The Truth Behind Invasion:
The Americans
When the first American forces arrived in Britain in early 1942 it was something of a culture shock for both sides - a theme that runs throughout the episode. Foyle is invited to an American base near Hastings to give a talk on the British way of life to the GIs stationed there.
Many of the aspects of British life that Foyle addresses in his talk echo the concerns of the British and American governments at the time. The War Department in Washington was worried enough to issue a pamphlet entitled 'Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain, 1942', given to every American being stationed in the UK.
It includes advice such as:
It's a blow to Anglo-American relations however when Foyle has to investigate the murder of a local girl who is found strangled on the American base.
To make matters worse for Foyle, it becomes apparent that the girl had an affair with one of the GIs; one of several people who may have had motive to kill her.
Hooch
By the start of 1942, the British government was increasingly worried about the prevalence of hooch. With supplies of alcohol diminishing and the number of Allied servicemen in the country increasing, more and more often people were drinking illegally produced liquor - sometimes with fatal consequences.
While large scale moonshine production took place in London, where demand was highest, there were small illegal distilling operations taking place all over the country and often the methods used were primitive. The symptoms experienced by both Will Grayson and Private James Taylor, in Invasion, demonstrate the potential dangers hooch presented to those willing to drink it.
The Americans
When the first American forces arrived in Britain in early 1942 it was something of a culture shock for both sides - a theme that runs throughout the episode. Foyle is invited to an American base near Hastings to give a talk on the British way of life to the GIs stationed there.
Many of the aspects of British life that Foyle addresses in his talk echo the concerns of the British and American governments at the time. The War Department in Washington was worried enough to issue a pamphlet entitled 'Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain, 1942', given to every American being stationed in the UK.
It includes advice such as:
'The British don't know how to make a good cup of coffee. You don't know how to make a good cup of tea. It's an even swap…'
'You are coming to Britain from a country where your home is still safe, food is still plentiful and lights are still burning. So it is doubly important for you to remember that the British soldiers and civilians have been living under a tremendous strain. It is always impolite to criticize your hosts. It is militarily stupid to insult your allies. So stop and think before you sound off about lukewarm beer, or cold boiled potatoes and the way English cigarettes taste.'
'Keep out of arguments. You can rub a Britisher the wrong way by telling him "we came over and won the last one". Each nation did its share. But Britain remembers that nearly a million of her best manhood died in the last war. America lost 60,000 in action. Such arguments, and the war debts along with them, are dead issues.'
It's a blow to Anglo-American relations however when Foyle has to investigate the murder of a local girl who is found strangled on the American base.
To make matters worse for Foyle, it becomes apparent that the girl had an affair with one of the GIs; one of several people who may have had motive to kill her.
Hooch
By the start of 1942, the British government was increasingly worried about the prevalence of hooch. With supplies of alcohol diminishing and the number of Allied servicemen in the country increasing, more and more often people were drinking illegally produced liquor - sometimes with fatal consequences.
While large scale moonshine production took place in London, where demand was highest, there were small illegal distilling operations taking place all over the country and often the methods used were primitive. The symptoms experienced by both Will Grayson and Private James Taylor, in Invasion, demonstrate the potential dangers hooch presented to those willing to drink it.