Rededication of the Canadian National War Memorial

Just as many other nations in the world, Canada has a long and honoured Military tradition. Our great Nation, has an extremely long military history - much of that storied history took place before Canada was officially a country/dominion of the British Empire. Canada has always celebrated Remembrance Day, remembering all those who served and died for Canada during war time. During the 2014 Remembrance Day ceremonies Princess Anne helped rededicate the National War Memorial for the third time in its history. Adding two new sets of Dates. 1899-1902 (The South African War) and 2001-2014 (The War in Afghanistan)

The British North America Act of 1867 officially created the Dominion of Canada, and within forty years, Canada would send its first troops overseas to fight in a conflict for the British Empire. Canada would send more than 7,000 troops to South Africa to fight the Boers, descendants of the regions first Dutch immigrants.  Between 1899 and 1902 Canadians fought the Boers, who were not expected to last long against the worlds foremost military power, but the Boers, using what can only be described today as Guerrilla warfare tactics. By the end of the conflict 267 Canadians had paid the ultimate sacrifice, and  many more were injured. Over the past century, there are smaller local monuments commemorating their sacrifice, as well the names of the dead are listed in the Book of Remembrance in Ottawa. The war itself divided Canadians, mainly along language lines, similarly to the Great War in Canada. Remembrance has always been a difficult issues when it came to the South African War. It became part of the National War Memorial this year, and will now always be remembered as part of Canada's fight for freedom and equality around the world.

The South African War dates are added to the side of the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Canada (Photo courtesy of http://blogs.canoe.ca/davidakin/?p=108461)

The second set of dates added to the National War Memorial, are those of Canada's participation in the War in Afghanistan. Starting in 2001 following the attacks of September 11th 2001, Canada sent troops as part of the NATO and UN International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and originally deployed to Kabul, in a non-direct combat roll. Later Canada would redeploy to Kandahar and take part in a direct combat rolls between 2006-2012, before redeploying to Kabul to help train the Afghan National Army. By the official end of the mission - 158 Canadians had paid the ultimate sacrifice and thousands more injured and are facing PTSD, something Canadians have not dealt with on this level through its more "Peacekeeping" operations since the end of the Korean War. When Canada ended official combat operations in 2012, many Canadians called for the government to add the Afghan War dates to the monument, but they were met with restraint, as the deployment of Canadians to Afghanistan had never been officially labelled as a "declared War" - except by the media and historians alike. Members of the government began describing the conflict as a War, but it officially its status remained in limbo - Until this Remembrance Day - when the dates were added to the National War Memorial. It is fitting, as Canada's longest lasting combat operation, and single military operation, lasting thirteen years, and seeing more than 40,000 Canadians see active duty in Afghanistan, the War in Afghanistan deserves to be remembered on a National scale. 

The Afghan War dates added to the side of the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Canada with three members of the Canadian forces who served in Afghanistan standing in front of the newly added dates. (Photo courtesy of http://blogs.canoe.ca/davidakin/?p=108461)

The Nurse and the Thorn of the Mediterranean

While visiting the Islands of Malta and Gozo today, you will find a mix of Middle Eastern and Western cultures living together. The small Island nation of 316 square kilometres, you might not think much of this dot of three islands as they appear on World Maps. In fact, in most cases, the Capital of Valletta is often all you can make out on a Map. The small nation is 96 km south of Sicily, and 290 km North of Northern Africa, putter her right smack in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.  

Throughout history, Malta was an important trading post for the Mediterranean, ships from all over would come and trade goods. from around the known world. The island became known for its massive limestone fortifications under the Knights Templar, who later became known as the Knights of Malta, and it was from the Capital of Valletta, that the Knights defeated the Turks in 1565. 

Like many other areas of the world Malta has succumb to the interests of many world powers, due to her strategic positioning. In 1800 it became part of the British Empire, and Britain would largely use the Island as a coaling depot for its growing Navy, and base of its Mediterranean fleet. 

It would become a major player, for very different reasons during the two World Wars. 

Rev'd Albert Mackinnon, appropriately titled Malta, the Nurse of the Mediterranean in his 1916 work that described what he witnessed while in Malta during World War One. (The Book can be viewed online, or PDF here:  https://archive.org/details/maltanurseofmedi00mackuoft) 

During World War One, twenty seven hospitals and medical camps were established on the small island - and when there were only four military hospitals at the outset of the war in 1914, that is a massive number. 

