Although I am critical of modern America – I cannot fault the brave men of the US who came to help England as we stood alone against an all-mighty Nazi Germany (most British people my age have grand-parents who fought in WWII). Of course, the Soviet Union joined the UK first (during late June, 1941) – with the US following shortly after Imperial Japan had attacked Pearl Harbour (in December, 1941). In fact, the UK had been fighting Nazi Germany since 1939 – and Imperial Japan in Burma (and elsewhere) also from late 1941. This is what the Imperial War Museum has to say about the Torcross Memorial: