The War That Never Ends

If I ever gain anything from the occasional read of a British obituary, it's that they are pre-occupied with anyone who has any military connection to World War II.  As time marches on, they will someday have no one left who will have passed away who had any direct link with the war--militarily, or otherwise. The last survivor of the Titanic passed away before the coming 100th anniversary of that ship's sinking, and so it will someday be with World War II. The obituary pages might then shrink, but then I suspect anyone connected with the 1982 war in the Falklands will ascend to heroic status.

But until all this happens, we can take some delight in reading the British take on the passing of those so connected with WWII that they will never let anyone forget their part in it.

Take the recent British obituary @obitsman makes a Twitter referral to. It's for Jean Gerard Leigh, 88, who was the woman whose photography was used in a WWII espionage deception against the Nazis. A 1956 movie was of course made, starring Clifton Webb, titled "The Man Who Never Was." It's the sort of tale the British just can't get enough of.

Mr. Leigh's Telegraph obituary distinguishes itself on several fronts.  It's as much about her as it is about giving the background on how the Nazis were fooled. There's a hint of sex that seems to get dashed, along with some peacetime heroics by her husband in saving Queen Elizabeth from getting clunked in the head with an errant polo ball in 1971. At the time, this apparently was big news. There are no details of the British Clint Eastwood's derring-do that thank God saved the Queen, but apparently it was enough to keep the British tabloids from using the headline: "Crown Gets Crowned in 3rd Chukker."

Ms. Leigh's drinking habits and gardening abilities are mentioned. All round good stuff. She will be missed.

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