Casualties started  to arrive on May 4th 1915 - from the Battle of Gallipoli, when 600 casualties arrived. The men were unloaded onto barges and brought through the quayside outside Valletta's ancient Sacra Infirmaria hospital (which was established by the Knights of St. John in the early 1500s - and can still be visited today) The Sacra Infirmaria was the longest hospital ward in Europe until the nineteenth century. 

Over the course of the next two years, more than 64,500 casualties were sent and treated in Malta, the vast majority of these recieved in the summer and autumn of 1916.  Post-war estimates are as follows: 

Casualties treated between May 1915-1919 from the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force: 58,000

Casualties treated between May 1916-1919 from the Solonika Expeditionary Force: 78,000 

* Not all patients survived treatment or injuries 

War dead, nurses and doctors who died of diseases while treating causalities are buried at the Pieta Military Cemetery in Malta. 

The Second World War 

During World War Two - Malta's roll was different - she again played a small part in nursing war casualties, but she became know as the Thorn in the side of Rommel in his War in North Africa. 

Convoys were being shipped across the Mediterranean from Greece and Italy to support the Nazi March across Africa, and for a while went unchecked by the Allies. Britain choose to base a handful of outdated Hawker Hurricane aircraft on the island for defence from Nazi bombers, and as a very small 'deterrent' for invading the island. These Hurricanes, quickly became useful in attacking the Nazi supply convoys reaching North Africa. 

Nazi Germany began to understand the strategic importance of Malta, and began constant bombing of the island, and for a period, it became the most bombed place on Earth between June of 1940 and November of 1942. More than 15,000 tonnes of explosives were dropped over that period and close to 11,000 buildings destroyed or extensively damaged. King George awarded the Islands of Malta for "bear[ing] witness to the heroism and devotion of its people during the great siege it underwent in the early parts of World War Two'

By the end of the campaign, the handful of Hurricanes, numbered in the hundreds and nearly completely destroyed the convoys to North Africa, cutting Rommel off from his supplies, and allowing the Allies a victory in Africa. 

Following the African campaign the Larscaris War Rooms (Which can be visited today), located underneath the Lascaris Battery in Valletta, which were dig into the Limestone during the bombings were used to plan, and coordinate the Allied Invasion of Sicily 1943. The complex is located 150 feet bellow the surface. 

Remembering History - Giving Malta the credit which is due - as a Nurse to our Allies, and a Thorn to our Enemies. 

The Second Battle of Copenhagen 1807

Unlike the Battle of Copenhagen of 1801, which is famously remembered for Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson holding his telescope to his blind eye to miss Admiral Sir Hyde Parker's signal to withdraw, the Second Battle of Copenhagen (1807) saw the British Fleet blockade Copenhagen to capture the Danish-Norwegian Fleet anchored in port.

This post - comes after reading Sharpe's Prey by Bernard Cornwell, it is the fifth novel in the series. Following the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, Napoleon lost not only the French Navy, but also the Spanish Navy, forcing him to delay his plans to invade the British Isles. The only country with a navy large enough to challenge that of the British, was Denmark-Norway. Denmark-Norway had the largest merchant fleet in Europe, as a result had the second largest navy to protect that fleet.  In July of 1807, Napoleon signed the Treaty of Tilsit with Tsar Alexander I of Russia, where Russia secretly agreed that Napoleon could invade the neutral state of Denmark-Norway and seize the Danish Fleet and use it to invade the British Isles.

British intelligence agencies had learned of the secrete between Napoleon and Alexander, and send political aids to Copenhagen to try and persuade the Crown Prince to loan the Danish Fleet to Britain to keep it safe from Napoleon. The Crown Prince refused as he believed Denmark neutrality would protect it from Napoleon's wrath.

The British believing that the Baltic Sea was of strategic importance for both defence and trade, assembled a force of 25,000 troops and 22 Battle and Bomb Ships set sail for Copenhagen. 8 other Battle and Bomb ships would sail and arrive later.

