This book is a monumental tour-de-force of God’s providence towards Britain during the wars of the 20th century.
Researched in great detail by historian and retired lawyer, John Scriven, along with Tim Dieppe of Christian Concern, ‘Beyond the Odds’ shows how Britain was repeatedly saved from disaster in circumstances that defied probabilities. The mammoth 600-page tome contains maps, many useful quotes, an expansive bibliography, and, especially, a clear interpretation of facts and events.
1st World War: Battles of Mons and the Marne
The opening three chapters cover the First World War, with one chapter devoted to each of the years, 1914, 1917 and 1918.
Scriven’s detailed explanation of the run-up to WW1 is very helpful, focussing on all the nations involved. It was clear that Britain was ill-equipped for this ‘unexpected war’ and that suffering was inevitable whether we stayed out of it or not. From the outset (Battle of Mons), the position of the Allies was compromised and the outlook for the British army was perilous, being outnumbered three to one. Disagreements and lack of trust among the Allied leaders compounded the problems, but in the end German tactical mistakes and errors outweighed those of the Allies. The author sees God’s hand in this.
After the long retreat from Mons came the Battle of the Marne, often called the ‘Miracle of the Marne’. Again, the German army should have won, but prayer and the ‘Angels of Mons’ changed the course of events. Scriven provides a balanced account of this supposed intervention by heavenly powers which some ascribe to angelic beings (though others regard the whole report as myth).
The German army should have won, but prayer and the ‘Angels of Mons’ changed the course of events.
According to Scriven, “the providence of God generally works through human agency and natural causes without the appearance of the supernatural or the disturbance of the laws of nature” (p.84). However, for them the unseen world is equally real and capable of making an impact in human conflicts.
Middle East and Palestine
The second chapter, relating to 1917, naturally focuses on the Middle East and Palestine, and the role of General Allenby. Much of this will be familiar to many, given the recent anniversary of the Balfour Declaration. The author covers the attack on Beersheba, the move through Gaza and the approach to Jerusalem, where Turkish resistance proved surprisingly short-lived as “panic seized the Turkish troops south west of Jerusalem, who fled north towards the city, many abandoning their weapons” (p.114).
One common story, repeated here, is how Allenby’s name was misunderstood in the Turkish language to be ‘Allah-bey’ or ‘God, our ruler’, which Arabic speakers would have heard as ‘Allah Nebi’, meaning ‘Prophet of God’. This enabled the General to accept the surrender of Jerusalem without bloodshed and enter the city on foot rather than horseback. Other examples of easy victories are then recounted, with providential help.
The chapter on 1918 is full of historical and military details, the point being that heavy losses and mistakes were overturned through prayer, especially the National Day of Prayer on Jan 6th, and the later one on Aug 4th led by King George V in St Margaret’s, Westminster, and supported by both Houses of Parliament. This was coupled with real faith and trust in God.
2nd World War: Dunkirk and Battle of Britain
Not long after peace was declared and life slowly returned to a degree of normality, the rise of Hitler in Germany meant that things were soon gearing towards another major international conflict. Scriven takes us through the lead-up to such crisis, and focuses in particular on the extensive evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk in the early summer of 1940. A National Day of Thanksgiving was held for the deliverance, in which many clearly saw the hand of God, for a whole series of unlikely factors contributed to the outcome (p.233).
A National Day of Thanksgiving was held for the deliverance, in which many clearly saw the hand of God, for a whole series of unlikely factors contributed to the outcome.
The Battle of Britain, which occurred just a couple of months later, is also described in much detail, and once again one can recognise the many providential circumstances that contributed to the victory, and which could so easily have been otherwise.
Chapter 6 & 7 – 'Turning Points' / 'Frontiers of Deliverance' takes the reader through a succession of battles played out between 1941 and ’43, including Germany’s invasion of Russia, Italy’s offence in North Africa, the ascendancy of Japan, followed by the attack on Pearl Harbour, and the lengthy battle of El Alamein (Egypt). As ever, Rees Howell’s band of intrepid intercessors in the Bible College of Wales were holding all these events in ongoing prayer before the Lord.
D-Day and the road to victory
The chapter entitled, ‘The Road to Victory 1943-4’ takes the reader from the end of the war in Africa to the invasions of Italy and Sicily, and through to D-Day. The ‘Miracle of Salerno’ was made possible only because, as Commander Anthony Kimmins put it, “with barely an hour and a half to go before zero hour the wind suddenly dropped, and the swell went down quicker than I have ever seen before. It was so sudden that it was unbelievable, and as people stared into the darkness it seemed miraculous….” (p.372). Was it coincidental that a National Day of Prayer was held at that time, while specific daily intercession was being conducted by Rees Howells and his Bible College of Wales?
Far better-known was the remarkable weather change that accompanied D-Day (6th June 1944), when, following the windiest month in Normandy in over 20 years, suddenly a “heaven-sent break” occurred, allowing the momentous invasion to proceed. The Germans were taken utterly by surprise, with no U-boats patrolling the Channel that night, meaning that none of the 4,000 ships and 11,000 planes encountered the enemy. By July, a million men, 200,000 vehicles and 700,000 tonnes of stores had landed in German-occupied France.
Was it coincidental that a National Day of Prayer was held at that time, while specific daily intercession was being conducted by Rees Howells and his Bible College of Wales?
Once again, much prayer preceded them, and Rees Howells’s team had a very strong sense that “He (God) was going over before our troops, and they would not have a set-back” (p.396).
Churchill’s faith
Tim Dieppe adds two diverse and helpful chapters. His telling of ‘The Siege of Malta’, the most densely populated country in the world at that time, centres around the island’s then Governor, General William Dobbie, a man of deep Christian faith (as were many of the Maltese). The relating of the failure of the German blitz on HMS Illustrious, and the ‘miracle’ of the Rotunda Church, among other stories, make compelling reading.
A chapter on ‘Churchill’s Christianity’ reveals the influence of Churchill’s God-fearing nanny as a child, and his life-long belief in the power of prayer, in miracles and in “the truth of the Bible story”, with which book he was clearly well familiar (pp.436, 440). Dieppe concludes that whether or not the PM had a saving faith, no understanding of his worldview “is complete without an understanding of Churchill’s Christianity” (p.446).
Concluding thoughts
A concluding chapter (by Scriven) rounds off this striking study, providing the more recent account of providential events in Britain’s efforts to free the Falkland Islands from Argentinian invasion in the early ‘80s.
‘Beyond all Odds’ is a truly unique and engaging work that will benefit not only the keen historian, but anyone interested in our (fairly) recent past and how we got through the difficulties and challenges of two world wars.
‘Beyond all Odds’ is a truly unique and engaging work that will benefit not only the keen historian, but anyone interested in our (fairly) recent past and how we got through the difficulties and challenges of two world wars.
For those who wonder why God does not intervene more frequently in human affairs, and why the occurrence of possible intervention appears uneven, the authors explain that “the providence of God works through seemingly natural circumstances as well as through less probable events” (p.147). We just need to be aware of God at work in all circumstances.
‘Against the Odds’ (602pp) is published by Wilberforce Publications, and is available from Amazon at £14.99 or Free with Amazon’s ‘kindle unlimited’.