Comments on: Alie Touw’s War https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/04/27/alie-touws-war-iiii/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:48:41 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: Marcia Howard https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/04/27/alie-touws-war-iiii/#comment-2026953 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:48:41 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206727#comment-2026953 Such bravery, and resilience. WWII was over by the time I was born, but our London home was surrounded by bomb sites, and our ‘playgrounds’ despite being forbidden by our parents of going near them.

]]> By: Bill https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/04/27/alie-touws-war-iiii/#comment-2025752 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:06:58 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206727#comment-2025752 Man, what a story. Amazing. The part about not trusting people reminded me of what a woman who lived through the occupation of Nice told me when I once wondered how populations fall under the heels of tyrants.

“It’s very simple,” she said. “You learn you can trust no one. I wouldn’t trust my grandmother. I could trust only my mother.”

I found out later that she and her high school friends, with no connections whatsoever with the French resistance, did what they could: derailing trains, dropping explosives onto convoys, cutting telephone wires.

And today, people worldwide are living through the same harrowing experiences. How many will go onto find peace?

Thank you for this stunning profile.

]]> By: Susan Locke https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/04/27/alie-touws-war-iiii/#comment-2025705 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:11:04 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206727#comment-2025705 Thank you for sharing Alice’s story with us. We must never forget.

]]> By: Kasey Grier https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/04/27/alie-touws-war-iiii/#comment-2025213 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:08:35 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206727#comment-2025213 Such bravery and determination to keep going! I am so grateful that she decided to tell her story to you.

]]> By: annabelle lenderink https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/04/27/alie-touws-war-iiii/#comment-2025200 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:04:51 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206727#comment-2025200 Dear Alie, Lieve Alie!
Thank you for telling your story, you and your compatriots are heroes who survived what was beyond anyone’s worst nightmare!
I am so grateful to have a first-person account from you, my family too does not/did not like to speak about those years.
Heel veel liefs!
Annabelle

]]> By: Jane Wilson https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/04/27/alie-touws-war-iiii/#comment-2025184 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:35:57 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206727#comment-2025184 Speechless. Thankyou for introducing us to this remarkable Londoner and her moving story.

]]> By: Marie De Vere https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/04/27/alie-touws-war-iiii/#comment-2025036 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:00:41 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206727#comment-2025036 So glad that you’re continuing Alie’s remarkable story. Thank you.

]]> By: JerryW https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/04/27/alie-touws-war-iiii/#comment-2024946 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:36:47 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206727#comment-2024946 Such hardship, such bravery, such waste of lives .. this testimony made me cry.

]]> By: Simon Walker https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/04/27/alie-touws-war-iiii/#comment-2024868 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:22:01 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206727#comment-2024868 What astonishing and sobering memories. Thank you for sharing.

]]> By: Dave Phillips https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/04/27/alie-touws-war-iiii/#comment-2024357 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:03:27 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206727#comment-2024357 I just love these stories of peoples lives. Makes you grateful. Thanks!

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