A small British force landed south of Copenhagen, commanded by General Sir Arthur Wellesley, defeated a larger force of Danish Regulars and Militia at the Battle of Koge, which allowed the British to establish Mortar pits on Danish soil. With the city surrounded, the British sent a request to General Ernest Peymann, who was in command of Copenhagen's defence force to surrender the Danish fleet or suffer the consequences. Peymann and others around him had prepared the city to endure a long British Siege, stockpiling food and supplies. Peymann believed that the British who were not barbarians like Napoleon, would never bombard the city, especially because they knew women and children were still in the city.

When the Danes refused to surrender the fleet, on September 2nd, the British opened up their mortar teams from both the ground and the sea.  The British also used Congreve Rockets during their bombardment, which were specifically used as incendiaries, causing major fires in the city. Some 5,000 bombs and rockets fell on Copenhagen the first night. During the day, the Danes went about their business as if the British siege was not taking place. Following a clean up, and burying their dead, things went on like normal. For the next two nights the British resumed bombing, but using less and less bombs and rockets, which led Peymann to believe the British were running low on munitions, and would have to wait for replenishment from Britain, so he refused to hand over the Danish fleet.

The Crown Prince, and the mass of the Danish-Norwegian Army was in the South of Denmark preparing to defend against a French invasion. Defending against an invasion for the same purpose, to protect the Danish Fleet.  The Crown Prince, fearing a worse wrath of the British fleet, and perhaps a Breach attempt of Copenhagen's walls by General Wellesley, send word to burn the Danish fleet, so that it could not fall into the hands of either Britain or France.

Shelling of Copenhagen Sept 4th 1807

On the night of September 5th, the British released a fire-storm of more than 7,000 bombs and rockets on Copenhagen, targeting a new section of the city. Perhaps it was because of the confusion of that night, the Prince's order to burn the Danish Fleet was never followed, and the Danes sued for peace. Close to 200 civilians were killed and close to 800 were injured. Much of the city was burned, and would take a generation to rebuild.

The British captured 24 Battle Ships, 17 Frigates, 11 Brigs, and 3 Gunships. Because they were not handed over, but captured during a 'war' the British treasury paid out small fortunes in Prize money for capturing enemy vessels. In doing so, it ensured that Napoleon could not invade Britain, but forced Denmark to ally itself with France.

The British left Copenhagen in October 21st 1807, but would become more involved in the war against Napoleon, which would last until 1814.

Perhaps it is because the British Navy bombarded a largely civilian population, or perhaps it is because they basically stole a neutral countries fleet to protect itself, the Second Battle of Copenhagen is largely forgotten - well today it is remembered.

For a great Historical Fiction perspective on it - read Sharpe's Prey.

Remembering History - The Second Battle of Copenhagen 1807

The Capture of Gawilghur 1803

This is my third post following the events of the Richard Shape series by Bernard Cornwell - and will discuss the British capture of the Fortress of Gawilghur - which until 1803, had never been captured by enemy forces. This event was dramatically described in Sharpe's Fortress 

The fortress of Gawilghur was a strongly fortified mountain stronghold of the Maratha Empire in the Deccan Mountain range in India. The exact date of its construction is unknown, but it was believed to have been heavily fortified around 1424. The the fortress combined two forts, and outer and an inner. It was always believed that the Outer fort was to deter an attacking enemy while those inside retreated to the inner fort, which was protected by a ravine, and only had one entrance, only  accessible through a gate house, via a narrow twisting corridor. 

Following the British victory against the Maratha at the battle of Argaum, the remaining Maratha forces retreated to the mountain strong hold, believing that they could outlast the British forces. 

The British forces, led by Sir Arthur Wellesley set up camp at  the base of the mountain, well out of range of the fortresses guns, and began building a road up to the fortress, where they would establish a base for its guns to open a breach in the Outer Forts walls. The outer walls were in poor repair, as it was always meant as a decoy, and the British were successful in breaching the walls, and sent in the 11th Regiment of Foot, 94th Regiment of Foot, and a group of Sepoys on December 15th 1803. 

The Inner fort had a small service entrance at the south side, was was virtually inaccessible for an army. That being said, the 74th and 78th Highlanders attached the south side as a diversion, so that the Maratha forces believed they were being attached on two fronts. 

