Walking the London Blitz by Clive Harris

Author:Clive Harris
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bisac Code 1: HIS027090: HISTORY / Military / World War I
ISBN: eBook ISBN: 9781783037292
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2003-12-18T16:00:00+00:00

Buckingham Palace, looking down the Mall.

The courtyard that houses the famous Trooping of the Colour now comes into view. Head towards the impressive Guards Memorial to your front. The bronze soldiers, cast from captured German guns, stand as a silent monument to the efforts of all Guards units during the Great War.

An elderly wartime policeman on traffic duty outside Horse Guards Parade.

On its sides the detailed carved panels and the list of battle honours represent an A to Z of the four years’ fighting on the Western Front. It also bears the scars of enemy air action from the last war. The courtyard itself housed its own barrage balloon, preventing low-level attacks, and belts of barbed wire and armed guards were evidence of the fear that spies and parachutists could breach naval security. As you cross towards the archway ahead to your right similar security today protects the rear of Downing Street, so access to the memorials on that side of the parade ground can be difficult. The older buildings such as the Old Admiralty, the Paymaster General’s Office and Dover House, which houses the Scottish Office, were hit on numerous occasions during the war and a casual glance at their frontages reveals replaced brickwork and deep scars.

Passing through the archway and out into Whitehall itself, here you can watch the Changing of the Guard. Remember, as you watch this simple but impeccably smart ceremony, that the soldiers are not just for display but are equally at home fighting in arctic, jungle or desert conditions. Our army today, as always, is one we can be justly proud of. Entering Whitehall, cross to its east side, passing in the centre of the road a statue of Sir Douglas Haig astride his charger and facing towards the Cenotaph. Again bomb damage is visible on its plinth. As you walk west towards the Houses of Parliament you pass three modern military statues. They are of Field Marshal Slim in his full jungle regalia, followed by Field Marshal Alanbrooke, graced with the title ’master of Strategy’ and finally Field Marshal Montgomery, simply inscribed ’monty’. It is worth remembering that all three of these deservedly lauded leaders were products of the often-criticized Haig’s command during the Great War. In 1918 in particular all underwent an immense learning curve that led to many of the modern battle tactics used by Second War commanders.

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