World War II: How God moved in the shadows of war

On 27 January 1945, Soviet troops, advancing from the East, liberated Auschwitz extermination camp. Around the same time the German Army in Western Europe was in full-scale retreat into Germany, following defeat in the Ardennes region by US, UK, Canadian and Belgian forces, which became known as the Battle of the Bulge.

Germany's defeat was unavoidable but there would be more than three months of fighting before their unconditional surrender on 7 May 1945, and victory celebrations in Britain the following day, VE (Victory in Europe) Day - which took place 80 years ago today.

It is worth reflecting, however, that Allied victory was not always inevitable. In 1940, Britain's position in the war looked perilous, with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) stranded in Europe and surrounded by German forces. An abundance of history books, essays and online webpages provide the chronology of political and military events, at the strategic, operational and tactical levels.

Here, I offer a short reflection on how the war was won through a lens of strategic, operational and tactical spiritual victories: a Christian and SASRA (The Soldiers' and Aviators' Scripture Readers Association) lens of how tactical-level faith-in-action engaged and influenced the war effort.

Miraculous wins

Over the six-year span of WWII, HM King George VI called seven national days of prayer in total. The King was also patron of the Army Scripture Readers & Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Christian Association (ASR & ACA) which was was renamed SASRA in 1950.

The first of these came when Britain was close to defeat in 1940. The day of prayer was held on 26 May 1940. In a national broadcast, the King said: "Let us with one heart and soul, humbly but confidently, commit our cause to God and ask His aid, that we may valiantly defend the right as it is given to us to see it."

The King was pleading with his people to turn back to God in a spirit of repentance and to seek divine help. Millions of citizens across the British Isles flocked into churches to pray for deliverance.

There were extraordinary scenes outside Westminster Abbey as people queued for prayer. Two events immediately followed.

First, a violent storm arose over the Dunkirk region grounding the Luftwaffe, which had been killing thousands of British servicemen on the beaches. Second, a great calm descended on the Channel, the like of which hadn't been seen for a generation. Together, these prayer-answered interventions allowed hundreds of tiny boats to sail across the Channel and rescue around 335,000 soldiers, rather than what had been estimated possible, around 20-30,000. From then on, people referred to what happened as the ‘Miracle of Dunkirk’.

The last wartime National Day of Prayer was called by the King in the spring of 1944. Prior to D-Day, delayed until 6 June 1944, crowded pre-battle services were held everywhere across the nation. On the Sunday just before
D-Day, a one-hour prayer vigil was held at the Headquarters 2nd Army, the UK's invasion force's headquarters, with around 400 officers and other ranks in attendance. Again, God answered the prayers of the King, country, Allied commanders and Armed Forces personnel. Against forecasts, the weather, tide, moonlight and enemy's disposition became favourable toward the combined Allied operation of sea, ground and air forces.

Tactical wins

Scripture Readers were recognised by the War Office, commanders and Chaplains as a force multiplier with their integration enhancing the overall effectiveness of warfighting. Throughout the UK and in combat zones, in soldiers’ homes, tented camps, military hospitals, barrack blocks and messes, Scripture Readers provided prayer, spiritual nourishment and welfare to soldiers, sailors and aviators preparing for war; some Readers deployed to combat zones.

New Zealander Robert Laidlaw was on holiday in the UK at the start of the war and, having prayed on his knees for God's guidance, decided to remain in Britain rather than return home with his family. From 1939 onwards, Robert gave this Association much valuable service as one of its Field Directors. Then, soon after his D-Day, he deployed as superintendent of the first ten Scripture Readers into Normandy, to provide gospel-centred spiritual welfare.

One Reader followed the British Liberation Army (BLA) from Normandy beaches all the way to Berlin. They eventually established a full weekly programme of Bible classes and gospel services in bombed-out Berlin.

ASR & SACA also took it's share of casualties. Scripture Reader Frederick Alfred Howe had been a Reader since 1935 and was invalided home from Egypt in July 1942. Frederick had served on active service in Palestine, prior to the outbreak of war. Later, having deployed with the BEF in Europe, he was evacuated from Dunkirk. He immediately volunteered for service in the Middle East and on to Egypt. During the voyage home, his ship was sunk by enemy action, and he was reported as ‘missing at sea’.

Scripture Reader Cyril Wakelin Morriss was also called to glory during the war, on 9 November 1943, after only a few days of illness. Cyril had offered himself to the Association and after home service in various camps, he was posted to Palestine to superintend the ‘Cluden’ Hut, where he grew attendance respectably. He was buried in Ramleh, leaving a widow and child.

Alongside our two Readers, many more serving SACA members also perished including, late on in the war, Flight Sergeant Hadley Abraham (RAF), Engine Room Artificer General Servant Ashworth (Royal Navy), Lance Bombardier W. C. Page (Royal Artillery) and Private W. B. Seath (Black Watch). Surviving casualties are too many to mention, including serving Council member Lieutenant Colonel G. G. S. Clarke (Royal Engineers), wounded in the right arm while serving with the BLA. Several Readers and members also succumbed to the scourge of what we now describe as mental illnesses and moral injuries.

Operational wins

ASR & SACA's small headquarters was located at 35 Catherine Place, Westminster during the war. From here, prayer-led, operational-level decisions were taken, deploying other headquarters and superintendents, overseeing new branches and the postings of Scripture Readers. During the early months of 1945, headquarters was significantly understaffed, and prayerful pleas were sent out for two shorthand typists, to help with the preparation and distribution of necessary literature. Despite half the available staff from the office in Catherine Place being part-time employees, Ready magazines, books, tracts and prayers continued to be distributed, spiritually nourishing Readers, members and troops generally in their war efforts.

As VE Day approached, Council and staff planned the transition from its wartime establishment and deployment of Readers to post-war needs of 40 to 50, to replace those retiring and others returning to their pre-war callings, having come to the Association for the duration of the war only. In 1945, a day of prayer was planned for the Association on 5 June, with all branches, associates and members uniting in prayer, praise and worship, and
to remember its profound work during the war. Those prayers were answered by 1948, in the provision of 46 full-time and 47 part-time Readers, to serve Him and continue the Association's work.

Praise God for His great intervention

In summary, without prayer and God's intervention, greater death and carnage would have prevailed, even with victory. The US President, our King and many senior military officers unashamedly called for prayer, even leading military personnel and civilians in individual and group prayer and worship. Most UK citizens responded to such calls, demonstrating that they understood the power of prayer and faith.

SASRA grew and deployed significant numbers of branches, associates and Readers worldwide to bring spiritual nourishment to those preparing for war and those deployed. Prayers at the strategic, operational and tactical levels were answered in favour of the Allies and against the Axis powers.

We can only decry Christianity’s decreasing influence in the West when the evidence of its truth is so stark.

Last year we asked for God's provision of up to four new Scripture Readers. 80 years after He answered a similar prayer favourably. He answered similarly once more such that by May 2025, we shall have eighteen salaried Scripture Readers, more than at any time since the 1960s. Be heartened therefore, together with knowing that both Army and RAF acknowledge how SASRA's charitable support has a direct impact on operational effectiveness and the delivery of Defence outputs, which in glorifying God, is why we exist.