Monday, Dec. 23, 1946

Slap

The boat churned steadily through the choppy Irish Sea between Liverpool and Dublin. Aboard was a group of German children, aged 6 to 14, en route to Eire to be cared for by the Irish Red Cross, under a plan called "Operation Shamrock." During the trip their escorting Red Cross nurse left the children momentarily in the care of Mrs. Penelope Aitken, daughter of Sir John Maffey, British representative to Eire, and wife of William Aitken, a nephew of Lord Beaverbrook. One little German girl, aged about 12, stared at beauteous, blonde Mrs. Aitken a long time, then fingered her coat and said: "That is a lovely coat; where did you get it?" Replied Mrs. Aitken: "In England." The little girl asked: "Are you English, then?" Mrs. Aitken replied, "I am." Whereupon the little German girl slapped Mrs. Aitken hard across the face.

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