Irena Sendler

 

Irena Sendler

An angel during World War Two!

Many have never heard of this brave young woman but Irena Sendler was responsible for saving the lives of thousands of Jewish children from the Nazi 'Holocaust.'

Born in 1910 in Warsaw, Irena's father was a doctor who did his best to help the Jewish community, showing his daughter the value of kindness to other fellow human beings. After finishing her schooling, Irena was employed in legal counselling and a social help clinic --- she was concerned about the unmarried mothers and the very poor within the community.

When Germany was invaded, the Jewish community were immediately persecuted but Irena felt she was in a position to help, creating 'false references' and finding ways to help the Jews. In 1940, the Nazi crowded thousands of Jews into the "Warsaw Ghetto"  and no one was allowed to help them. Irena and a few of her 'friends' gained access (they had special permits) to go into the Ghetto to check for signs of typhus and sanitary inspections. This way, they were able to 'secretly' provide medicines and cleaning items, as well as food, clothing and other necessities.

During their visits, these courageous 'friends' smuggled young children out of the Ghetto, saving them from the gas chambers. Some of the children were smuggled out in gunnysacks, a young baby was smuggled out in a tool box and some children went through one door into the chapel and out another door to safety.

Irena and her 'friends' showed no fear --- if they had been caught, they and their whole families would have been shot.  

Irena tried to keep records of the children's real names in the hope of re-uniting them with their real families after the war, and these records she kept in jars, buried in the garden under an apple tree --- they were never found by the nazi.

This brave woman was caught and tortured (they broke her legs and feet) but the Nazi could not break Irena's spirit. She managed to escape and worked as a nurse, still helping the Jewish community as best she could. Irena had to change her name in order to protect herself.

Irena died in 2008 and she was 98 years of age. Before her death, she was recognized as one of the "Polish Righteous Among The Jews" when her courage came to the fore after the war finished.

A story surely to Inspire anyone, click on the links "Irena Sendler" and enjoy reading the whole story of this brave young woman's courage during World War Two.

Irena Sendler

Helen Keller

 

Helen Keller

Helen Keller is one of the most inspirational women I have ever read about!

She had every reason to 'give up' on life but refused to let her disabilities stop her from doing anything she wanted to do.

Helen Adams Keller was born on 27th June, 1880, in Alabama. At 19 months of age, she contracted an unknown illness (possibly scarlet fever or meningitis) which left this little girl deaf and blind, leaving Helen living in a "sea of dense fog."

Learning to communicate with her family, Helen had over 60 'home' signs and could distinguish people by the vibration of their footsteps. The family were referred to Alexander Graham Bell, who at the time was working with deaf people and he advised them to contact the Perkins Institute for the blind. Here, they met Anne Sullivan, who was herself visually impaired and Anne became Helen's 'tutor', teaching her pupil to spell words "into her hand."

Helen said that: "The living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, set it free!"

Helen Keller

Helen enjoyed music as she could feel the beat and she had a very strong connection with animals. In time, Helen attended the Perkins Institute for the Blind and then moved on to the Wright-Humason School for the Deaf. All the time, Anne stayed with her pupil.

Eventually, Helen gained admittance to the Radcliffe College of Harvard University and at 24 years of age, graduated from Radcliffe.

 Helen Keller became the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. This was an amazing triumph for Helen --- but she did not stop there!

Helen Keller

Helen now went 'on tour', lecturing about how others too can achieve great things. With Anne, Helen 'toured' the world and published a total of 12 books --- despite being deaf and blind!

In 1961, Helen suffered a series of strokes and died in 1968, in her sleep, just before her 88th birthday.

What an Inspiration Helen Keller is to us all --- and most of us can hear and see!

If you'd like to read about Helen's life in more detail, clink on the links "Helen Keller" --- you will come away truly Inspired!

The Queen Mother

 Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon

The Queen Mother

The mother of our dear Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Consort tot he late King George VI, the late Queen Mother was an example to us all. She is best remembered for her moral support to the British people during World War Two --- and her longevity, as this Queen lived until she was 101 years of age!

Born in 1900, Elizabeth was the fourth child of Lord and Lady Glamis and she spent much of her childhood in Glamis Castle. When Elizabeth was 14, War broke out and Glamis Castle became a hospital, with this little lady doing her best to 'keep morale up.'

The Queen Mother

Prince Albert and Elizabeth fell in love in 1921 --- and after 3 proposals --- Elizabeth finally agreed to marry "Bertie." The wedding was on 26th April, 1923, at Westminster Abbey and the bride laid her wedding bouquet at the tomb of "The Unknown Warrior."

