T ough and Dogged The second of the official histories of
the last war—The Zar in France and Flanders, 1939-40, by Major H. F. '11;s —was published on Monday. It will be reviewed atlength elsewhere in these pages; but I think one considered if tribute to the B.E.F. is worth quoting, because I doubt 11 the characteristics of a badly defeated army have ever been more generously assessed by their victors. I call it a con- sidered tribute because it was prepared by the German IV Corps, who fought the B.E.F. from the Dyle to Dunkirk, and was issued in August, 1940, to all German formations training for the invasion of England to give them an idea of what they would be up against after they landed : The English soldier (German italics) was in excellent 7,1311,Ysical condition. He bore his own wounds with stoical calm. A'ne losses of his own troops he discussed with complete was he did not complain of hardships. In battle he conquer tough and dogged. His conviction that England would 211cluer in the end was unshakeable. . , . The English soldier s ud always shown himself to be a fighter of high value. Cer- tain] 4 Y the Territorial Divisions are inferior to the Regular an p.c.° i Ps in training, but where morale is concerned they are 14: ir equal. In defence the Englishman took any punishment as came his way, . . ."
Previous page
