arranged and, in spite of the dreadful night that had been experienced, this fixture was held and was one of the most successfuly of the .league’s functions. Illustrating her point that the British spirit could not be beaten, Lady Wrench said three or four members of the staff had had their own houses completely destroyed th same night and yet managed to arrive punctually for duty at the league the next day. Referring to the rationing of -cod, Lady Wrench said that in a letter She had received from her daughter recently she stated that she had been out to tea and had had a “lovely meal” of home-made dry bread and tiny radishes. Lady Wrench, who has just completed a lecture tour of the United States, said that one meal hi that country would keep a family in Great Britain for almost a week. The luxury and waste in that country was in striking contrast to the food problems of the British housewife. There was, however, never a complaint to be heard in England.