The Battle of Britain Five Months That Changed History, May—October 1940 by James Holland (z-lib.org).epub

evacuation of the BEF, his position had been greatly strengthened. Although
his energy and far-sightedness had been impressive, it was his resolve and
spirit, conveyed so brilliantly in his oratory, which helped unite the country.
He never shirked from revealing the harsh realities, yet he was also
relentlessly positive; there were no limits as to what might be achieved.
However formidable Hitler’s Germany might seem, no matter how dire
Britain’s situation, these challenges were surmountable. Such ardent selfbelief
was infectious.
Nearly 60 per cent of the population had listened to his ‘finest hour’
speech; his next, on 14 July, had been heard by nearly 65 per cent. This was
an incredibly high proportion of the population, especially when
considering that seventy years down the line the most popular television
programmes would only reach around 12 per cent of the population. This
broadcast, to the English-speaking world as much as to Britain, had been
another inspirational piece of oratory. ‘But all depends now,’ he told his
listeners, ‘upon the whole life-strength of the British race in every part of
the world and of all our associated peoples and of all our well-wishers in
every land, doing their utmost night and day, giving all, daring all, enduring
all – to the utmost – to the end. This is no war of chieftains or of princes, of
dynasties or national ambition; it is a war of peoples and of causes.’ As his
low, rumbling, distinctive voice came through the wireless sets of countless
offices and households in Britain and around the world, he finished with
another memorable flourish. ‘This is a war of the unknown warriors,’ he
announced, ‘but let all strive without failing in faith or in duty, and the dark
curse of Hitler will be lifted from our age.’ No wonder people felt inspired.
Churchill was certainly in an upbeat frame of mind, as General Brooke
discovered on 17 July when the PM visited Hampshire and Dorset to see the
troops and inspect coastal defences. ‘He was in wonderful spirits,’ noted
Brooke, now back in his old post as GOC Southern Command, ‘and full of
offensive plans.’ Large areas of the coast had now been designated
‘Defence Areas’. Straggling coils of barbed wire and mines were a feature
of most beaches, while piers and harbours were now lined with machine
guns, sandbags and even some of the precious anti-aircraft guns. The same
day, the US military attaché, Colonel Raymond Lee, had also been on a tour
to the coast. The defences, he thought, looked impressive. He was struck by
the apparent co-ordination: above, fighter aircraft roared over, while out at
sea were patrol boats and other naval vessels. On the land were the LDV