| SPEECH CITY OF LONDON: PETER FRASER New Zealand Prime Minister Peter Fraser makes speech on receiving Freedom of City | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tape Master: | 7680 | |
| Catalog #: | 527150 | |
| Clip Number: | 527150-2 | |
| Orginal Film: | UN 819 A | |
| Timecode: | 01:00:14 - 01:02:26 | |
| Location: | Guildhall, London | |
| Year Shot: | 1944 (Estimated Year) | |
| Audio: | Yes | |
| Color: | No | |
| Headings: | CEREMONIES: Honors, Freedom of City LOCATIONS/EUROPE: UK, England, London WORLD WAR TWO, GENERAL: Speeches | |
| Description: | Various shots of New Zealand Prime Minister Peter Fraser making speech, “In 1941 I saw what they had gone through. I visited the devastated areas in London, and somebody said to me, ‘You’re certainly seeing this city at its worst.’ I said, ‘Yes, I’m seeing the city at its worst and the people at their best.’ (Applause) Because there was no sign of fear, in spite of what the people had gone through. And I was told stories, many stories, of when death and devastation rained down from the skies, how the people arose out of the debris very often, knowing that their near and dear ones were laying lost to them forever beneath that large heap of steel and masonry and bricks. Yet arising, to face life, and the face the battle for freedom, to face the enemy and to take part once more into the battle for freedom. And I never heard, throughout the whole of England or Scotland, I never heard one whimper, one complaint, one sign of shrinking courage, rather the contrary, the people were grandest in the greatest hour, the hour of suffering and endurance, and of work and more work. And when I heard of people going from the ruins of their homes to pick up their daily tasks, well it was an inspiration that went right through the whole, not only the British Empire, but of the United Nations.” | |
WPA FILM LIBRARY