The breach was extremely steep, due to the fact that much of the walls were built on the end of cliffs. British soldiers had difficulty climbing while keeping their riffles in their hands. Many resulted in almost crawling to ascend the breaches. 

Once the British made it up the Breaches, they quickly over ran the defending Maratha forces. And for reasons yet to be discovered, instead of allowing the retreating forces inside the inner fort, the doors we closed. (Most likely due to a fear the British would advance too quickly). The retreating forces were slaughtered by the British and Sepoy troops. 

Perhaps over confident by their quick capture of the outer fort, the British sent in wave after wave to capture the gate house of the inner fort, and were slaughtered. The narrow twisting corridor housed three doors to gain access to the inner fort, and the walls above the corridor were heavily defended, and the Maratha forces threw rockets and musket fire at the approaching British troops. With no success after three waves, the assault looked doomed. 

Doomed, until Captain Campbell and his 94th Light Infantry discovered a difficult, but accessible way to climb the inner walls, out of sight of the defending Maratha forces. They were successful in fighting the Maratha forces around the gate house from behind, catching them by surprise, and opened up the doors to the awaiting forces outside. 

By the end of the day the once great fortress of Gawilghur had fallen, and the British had suffered the loss of 150 soldiers, while the Maratha had lost close to 4000, in what can only be seen as a lopsided miscalculation of a forts capabilities. 

A number of prominent historians have questioned why the Maratha did not further fortify both the outer and inner fort before the British attacked. While the Fortress of Gawilghur did not poses the riches of gold as others the British captured, but it had a fully stocked armoury that was never fully deployed. The British took more than a week building a road up to the fort, ample time for the Maratha to further defend both forts. Jac Weller (Military Historian) was quoted a number of times before he died as saying about Gawilghur, {that} 'three reasonably effective troops of Boy Scouts armed with rocks could have kept out several times their number of professional soldiers' 

The fall of Gawilghur ended the Second Anglo-Maratha war. The British did return the fort to the Maratha Empire - but it was never restored or used as a stronghold again. Total the walls lay in ruins, and the breaches can still be climbed if your up to the steep climb. 

Remembering the Capture of Gawilghur - December 15 1803 

The Battle of Assaye 1803

The Second Post of mine to be inspired by Bernard Cornwell's Richard Sharpe series - The Battle of Assaye in September of 1803 is the centre of the novel - Sharpe's Triumph 

Major General Arthur Wellesley (later First Duke of Wellington) (mounted) commanding his troops at the Battle of Assaye

The Battle of Assaye - is one of the most decisive battles, and lopsided British victories I have ever read about.  It was a major battle in the fields outside of the small Indian village of Assaye, part of the Second Anglo-Maratha War, fought between the Maratha Confederacy and the British East India Company in September of 1803.

Originally one large army, in August 1803 - General Arthur Wellesley separated his force, and gave half of it to the command of Colonel James Stevenson. By dividing his army, Wellesley thought he would be able to seek out the Maratha faster - and support the other Army once the enemy was located. Stevenson's army throughout the summer continued a hot pursuit of Maratha cavalry that continued to raid into Hyderbad. 

In September, Wellesley received intelligence that the Maratha had created an encampment, and he planned on attacking them while they were unprepared. Wellesley anticipated that it would take three days for his army to travel to meet the Maratha Army, but the Maratha encampment was nearly 10km farther south than Wellesley's intelligence suggested, meaning the two armies converged after two days.

The Maratha Army of nearly 70,000 infantry and cavalry was under the command of Colonel Anthony Pohlmann, a German native, who was previously a Sergeant in the British East India Company - and had sold his services to the highest bidder. Pohlmann had received word that Wellesley and Stevenson were planning to converge on his camp, and established himself on the far side of the River Kaitna and River John, and fortified the only two fords that were thought to exist - believing they would destroy the British red coats when they attempted to cross the river.

When Wellesley first say the fields that would become the battle field, he feared crossing the river at the known fords, until he saw the villages of Peepulgaon and Waroor on opposite sides of the river. Despite local intelligence that no ford existed, Wellesley knew that the two neighbouring villages must be connected. He was right. Wellesley's Army was able to cross the river with little resistance from the Maratha Army.

