Here is a wonderful 1945 Christmas card that members of the 52nd Lowland (Mountain) Division, now in occupied Germany, sent home to their friends and loved ones. It was given to me by my good friend, John Sewell from Southport, who served with the 52nd during the war.
This is truly a card of joy and thanksgiving. WW2 was over and peace reigned throughout the world once again. I have attached a fold out view of the card followed by individual pages at full size for easier reading of their exploits.
The 52nd had fought hard and valiantly throughout the war. They evacuated from Cherbourg -- thereby escaping the debacle of Dunkirk -- during the collapse of France in 1940; they were billeted in tents at Kennet in southern England during the dark days of 1940/41 where they were a vital part of the pathetically meagre Invasion Reserve that was to defend Britain against a Nazi invasion; they trained for, and were a vital component of, the Allied D-Day+ invasion force in 1944; they fought through Holland and occupied northern Germany under Field Marshall Montgomery; they captured the key city of Bremen and were there at the Nazi surrender.
Many of them died or suffered terrible wounds -- now those that survived could relax and send a beautiful Christmas card home. We owe these heroes so very much -- our present day freedom and enjoyment of life. In my opinion we should all honor their memories at this Christmas holiday season by maintaining a spirit of goodwill toward each other and giving thanks for the life we enjoy -- putting aside grouchiness, ill-will and animosity. We owe the heroes of WW2 who sacrificed so much for us at least that much.
James
