He could break their buildings but he could not break their spirits.
Another image that sticks with me is that of kids out in the countryside looking skyward at the trails left by fighters.
They probably couldn't accurately draw the right outline of their homeland but oh yes, they could draw a Spitfire all right.
Basically, life went on.
It went on the best the people of that time, and those targeted places, could manage.
There were food shortages and accordingly there was rationing ... although there was always an extra sausage for Mrs Mainwaring "that'll be enough Jones".
Ahh Dad's Army.
A great comedy built around a dreadful moment in British history and which, at times, acknowledged that in the occasional thoughtful, and sombre, moment.
What it did strongly reflect was the way life simply had to go on.
The bank had to open every morning and Mr Jones had to ensure there was enough meat in the cool room out the back to keep the customers happy.
And if someone really needed a bottle of whisky or a bicycle or a new set of pots and pans then Private Walker, the spiv with the connections, would sort it.
The bombers would emerge from the dark skies and the sirens would sound but life just went on ... the best it could.
As of course it did at, shall we say, the upper end of the scale.
The more heeled members of the populace who dined and stayed in the finest hotels and would not take instructions like "would you all please go to the air raid shelter" lightly.
"When I have finished my lamb shanks I may consider obliging with your most ill-timed and rather shabby request", some chap with letters after his double-barrelled name would likely reply.
And if the bombs did begin to erupt frighteningly nearby he would simply ask the maitre'd to close the windows.
"A chap can't hear himself think."
It's a fine concept for a drama series.
A fine hotel in the heart of the fine city of London where the finest people reside ... looked after by the finest of staff attendants.
A hotel called The Halcyon.
I guess it could be described as a dramatic period soap opera because the ingredients are certainly there.
The usual suspects like scandal, secrets, snobbery, rivalry and romance ... and that's probably only the staff.
For the management the philosophy is all rather simple.
One must continue to deliver absolute five-star service no matter what is happening in the world outside the front doors.
For the writers the attraction was that a top hotel has a revolving door of colourful, often influential and even controversial characters so there is plenty of evolving script fodder.
And of course at the heart of some hushed-up events there is a lord and a lady involved.
● The Halcyon, Prime at 8.30pm Thursday: Your check-in time is 8.30pm and you have an hour at your disposal ... unless the air raid sirens go off of course.
It all sounds kind of like a five-star Coro' Street.
ON THE BOX
● Dr Ken, TV2 at 8pm tonight: After two seasons this American comedy series about a doctor with a slightly out-of-left-field bedside manner was scrapped, so that is some sort of reflection of it.
As I guess are the poor online ratings people have delivered. I have never seen it, but while scanning through the schedules and happening upon it I came across a familiar name as a guest appearance.
Rhys Darby calls at the hospital where it all takes place and he pours on the Kiwi accent big-time apparently.
He is the CEO of a company called Welltopia and yep, expect him to leave his unique mark.
● Take Me Out, TV2 at 8pm Friday: This is described as a reality dating show.
They got the title right because at 8pm on Friday I will take myself out ... of the living room where the TV resides.
● Super Rugby Semifinals: Sky Sport 1 carries the live action with the Crusaders vs the Chiefs from Christchurch on Saturday at 7.35pm and the Lions vs Hurricanes from Johannesburg at 12.30am on Sunday.
So it could be a long night for the staunchest of supporters and one way or the other there will be a Kiwi team in the final.
And depending on whether the Hurricanes can whip up a storm half a world away there might even be two.