During the crossing, the Maratha cannons fired on the crossing infantry units - and started to do their damage - the fords did not allow the British to bring their artillery across the river - and the Infantry and Indian units would advance in a tight line within musket range of the gunners.  The Maratha had 98 cannons firing at the advancing the British line, which would cause major casualties on the advancing British line.

Where the battle was won was on the 74th and 78th Highlander Infantry Front - both units sent a battalion of pickets marching towards the firing artillery - and continued to within musket range. The Maratha had never seen a single unit so determined - as the kilted 78th continued their advance - following the volley musket fire - they charged with bayonets which caused the gunners to abandon their positions. When the awaiting Maratha saw their gunners where overrun by a single British unit - many began to run in fear. The 74th had misunderstood Wellesley's orders and on their approach came too close to the village of Assaye. Assaye - which meant they were partly surrounded by the remaining Maratha artillery and the artillery from Assaye. The 74th used the bodies of their dead comrades to protect themselves from the continued oncoming fire, while at the same time attacked by the Maratha cavalry from their rear. Wellesley realized that if the 74th was destroyed the right flank would be open - and sent in British cavalry to support them.

Once the cavalry arrived to support the 74th - the remaining Maratha Army began to flee - and Wellesley - with his Army of approximately 10,000 infantry and cavalry - had defeated the Maratha Army of 70,000 - but this came at a great cost. The British East India Company and the British Army suffered 428 killed, 1138 wounded and 18 MIA, while the Maratha army -  suffered more than 6,000 casualties and lost 98 cannons captured.

The 74th started with a strength of about 500 men - had ten officers killed, 7 more officers wounded. Another 124 men from the ranks were killed and another 270 wounded. the 74th Picket Battalion only had 75 men remaining.

Stevenson and his Army never made it to the Battle - although they were only 10 km West - he was mislead by his guide - who he later executed believing that he was purposely mislead. Wellesley for the rest of his career described Assaye as his Greatest victory, but the "bloodiest for the numbers that he ever saw"

Remembering History - The Battle of Assaye - 1803 

The Siege of Seringapatam 1799

I have recently taken to reading Bernard Cornwell's Richard Shape novels. In his first novel, Sharpe's Tiger the main character Private Sharpe serving in the Kings Army in India takes part in the Siege of Seringapatam. Following finishing the book - I opted to do some research on the battle that was the main focus of the novel.

The Last Effort and Fall of Tippoo Sultan by Henry Singleton

The Siege of Seringapatam in 1799 was the second siege of the great fortress city by the British Red Coats - the first occurred in 1792. In 1799, after several years of the Tipu Sultan's rule, the British decided that it was time to replace him as the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore - and the siege ended the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, which had been waging for a year, and was the final of the Anglo-Mysore Wars.

The Tipu Sultan believed that with Napoleon's landing in Egypt in 1798 would lead to France challenging British rule in India. The Tipu had several French officers in his service, and believed that if he could defeat the British and their allies, he would be welcomed by Napoleon for making his conquering of India easier. Colonel Arthur Wellseley (later the 1st Duke of Wellington) had other ideas, and marched his Army towards Seringapatam to end the Tipu's rule.

When the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War broke out, the British assembled in to large armies under General George Harris, with troops from the British East India Company, and local Indian Sepoys - mainly supplied by the Nizam of Hyderabad. The two forces together numbered some 50,000 Infantry and cavalry. They faced a fortified city with the Tipu's forces numbering 30,000 - largely diminished following the third Anglo-Mysore War.

Although outnumbered the Tipu had planned to massacre the British troops when they breached the walls of Seringapatam. During the siege of 1792, the British breached the North-West Wall and captured the city. Harris and Wellseley planned to breach the same part of the walls, as it had been poorly rebuilt - not knowing the Tipu had planted a large mine beneath the wall, and built a secondary wall behind the first. The Tipu planned to ignite the mine when the British breached the exterior wall, and got themselves trapped between the two walls.

Over night on May 1st, the British established their batteries and began their breach on May 2nd at Sunrise. The batteries of Hyderabad opened a practical breach in the outer wall early in the morning hours, and they were lucky enough that one of their artillery rounds struck the mine beneath the wall, causing it to detonate prematurely.

