Footnotes

'IF THE FULL FORCE OF THE ENEMY'S ATTACK SHOULD BE TURNED UPON GLASGOW, AS UPON SO MANY CITIES IN THE SOUTH, HER CITIZENS WILL ENDURE AND SURMOUNT IT' – Churchill on the indomitable wartime spirit of Glasgow. Churchill made several visits to the city during the war, but this particular one was the most significant of all. At this point Britain stood alone against Germany. In January 1941, President Roosevelt sent over his special envoy Harry Hopkins to assess the determination of the British people to continue the fight and the likely effectiveness of American help, should it be offered. This was something that the American military was loath to do. For not only were they building up their own military resources, but should British surrender their war supplies material would be lost and perhaps even used against them. All turned upon the assessment of Harry Hopkins.

That January, he accompanied Churchill on his visit to Glasgow. Escorted by Lord Provost Patrick Dollan, they visited the city's shipyards and inspected its Civil Defence workers, including female ARP wardens, policemen, and firemen. The most famous moment of the visit occurred at the North British Hotel in George Square, where Churchill gave a speech declaring that the war against Hitler was a national one, in which everyone must continue to play their part; and added that what was required was not large armies from overseas, but rather weapons, ammunition, ships and aeroplanes. Churchill then asked Hopkins to say a few words. His reply electrified his audience, even though it would have caused an uproar had it been made public in the United States: 'I suppose you wish to know what I am going to say to President Roosevelt upon my return. Well, I am going to quote you one verse from that Book of Books... 'Wither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God...', pausing and in a quiet voice adding '...even to the end'.