In his fine poem (one of my favourites), “Tell me not here, it needs not saying”, A. E. Housman beautifully expresses his love of nature while (in the final verse) acknowledging that Mother Nature is, when all is said and done “heartless and “witless”:

“Possess, as I possessed a season, the countries I resign, where over elmy plains the highway would mount the hills and shine, and full of shade the pillared forest would murmur and be mine.

For nature, heartless, witless nature, will neither care nor know what stranger’s feet may find the meadow and trespass there and go, nor ask amid the dews of morning if they are mine or no”. (Poetrybyheart.org.uk).

Nature is (as Housman says) both “heartless” and “witless”, for she is a myriad of processes and natural forces which proceed with no “concern”? for we humans for, in the final analysis nature is…

Background

World War II was the first time in its history that Britain faced a concentrated threat from the air. This aerial threat necessitated some discussion about how the British government would run the impending war and from where. Initially, there was some talk of evacuating key personnel out of London and, if necessary, to the West Country. This was dismissed due to the adverse effect such a move was expected to have on public morale.

A quick survey of suitable London basements took pace in early 1938 and on 31 May the site was confirmed as the space underneath the western end of the New Public Offices. The site was close to both Downing Street and Parliament.

Over the next few months Churchill’s War Rooms were established.

In July 1940 the Battle of Britain commenced and on 29 July Churchill’s war cabinet met for the first time in the…