The First Dark Quarter
"What can I say about 1936? It was tough for sure, but nobody these days really knew how tough. There was rationing with some goods, the economy was brittle and there wasn't too much hope for a truly free Union of Britain. We had the Germans controlling Europe, the Royalists plotting their revenge against us and our families... Hope was not a common luxury. But we looked forward to brighter times with each passing day, for the elections were next year, the elections many a Briton fought and many died for in the revolution. God knows my father doesn't shtum about it. But I digress, I guess you want to know what actually happened back then don't you? The events that set the world to the path of destruction? Or the events that set the path to freedom? Take a seat, and let me tell you a story."
Russia was one of the most badly affected nations back in the Great War, losing a lot of her old imperial land was of no consequence to us, but at least they were on our side against the Germans. Although when their own revolution came about, my uncle was shipped over there, but don't tell anyone about that ok? He was a part of the brigade called "The Red Hussars", he couldn't send us pictures, though we got some letters when I was a lad. Dad never liked to talk about him though, said "One war was too much, to go to another was plain daft". Can't say I blame him, when the Germans finally moved in, it was all over.
Just when we thought the Germans couldn't be more antagonistic, they go ahead and keep on building up their war machine at sea, despite internal protests the papers were saying. Then out of the blue Oswald Mosley calls a meeting with several international leaders, what was he thinking? At the time, we didn't know, but it couldn't be good. He was always a crook.
Seemed that Mosley was busy over the whole "Totalist Charter" propaganda and hailed it as a great success. My father was furious when he read it in the paper, I've never seen him lose it before, I was actually scared. From what I could pick up from his anger was along these lines "What the hell did we fight for against the goddamned royalty if this comes about?! We trade one dictator for another? Need we have another revolution?! Can't we just bloody go about our lives in peace without some overlord taking our god given right for freedom?!" He stormed out after he realized how angry he was, I stayed back in the house to comfort my mother. She never uttered a word. Not a single word.
To think things in Europe weren't shaky enough, the Russians are pushing for Boshevism now! Needless to say the flicker screens were loving it, as was Mosley, seeing it as a chance to help our Russian 'allies' once more in their fight for freedom against the oppressors of Europe. When isn't there an oppressor?
The old codger George V has passed on, it was very tense back home. Nobody wanted to talk about it, nobody wanted to celebrate. While after the war, support for the royalty greatly diminished and they attacked us in our mines, they did resemble one of the most stable leaderships in modern times. I guess it was more of an honourable silence, nationwide. We just never said it was so.
With Canada being the head of what is left of the broken empire, its only right his pampered son takes his place. Prince of Wales my two bottom cheeks! What gives him the right to rule over us? To claim a throne in a land he doesn't own? Self-obsessed little rotter! Although I swear there were some people tuning into the wireless to hear his voice, to hear the new enemy stirring. I think some people want to go back to royal rule. Not on my watch. Not on my watch.
It was actually quite comforting to know the French weren't exactly going to be rocking the boat with their government, sure they want to spread their values, and we shared a lot of common beliefs back then, but the problem was how?
Our navy may have been a little underpowered back in the old days of the Republic, but she certainly wasn't to be trifled with. We had those new aircraft carriers, I saw the RNS Rebecca dock in Cardiff once, she was a beauty, not like those ugly battleships. Anyone can carry a gun, but to carry a plane? That's an honour. I wondered if my cousin Lewis would be stationed on her, he was in training back then. We decided to scare the heck out of the Irish, not for a joke, but to show the world this message. "We are Britain, we are united, we are strong!". Ireland knew that, and they fell silent amidst our power.
Black Monday may have been destroying the Germans economy, but that didn't stop their little brothers from usurping power in the Italian Federation. I heard a priest in the local pub talk about how the Austrians are trying to rule Europe again as some sort of Holy overlords. I just hoped the Italians in the South didn't do anything rash.
"Well now, let's take a break, this old man needs some tea."
