My father was a card carrying member of the communist party, on one occassion he had to serve one months hard labour in prison.I remember him saying that at the start of the second world war, the British communist partys official line was that this was a capitalist war and communists were not to get involved.Ithink this changed in 1943. this could well be the reason why Ewan was not fighting at the beginning of the second world war.Whatver or however propagandists or historians want to view J Stalin, without him the allies would not have won the second world war. The battle of Stalingrad was Very important in the final determination of the second world war.I for one would not be hear but for ALL the allied forces. I believe Ewan had flaws as a person dont we all,but he was a great songwriter. Dick Miles