On May 4th in the mid afternoon- the British 73rd and 74th Highland Regiments climbed the breach and the ramparts attacking the city - and the Tipu's forces quickly surrendered to the fearsome Scottish troops. The British attacked during the hottest hour of the day - as it caught the Tipu's forces re-hydrating. Within 16 minutes of assaulting the great city - the British had complete control of the city - and the Tipu was found dead in the Water Gate - having been shot several times.

Two of the Tipu's cannons which were caputured during the battle are now displayed at the Royal Military College in Sandhurt, and the Tipu's Tiger - an automaton was captured and is now on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Add captionTipu's Tiger in the V&A Museum, London showing the prostrate European being attacked

Remembering History - The Siege of Seringapatam 1799

Most Decisive Battles of World History

This is a working List - based on a course given by Professor Gregory S. Aldrete (University of Wisconsin). I have added several battles that I believe should be on this list - Before I get to work - I want you opinion if anything else should be included?

- 1274 BCE - Kadesh - The Greatest Chariot Battle
- 479 BCE - Plataea - Greece Wins it's Freedom
- 331 BCE - Gaugamela - Alexander's Genius
- 197 BCE - Cynoscephalae - Legion Vs. Phalanx
- 31 BCE - Actium  Birth of the Roman Empire
- 260-110 BCE - China Struggles for Unification
- 636 - Yarmouk & Al-Qadisiyyah - Islam Triumphs
- 751 - Talas & 1192  - Tarain - Islam into Asia
- 1066 - Hastings - Williams Conquers England
- 1187 - Hattin - Crusader Desert Disaster
- 1260 - Ain Jalut - Can the Mogols Be Stopped?
- 1410 Tannenberg - Cataclysm of Knights
- Frigidus, Badr, Diu - Obscure Turning Points
- 1521 - Tenochtitlan - Aztecs Vs. Conquistadors
- 1532 - Cajamarca - Inca Vs. Conquistadors
- 1522- Rhodes - The Ottomans expel the Knights
- 1526 & 1556 -  Panipat - Babur & Akbar in India
- 1565 - Malta - The Knights Defeat the Ottomans
- 1571 - Lepanto - Last Gasp of the Galleys - Knights Crush the Ottoman Fleet
- 1592 - Sacheon - Yi's Might Turtle Ship
- 1600 - Skigahara - Samurai Showdown
- 1683 - Vienna  - the Great Ottoman Siege
- 1709 - Poltava - Sweden's Fall, Russia's Rise
- 1759 - Quebec - Battle for North America
- 1776 - Trenton - The Revolution's Darkest Hour
- 1781 - Yorktown - The French and Americans join forces to defeat Britain
- 1805 - Trafalgar - Nelson Thwarts Napoleon
- 1807 - Copenhagen - The British Bomb the Danes into Submission
- 1813 - Leipzig - The Grand Coalition
- 1824 - Aycucho - South American Independence
- 1836 - San Jacinto - Mexico's Big Loss
- 1862 - Antietam - The Civil War's Bloodiest Day
- 1866 - Koniggratz - Bismark Molds Germany
- 1905 - Tsushima - Japan Humiliates Russia
- 1914 - Marne - Paris is Saved
- 1916 - Jutland - largest naval battle and the only full-scale clash of battleships in WW1
- 1939 - Khalkhin Gol - Sowing the Seeds of WW2
- 1939-45 - Battle of the Atlantic - Germany forced into Submission
- 1942 - Midway- Four Minutes that Changed Everything
- 1942 - Stalingrad - Hitler's Ambitions are Crushed

Sir Nicholas Winton - World War Two Humanitarian Revealed 50 years later

Sir Nicholas Winton (Take in Prague in 2007)

While this story first came to being in 1988 and again in 2002 - when it was revealed that now Sir Nicholas Winton was revealed as a humble stock broker from London who helped save hundreds of Jewish children out of then Czechoslovakia prior to the our break of World War Two - it aired on 60 Minutes on Sunday April 27th 2014, and it is more than worth sharing.

