John Harris rightly reminds us again of the myths which prevent "any instinctive popular understanding of our national past", mentioning particularly "splendid isolation, the glories of the second world war, and the wonders of empire" (Brexit is the act of a country that is blind to its own history, 03/06/19). It would certainly have been apposite to have also included some factual details about the so-called "special relationship", especially when our apparent closest ally decided not to intervene to help us in the troubled years of war between its outbreak and December, 1941.
Notwithstanding events like Dunkirk and the Blitz, it was only when Japan attacked Pearl Harbour that the US decided to intervene, and even then it was only Hitler`s declaration of war against them which brought us the much-needed military help! Unsurprisingly that section of the history of the "special relationship" is another aspect of our past which is either ignored or deliberately forgotten! Those trusting Trump to come to our aid, as most Brexiteers seem to do, need to check up on their history!
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