Their first child was born in 1926, the Princess Elizabeth, and their second child was born in 1930, the Princess Margaret. Bertie's father died in 1936 and now Albert became King George VI, with both being crowned at Westminster Abbey in 1937.

World War Two started and it was mentioned that Elizabeth and the two little Princesses should evacuate to safety to Canada, but Elizabeth said: 

"The children won't go without me. I won't go without the King. And the King will never leave."

Thus, the Royal family 'stuck it out' with their people, with Buckingham Palace being bombed in 1940: "I'm glad we've been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face," Elizabeth said at the time.

After seeing England through World War Two, King George VI died in 1952 and Elizabeth did her best to carry on with her Royal duties, becoming more busier than ever. She proudly watched her daughter's Coronation and the growth of her family when both daughters married and had children.

The Queen Mother

Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, died peacefully in her sleep in 2002 with her daughter Elizabeth II by her side. The funeral wreath was placed on the tomb of "The Unknown Warrior", just as her wedding bouquet was!

If you'd like to read a more detailed article, clink on the link "The Queen Mother" --- it's worth your time reading about such a lovely lady who had such a kind heart.

Elizabeth I

 Elizabeth I

Elizabeth I

The daughter of Anne Bolyn and Henry VIII, this well-known Queen had a difficult childhood but came through it and showed us all how the rule a country!

It must have broken Elizabeth's heart when she heard that her father had her mother executed and to then be called illegitimate --- one minute she was heir to the throne, the next her father did not even acknowledge her. However, Elizabeth did have a certain amount of schooling (which was unusual for the time) and she could write English, Latin and Italian, as well as French and Greek. In fact, it turned out that Elizabeth was one of the best educated women of her time.

Elizabeth I

Elizabeth came to the throne when she was 25 years of age and the people loved her --- "Good Queen Bess" --- her reign was one of the most peaceful. She refused to marry, not willing to give up her power over the throne or put herself in danger when it comes to childbirth.

Elizabeth I is quoted as saying: "I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England!"

Elizabeth I

I personally am inspired by Elizabeth I, because although she was born into Royalty, she did not have an easy life and overcame so many obstacles to become the Queen we read about today.

For a more detailed read about this Unique Queen's life, click on the link "Elizabeth I" --- it is well worth a read!

Anne Frank

 One of the most Courageous women in History

Anne Frank

Born in Frankfurt am Main in 1929, this beautiful girl was named Annelies Marie = "Anne." At 4 years old, the Nazis gained control over Germany and started to persecute the Jewish nation. As the Franks were Jewish, they lost their citizenship and went into hiding.

The concealed rooms were behind a bookcase in the building where Anne's father used to work. From 1942 until 1944, the whole family hid in these rooms, and it is during this time that Anne wrote her diaries --- the very same ones we get inspiration from today!

This diary wasn't just a diary --- Anne would write tales in it and she actually planned to publish the diaries about her time in the 'Secret Annex'. Her father made sure his daughter's wish came true. Writing 'letters' in this diary, Anne would write to "Kitty" and the routine of writing in her diary became a very important part of Anne's life.

She would fantasize about skating in the park and playing in a film with Kitty, who (to Anne) was like a best friend. Cleary, Anne's imagination helped her through a very tough time. Anne also gives us an insight into her relationships within her family --- how she felt about her mother, her sister, her father.

"When I write I can shake off all my cares. My sorrow disappears, my spirits are revived! But, and that's a big question, will I ever be able to write something great, will I ever become a journalist or a writer?"

Anne Frank

The family were arrested in 1944 and interrogated. They were criminals because they went into hiding. In September, they were sent to Auschwitz Concentration Camp and split apart as a family. Anne was forced into hard labour during the days and into tiny, overcrowded barracks during the nights. She died of typhus at the Bergen-Belsen Camp.

The courage of this young girl inspires us today and to read her diaries gives us a sense that the innocent will always win over the guilty. Have a read of the article "Anne Frank" for a more detailed read, and to quote Anne's own words: 

"I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart."

The Queen Mother

Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon

The Queen Mother

Mother of Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Consort to the late King George VI, the late Queen Mother is remembered for her moral support during the Second World War --- and for her longevity as she lived to be 101 years of age!

The Honourable Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was born on 4th August, 1900, the fourth daughter to Lord and Lady Glamis. Like most young ladies of the time, Elizabeth was 'schooled' at home by governesses and learnt to speak French fluently by the age of 10. She passed the Oxford Local Examination with distinction at the age of 13.

