With the Japanese entry into the war, and their rapid conquest of a great part of south-east Asia, it seemed only a question of time before an attack was mounted on India itself. The Executive Committee of the Friends' Ambulance Unit, active in the Second World War as in the first, was quick to realise the scope this situation gave for putting experience acquired in the London Blitz to use in the cities of India most threatened by air raids. By the end of 1941 there had already been some discussion of ways and means. Harold Loukes, a British Friend who had been in India since 1934, was asked to assess the prospects. His initial reaction was discouraging, but the Executive was attracted to the idea and unwilling to let go of it. On 21 January 1942 Ralph Barlow wrote to Alexander inviting him to spend the following Saturday night (24th) in the FAU hostel in London with a view to finding out what he thought of it all. Although it was barely a week since Olive's death, Alexander was exhilarated by the possibilities, and after his weekend meeting wrote a letter to Loukes asking him to think again. Simply as a gesture of goodwill the project would have great value. Moreover, although conditions in London were very different from those in Calcutta, experience in Britain would be helpful in working with Indians engaged in air-raid relief work.