Press Forward

In Britain’s darkest hour during World War Two, as British pilots came under devastating assault from Nazi Germany’s Luftwaffe, trusted and tried methods of the past were failing. They were suddenly asked to embrace something altogether un-British in the face of imminent invasion, the unorthodox arts of subterfuge.

Championing this new and unprecedented field of warfare was none other than Britain’s Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. The London Controlling Section (LCS), aka ‘the Dirty Tricks Committee’, was a curious organisation, one devoted entirely to leading the enemy down the garden path and dropping bombs on the neighbour's ‘gnomes’. This new way of fighting was based on cunning and trickery. The LCS would go on to play a pivotal role in orchestrating operations such as Operation Mincemeat, when a body with a briefcase of fake documents was dumped at sea to be found by the enemy, so selling them a bundle of false intelligence and plans. The ultimate achievement of this operation was the masterful deceptions prior to the D-Day landings. This and other strategies were deployed not only to resist invasion but to bring victory in Europe.

We find that in many areas of our own life: that if we never evaluate, adapt and adjust, we may be overrun. Real life is full of an assortment of challenges which could lead to outcries of “ceasefire” or “I give up”. This is not an option given in many instances. However, the beauty of human resolve is to never go quietly, but to resist when needed and press forward. Self-belief, strong community, a living faith and a fortitude to see a better world make us smile, even in adversity. 

In what has been a challenging year for us all, may you celebrate and reflect on victories of making the adjustments that you needed in order to succeed and still enjoy life with your children and all that you hold as dear. 

May God bless you and your families during this Christmas time.

Mr Stuart Clark
Assistant Head of Primary