Badge of Freedom

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FranktheFrank
Posts: 1983
Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 18:07
Location: Between the mountains and the sea

Badge of Freedom

#1 Post by FranktheFrank » 05 Jun 2019, 15:40

Bill Downs, Bayeux Dispatch, A Badge of Freedom for the Resistance Warriors, Daily Mail, p. 2, Saturday, 10th June 1944
Hour by hour The first complete picture of life in France since the time of Dunkirk emerges in cables from the invasion front. The story to date, told by the Allied team of war correspondents. A badge of freedom is being today flaunted in the fields and streets of liberated
France
by every man and woman who once fought ‘underground’. It is a brand-new battle insignia recently issued and worn only by civilians. shown by the red, white and blue armband of the Fighting French and bearing the cross of Lorraine. Throughout the freed territory, Quislings and traitors are being hunted down and often flogged through the streets by French citizens in a frenzy of hatred. In a typical outburst the people of Bayeux seized the leading members of the collaborationist clique who had helped the Germans. The chief quisling of them was forced to march through the town, while the populace lashed at him with whips and sticks. There is a deep and intense bitterness among the French, more profound than anything we have experienced in Britain., says Christopher Buckley. Many of them says Richard MacMillan, have no conception of what the British suffered soon after the fall of France in holding out against German air raids, the U-boat campaign and the constant threat of invasion. They are surprised to know we have rationing. They thought Britain was a land of plenty. Germans bought up all luxury stocks with money the French regarded as valueless. ‘But We hid our best wines, says restaurateur told Lionel Shapiro. We are digging for it now, soon In two or three days we shall have our champagne and beautiful sauternes to serve to our allies. Wherever our troops arrive, they find Frenchmen who ask only for the chance to enlist and hit back at the Germans. Within the allied lines The French help round up groups of German snipers hidden in houses, shops, and debris. ‘In this village square,’ reports David McNichol, ‘ Two snipers who have been dragged from the church spire are being taken towards the beach. A soldier told me suspicion was aroused when a woman was in a black dress made three trips to the church.’ Yet some of the children have picked up a handful of German words – ‘Ja’ and ‘Nien’, they reply to our troops’ questions. This is a direct result of the attitude of the Occupiers. Only one case of overt collaboration has been recorded- that of a French girl who tried to pass through the wire cage to her captured German sweetheart a packet of photographs. And yet the old life of France continues, the orchards are sheathed in blossom that looks like snow. An old Paysanne keeps chickens in a canary cage. Now over the loudspeakers in freed France, from the whispering, hidden radios that the Germans still hold, come the words: ‘Allo! Ici Londres. Patience. On vienra bientot vous delivrer.’ 'Hello-London calling. Be Patient. We are coming to set you free.


******
Badge of Freedom

Bill Downs, Bayeux Dispatch, A Badge of Freedom for the Resistance Warriors,
Daily Mail, p. 2, Saturday, 10th June 1944

The First picture of life in France emerges
from the front. The badge of freedom flaunted
in the fields and streets of France. The red,
white and blue armband of the Fighting French
bearing the cross of Lorraine.

Quislings and traitors are hunted down
and flogged through the streets in a frenzy
of hatred. There is a deep and intense
bitterness among the French, more profound
than anything experienced in Britain.

The French help round up groups of German
snipers hidden in houses, shops, and debris.
Two snipers who have been dragged from
the church spire are being taken to the beach.

And yet the old life of France continues.
The orchards are sheathed in blossom that looks
like snow. An old Paysanne keeps chickens
in a canary cage. Now over the loudspeakers
and from the whispering, hidden radios
the Germans still hold, come the words:
'Allo! Ici Londres. Patience. On vienra bientot.'
'Hello-London Calling. Be patient. We are coming.

FranktheFrank
Posts: 1983
Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 18:07
Location: Between the mountains and the sea

Re: Badge of Freedom

#2 Post by FranktheFrank » 08 Jun 2019, 22:40

Final Version.

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: Badge of Freedom

#3 Post by BobBradshaw » 09 Jun 2019, 07:08

The last line is much better

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