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Posts tagged ‘Canada’

Author Murray Watson with his book front cover on T-shirt

Privileged information reveals expats were asked to be spies

“Interviewees’ testimonies bring historical interpretations to life. Recorded life stories are intensely private, often funny, and occasionally heartbreaking. Many of the English-born immigrant interviewees with whom we spent time talked frankly about their fears, expectations, and family separation anxieties.” Author Murray Watson looks at some of the rich data—and some of the surprises!—that social historians can unearth when they ask people to tell their own story.

Cartoon rat with a suitcase

An untold story about Churchill, expats, rats, and a sinking ship

‘One of the great untold stories of the post-World War II years was the exodus of young British emigrants. Such was the scale of population loss that wartime leader Winston Churchill appealed to those wishing to depart Blighty’s war-torn shores “to stay here and fight it out”. And, in a fit of pique according to reports in the Daily Express, Churchill accused these expats of being ‘rats leaving a sinking ship”.’ Murray Watson reflects on some of the reasons why so many Britons chose to leave the victorious UK.

Pictogram of male and female business travellers

Where will British expats be heading in 2014?

“Every year we see certain countries gaining popularity among expats, and in this shaky economic environment this is most often due to increased job opportunities.” Jamie Waddell looks at three destinations likely to become the new homes of thousands of emigrating Britons in 2014.