Dr Barclay,
I found this extract from your article published a
year ago today to be, sadly, reflective of how so little has changed in certain regards in the intervening years.
"In October 1940, however, the forces defending Scotland received a major reinforcement – about 18,000 Polish soldiers, who had been evacuated from France in June. With the then commonplace British attitude to foreigners, Carrington at first wanted to use the Polish units merely to cut timber, but their value as well-trained, experienced and highly motivated troops soon became clear. They significantly improved the beach defences they had inherited in Angus and Fife, built far more effective pillboxes, and positioned them much better than their British colleagues had done. One British Home Defence infantry battalion revealingly described the Poles as “too keen”, perhaps reflecting the unfortunate British “amateur” disdain for the professional".
Plus ca change.