Mine Were of Trouble Quotes

“I met another like him, nearly two years later, in San Sebastian, who informed me that he was so disgusted with the British for the way they had let down his Czar that he had ceased altogether to drink whiskey.”
― Peter Kemp, Mine Were of Trouble

“Where do the orders come from that we must shoot all prisoners of the International Brigades?'
'As far as we're concerned, from Colonel Penaredonda. But we all think the same way ourselves. Look here, Peter,' he went on with such vehemence, 'it's all very well for you to talk about International Law and the rights of prisoners! You're not a Spainard. You haven't seen your country devastated, your family and friends murdered in a civil war that would have ended eighteen months ago but for the intervention of foreigners. I know we have help now from Germans and Italians. But you know as well as I do that this war would have been over by the end of 1936, when we were at the gates of Madrid, but for the International Brigades. At that time we had no foreign help. What is it to us if they do have their ideals? Whether they know it or not, they are simply tools of the Communists and they have come to Spain to destroy our country! What do they care about the ruin they have made here? Why then should we bother about their lives when we catch them? It will take years to put right the harm they've done to Spain!'
He paused for breath, then went on: 'Another thing; I mean no offence to your personally, Peter, but I believe that all Spainards- even those fighting us- wish that this war could have been settled one way or another by Spaniards alone. We never wanted our country to become a battleground for foreign powers. What do you think will happen to you if you were taken prisoner by the Reds? You'd be lucky if they only shot you.'
Torres' quiet voice interrupted: 'If it comes to that, what chance would any legionary stand if he were to fall into their hands, especially into the hands of the International Brigades? We know what they did to their prisoners at Brunete and Teruel.'
'We realize you can't feel the same as we do,' concluded Cancela, 'but please, Peter, do not speak to me of this again.' p141”
― Peter Kemp, Mine Were of Trouble

“He had a bullet in the arm—the nineth or tenth wound of his life—which had damaged the main nerve; but he seemed to rise above it. After a lengthy and painful operation, with only local anesthetics, he found it difficult to sleep, even with morphia;”
― Peter Kemp, Mine Were of Trouble

“In this way I finished the bottle, feeling comparatively little pain during the operation, although I felt a great deal when the effect of the brandy had worn off.”
― Peter Kemp, Mine Were of Trouble

“I believe that all Spaniards⁠—even those fighting us—wish that this war could have been settled one way or another by Spaniards alone. We never wanted our country to become a battleground for foreign powers.”
― Peter Kemp, Mine Were of Trouble

“guess she used to put the horns on him quite a bit. Anyway, about three months ago, just after this war started, she gave him the bird—finally and for good. So he came to Spain to forget his broken heart in the hell and shellholes of Ávila.’ After a pause he went on: ‘What got me was our friend’s description of their poignant parting scene. When he asked her, “Do they mean nothing to you, those nights of love”
― Peter Kemp, Mine Were of Trouble

“Cardozo had fought with distinction in the First World War, after which he joined the staff of the Continental Daily Mail. Brisk, tough and highly intelligent he was a great war correspondent, in the tradition of Walter Harris, Bennett Burghleigh, Gwynne and other illustrious names of the Balkan and Moroccan wars; he was also one of the kindest-hearted men I have ever”
― Peter Kemp, Mine Were of Trouble