An American Uprising in Second World War England by Kate Werran

Author:Kate Werran
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY/Military/World War II
Publisher: Pen and Sword History

Not even being able to place half of those standing trial at the scene said little for Private Smith’s reliability as a witness. From what happened next, however, it was hard to believe that anyone – identified or not by Private Smith – understood the gravity of their plight.

For when court took its first break of the day, as if by magic, the seriousness of the situation dissipated into thin air as cigarette smoke rose, whispers became outright chatter and even laughter echoed around the court’s four walls. Some soldiers turned around to the press pack to borrow morning newspapers to see what had been written so far. Pointing out headlines and comparing notes, newspapers changed hands repeatedly and Defense Counsel Captain John A. Philbin strode up and down, all the while smoking and laughing with his clients.

But the prosecution team looked set to continue its winning streak as soon as court resumed ten minutes on with an even more senior and credible witness: Staff Sergeant Kenneth Blanchett, of the 581st Ordnance Ammunition Company. He told the familiar story of elusive night passes being tantalisingly within reach of his company, and then withdrawn at the last minute because they lacked the correct dress uniform. Sergeant Blanchett described how even the first pub they visited was packed full of white GIs who prickled visibly and volubly at their presence:

‘We walks inside there and all the gang of white soldiers sitting at a table and they said “That way out” and we didn’t pay no attention to them and went on to the bar, and the barman told us it was crowded there and said “Go round the other wise. You get served just the same.” So we all goes round the other side, and starts drinking this beer.’

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.