When World War One broke out, her home, Glamis Castle, was used as a hospital and, although she was too young to be a nurse, Elizabeth did her best to keep 'Morale up', running errands for the wounded soldiers, going to the local shops for cigarettes, tobacco and chocolates.

The Queen Mother

Having grown up with the children of King George V, Bertie fell in love with Elizabeth. She loved him too but was very nervous about losing her freedom if she joined the Royal family, saying that she was: "afraid never, never again to be free to think, speak and act as I feel I really ought to." After three proposals, Elizabeth finally accepted Bertie and the young couple married at Westminster Abbey on 26th April, 1923. It was this Elizabeth who laid her wedding bouquet on the Tomb of the "Unknown Warrior."

Elizabeth toured, with her new husband, East Africa, visiting Aden, Kenya, Uganda and Sudan. Now came the two little Princesses, Princess Elizabeth was born in 1926, and her sister Margaret was born in 1930.

The Queen Mother

Her husband became King George VI and Elizabeth became his Queen Consort on 11th December, 1936. At the beginning of World War Two, it was mentioned to Elizabeth to leave London for North America or Canada for safety, but Elizabeth said: "The children won't go without me. I won't leave the King. And the King will never leave." When Buckingham Palace was bombed in 1940, she said: "I'm glad we've been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face." Supporting her husband, Elizabeth would visit hospitals, the troops, factories and those areas that had been targeted. She seemed fearless in her support for her King and country!

The Queen Mother

After the War, Elizabeth joined her husband on a tour of South Africa (1947), but then the King became ill with lung cancer and the eldest daughter took over most of the Royal Duties. Elizabeth was tireless is looking after her husband when he was ill and when he finally passed away, she withdrew from public duties for a while, heartbroken, just like the late Queen Victoria.

However, her sense of duty was stronger and Elizabeth, now called the Queen Mother, became as busy as ever with Royal Duties, going to the Coronation of her eldest daughter, our Queen today, Elizabeth II.

 During her later years, the Queen Mother enjoyed overseeing the restoration of the remote Castle of Mey, which she used as a 'get away from everything' for 3 weeks in August and 10 days in October.

She loved horse-racing, owning several winners.

The Queen Mother

The Queen Mother died peacefully in her sleep on 30th March, 2002 and was laid to rest beside her husband, the late King George VI, at Windsor Castle.

At her own request, the funeral wreath was placed on the "Tomb of the Unknown Warrior", even as her wedding bouquet had been.

King George VI

 "The Highest Of Distinctions Is Service To Others"

 

King George VI

Father to our dear Queen, Elizabeth II, this man unexpectedly served our country through the Second World War. With the support of his wife and Consort, Elizabeth, George VI overcame hardships --- both physical and political --- to become the King we admire today.

Born Albert Frederick Arthur George, on 14th December, 1895, this little Prince was born at York Cottage, Sandringham. Within the family he was known as "Bertie" and to others, "Albert."  Bertie was the second son of George V and Victoria May (Mary of Teck). Being raised by a nanny, like most of the upper-class children of the day, his childhood was not an easy one, as Bertie developed a stammer when he was around 8 years of age plus he suffered having to wear painful leg braces to correct knock knees.

When Queen Victoria died, Bertie was now third in line to the throne.

King George VI

Bertie fell in love with Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and proposed three times before she accepted. They went on many tours for the King (George V) and had two beautiful Princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, whilst living, quietly, at 145, Piccadilly, London.

Life now changed too quickly for the young family! King George V died in January, 1936, and King Edward VIII (Bertie's brother) abdicated in December of the same year. Bertie now became King George VI --- a life he never expected to live but met with real determination.

King George VI

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth now saw England through the Second World War. They choice to stay in London, Buckingham Palace, and shared with the people the same dangers and deprivations, including food and clothing rationing. In fact, Buckingham Palace was bombed.

When the War was over, the whole Royal family stood on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, with Winston Churchill, and celebrated with the people the end of the war.

King George VI

The stress of the War had drained King George and made him quite ill. He developed lung cancer and arterio sclerosis and Burger's disease. His married daughter, Elizabeth, and her new husband, Prince Philip, took over many of the "Royal Duties."

King George VI died of a coronary thrombosis at the young age of 56, on 6th February, 1952. His funeral was on the 15th at St.George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

King George VI

Prince Albert, "Bertie", became the King of England when he was not expected to and did an 'amazing' job! He was a loving and caring family man, and overcame so many hurdles to become the King to steer England through the Second World War.

To me personally, he was a very human King who restored the popularity of the British Monarchy.