A memory stone in Noble City
The McFadden's Thirty consisted of 31 volunteer soldiers, who fought in World War II for the US Army. It took its name from its leader, Lieutenant Alisdair McFadden. Those who survived the war were welcomed as heroes, but today they are pretty much forgotten.
History[]
Queen Lucy I didn't send any troops to fight in World War II, because the population of Lovia was relatively small. However, there were a few senior officers in the army who wanted to participate. McFadden, a Scottish-Lovian lieutenant, was perhaps the most ardent proponent. He was given permission by the Queen to search for volunteers.
Assisted by Sergeant John Hopewell, who shared his views, McFadden traveled all over the country to find volunteers. He initially expected to find many men, but he only got 29. He was especially treated suspiciously in Oceana, as its people stated that WWII wasn't their war.
The United States entered the war in 1941 and then the McFadden's Thirty traveled to Europe to participate in Operation Torch. Later, the American army invaded North Africa, under the command of Dwight Eisenhower. In the disastrous Battle of the Kasserine Pass, the Americans were defeated and many of the Lovians volunteers died there. However, the Allies managed to stop the German advance in Tunisia and by May 1943, Axis troops in North Africa surrendered. The American army efforts turned towards Sicily and Italy.
The first American troops landed on the Italian peninsula in September 1943, and Italy surrendered on 8 September. The Germans were defeated at Monte Cassino. Some Allied troops, including the Lovian soldiers, remained in Rome until the end of the war. The McFadden's Thitry returned in Lovia, in October 1945. They were welcomed by Queen Lucy and given a generous pension. All of them were awarded with the Silver Star of the Order of Arthur I, except Lt. McFadden who was awarded with the Gold Star. The survivors dissociated within an emotional atmosphere.
List[]
| Name | Origin | Born | Comments/Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel Badd | Lovian | 1920 | Killed in action |
| Oscar Beads | Lovian | 1917 | Died in captivity |
| Oleg Borisovich | Russian-Lovian | 1915 | Returned in Lovia and became a minor poet; d. 1985 |
| Oliver Dewham | English-Lovian | 1910 | Killed in action |
| Joseph Driesen | Belgian-Lovian | 1912 | Killed in action |
| Henri Dubois | Canadian-Lovian | 1912 | Died in captivity |
| Reginald Fier | Lovian | 1913 | Killed in action |
| Thomas Freewood | Lovian | 1915 | Returned in Lovia; d. 1990 in U.S. |
| Elliot George II | American-Lovian | 1916 | Killed in action |
| Gordon Heab | English-Lovian | 1915 | Returned in Lovia; d. 1964 |
| Peter Hewitt | Lovian | 1912 | Killed in action |
| Sgt. John Hopewell | Lovian | 1911 | Second in commant behind McFadden; killed in action |
| Michael Keeson | Lovian | 1915 | Killed in action |
| Nahum Klennewitz | German | 1916 | Jew, who in the '30s escaped to U.S. and then to Lovia; killed in action |
| Vladimir Kosyak | Russian-Lovian | 1915 | Returned in Lovia; d. 1970 |
| Ernest Lucas | American-Lovian | 1917 | Fate unknown |
| Lt. Alisdair McFadden | Scottish-Lovian | 1905 | Inspirator and leader of the unit; returned in Lovia; d. 1980 |
| Stephen Murray | Lovian | 1913 | Died in captivity |
| Christian Myers | American-Lovian | 1916 | Killed in action |
| Peter Nicholson | Lovian | 1914 | Killed in action |
| Seamus O'Dea | Irish-Lovian | 1913/1914 | Killed in action |
| Ronald Peters | Lovian | 1915 | Killed in action |
| Charles Prenton | Lovian | 1918 | Kiled in action |
| Afanasy Semyonovich | Russian-Lovian | 1916 | Killed in action |
| Edmund Silver | Lovian | 1917 | Killed in action |
| Adam Snow | Lovian | 1916 | Returned in Lovia; d. 1979 |
| Scott Tremoyne | American-Lovian | 1916 | Returned in Lovia and became a famous actor; d. 1973 |
| Edwin van de Hare | Dutch-Lovian | 1917 | Killed in action |
| Mariusz Wadych | Polish-Lovian | 1915 | Survived and lived the rest of his life in Poland; 1976 |
| Daniel Young | Lovian | 1917 | Killed in action |
Memory and Legacy[]
A commemoration stone was placed in New Town, Noble City. It was carved in 1950 by Jane Delatour, who made it less ragged. The names of all volunteers are written in a bronze plaque. A monument at Remembrance Park in Kinley is dedicated to those who died.
Howard Sonn, a writer from Newhaven, wrote The Highlander (1989) a fictional account of McFadden's life. Transbaum Films intended to produce a film about the team. However, only a couple of scenes were filmed, due to the high cost.
Gallery[]
