If you'll forgive me for quoting myself, the following comes from "Killing Rommel." The speaker is a young British lieutenant serving in North Africa in the Long Range Desert Group. He's talking about an upper middle class "public school" upbringing of the 1930s and earlier.
"The public schools of that era produced a type of young man who was keen but not academic, athletic but not muscle-bound, gay of heart and confident of mien, a solid bloke, the sort who would sooner die than let the side down. Put another way, the system turned out the kind of individual who frequently displayed boredom or feckless complacency during times of prosperity, but who shone through in hours of trial. I have often wondered of comrades who fell as heroes during the war if, in the fatal instant, they weren't privately relieved to do so, dreading a deadly post-war normalcy more than the bullets and cannon shells of the foe."
Great post, Charlie. So true!
If you'll forgive me for quoting myself, the following comes from "Killing Rommel." The speaker is a young British lieutenant serving in North Africa in the Long Range Desert Group. He's talking about an upper middle class "public school" upbringing of the 1930s and earlier.
"The public schools of that era produced a type of young man who was keen but not academic, athletic but not muscle-bound, gay of heart and confident of mien, a solid bloke, the sort who would sooner die than let the side down. Put another way, the system turned out the kind of individual who frequently displayed boredom or feckless complacency during times of prosperity, but who shone through in hours of trial. I have often wondered of comrades who fell as heroes during the war if, in the fatal instant, they weren't privately relieved to do so, dreading a deadly post-war normalcy more than the bullets and cannon shells of the foe."
Steve, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you.
Powerful quote. These archetypes make good travel companions.
A "solid bloke" is all I've ever wanted to be!
Agree with this - “Comfort is just not enough for the soul.”
Right?!? Loved that line. "Where the Mountain Casts its Shadow" is a powerful read. Stories of widow(er)s and children of climbing accidents.
Thanks for reading.