In Britain we tell ourselves lots of stories, some true, some less so.

One of the central stories is our national mythology of the Second World War,

how we choose to remember an extraordinary event from the Dunkirk fiasco to the Battle of Britain to D-Day even to its aftermath of the Welfare

State 1945. This is seen overwhelmingly as the genesis of the modern country we all live in today.

But what if that story isn't true?

Furthermore, what if that story is a major reason why we keep on making mistakes when it comes to foreign policy?

What if that's the reason why we go into Iraq under a series of delusions?

We occupy Afghanistan for more than a decade.

What if that self-image we've created is the reason why we think we can police the Red Sea

while British High Street disintegrate.

Well today's guest has some really unique insights into all of this.

Peter Hitchins is a columnist at the Mel on Sunday and his recent book, The Fony Victory,

looks at how Britain commemorates the Second World War and the functions that memory serves

for politicians when they want to invade countries in the 21st century.

Peter Hitchins, welcome to Downstream.

Well, it's lovely to be here again.

It is lovely to have you on again.

The first conversation was

fascinating, insightful. Many people said you beat me hands down. I don't think it was

a competition. Quite. That's not the point of these

it just absolutely wasn't no I'm obviously flattered think that they thought it was but I

didn't treat it as what no I don't and I think that's something that I think people look at a lot of legacy media and they look at things as contestational. We try and be deliberative here at Navarro Media. So I'm glad you say that. Today's

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