The children who fought Hitler: How British expats became the Third Reich's fiercest foes

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 23rd October 2009 | Lisa Sewards

[naturalman1975]

Standing ramrod straight as they assemble in their blazers and caps emblazoned with BMS, the pupils of the British Memorial School fall silent as their headmaster raises the Union Jack before them.

The school captain steps forward to salute the flag. It is the cue for the entire school to launch into I Vow To Thee My Country.

.....

Of any British school in the 1930s, none could surely have had such a patriotic streak as this remarkable establishment. Yet, ironically, it wasn't in Britain at all - it was in Ypres, Belgium.

And it had another unique feature: it was attended almost exclusively by the working-class sons and daughters of the British gardeners who tended the WWI Imperial War Graves nearby.

.....

Trapped on the front line as Hitler's troops advanced, they were in a nightmarish situation. And what unfolded would turn young children into hardened fighters who, as they approached adulthood, became some of the bravest of the brave.

.....

At 16, Grady was the youngest member of his resistance group. But he was soon promoted to head of his section.

He helped orchestrate attacks on the railways and waterways to hinder German supply lines and, simply by dropping nails onto the road, would stop entire German ammunition convoys in their tracks.

.....

Following in his father's footsteps, Stephen Grady worked for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, becoming one of its leading figures, responsible for cemeteries in ten countries across the Mediterranean.

Among the many accolades he received for his wartime services, Grady was awarded the Croix de Guerre, mentioned in dispatches and given a personal message of thanks from U.S. President Eisenhower.

[PGR88]

What an interesting story.

Seems the brave and patriotic Brits won the war, but somehow lost the peace afterwards.

[ConservativeMind]

Great story. Thanks.

[fso301]

Very interesting

[ishabibble]

I really enjoyed this article. Thanks for posting.