Born as Nicholas Wertheim on May 19th 1909 in Hampstead, London to Germany Jewish parents who arrived in London in 1907. The family changed its name to Winton as an effort to integrate into British society. Nicholas not the greatest student in his youth, attending Stowe School, he left before graduating. He got himself a job at the Midland Bank, and began taking nigh courses working towards his qualifications. After a few years Nicholas moved to Hamburg, Germany and began working for Behrens Bank and later Wasserman Bank in Berlin. In 1931, he uprooted again to France, and worked for the Banque Nationale de Credit n Paris, and finished his banking qualifications. He later decided to return to London, where he found work as a stockbroker at the London Stock Exchange.

 With Hitler's rise to power in the German Riech in the mid to late 1930s in Germany, Nicholas began monitoring the news about border closings and the blatant anti-Semitic regime that was taking shape. in early December 1938 as he was about to take a ski trip to Switzerland, he changes his travel plans at the last minute, and travelled instead to Prague and met up with close friend involved in refugee work. That friend was Martin Blake who was attempting to help Jewish refugees who had fled Czechoslovak cities as the German's marched across the boarder. The state of affairs in the refugee camps was deplorable, little food, shelter and heat. This was especially true for the young children.

After seeing the refugee camps, Winton set up an organization in his hotel room in Prague to help families wishing to get their children out of the country. On returning to London, he kept the organization running remotely, working the stock exchange during the day, and the organization at night. The trouble was, politics kept getting in his way. Winton spent time with member of Parliament to get permission to bring Jewish refugees into the country - but the system was too slow. Following the events of Kristallnacht in November 1938, the British House of Commons approved measures to allow refugees under the age of 17 to enter the country - as long as they had somewhere to stay and held enough money to deposit for their return after the war.

Winton still needed to get the children from Prague to London...a long and dangerous voyage that needed to cross Nazi Germany. The shortest distance went From Prague, though Germany, and into the Netherlands, but following the events of Kristallnacht, the Netherlands closed its borders to Jewish refugees. This stalled Winton's plan to use the ferry at Hook of Holland. With the help of London, Winton was able to convince the Dutch government to allow him to cross the borders with refugees. Winton found homes for 669 children, but the House of Commons was extremely slow at issuing the required travel documents - so Winton and his organization used his wealth and connections to basically blackmail quicker speeds. When that did not work - they forged the required documentation. In August 1939, the first train left Prague headed for London with all 669 children aboard. Winton set out getting another 250 children out - the Train was ready to leave on September 1st 1939 - the day World War Two Broke out - all borders were closed to non - military transportation. The 250 children and the parents of almost all the 669 from the original train perished at Auschwitz or the other concentration camps.

Winton did not sit out the war - he joined the Red Cross, served as a medical assistant. By 1940 - he opted to join the RAF on the Administrative and Special Duties Branch. By 1945, he was a War Substantive Flying Officer - training pilots. He retired from the RAF in 1954 with an honorary ran of Flight Lieutenant.

Thus ended his World War Two exploits - he remained quiet on what he accomplished in 1938/39 in Prague on vacation - that was until his late wife - Grete found a scrapbook in 1988 with a list of all the children and their parents names and addresses in them. By sending letters to the addresses - 80 of the children were located in Britain. In 1988 the BBC aired a special called "That's Life!" which Winton was surprised by more than two dozen of those he helped save.

Of those he saved - the most notable are:

• Alfred Dubs (Baron Dubs) 
• Karel Reisz
• Joe Schlesinger 
• Renata Laxova
• Heini Halberstam 

In 1983 - on the Queen Elizabeth II's birthday honor's - Winton was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire  for his work in establishing the Abbeyfield elderly homes in Britain. Then in 2002 - at the New Years Honor's he was knighted in recognition of his work on the Czech Kindertransport. He later met with Queen Elizabeth in Bratislav Slovakia in October of 2008 on her state visit. in 2003, he received the Pride of Britain Award for Lifetime achievement. 

Today Winton is 104 years old, still living in London on his own - his wife Grete regretfully passed away in 1999. He appeared and spoke of what he accomplished on 60 Minutes on April 27th 2014. 

The full story is available in The Rescue of the Prague Refugees 1938-39 by William Chadwick (2010)

A Memorial of Sir Nicholas Winton at the Prague Main Railway Station was installed in 2009.

Remembering History - Remembering the exploits of Sir Nicholas Winton