Spring 1995 'Number 86 FINEST HOUR - Winston Churchill

Spring 1995 'Number 86FINESTHOURJournal of the International Churchill Sod"ngdom • Canada • Australia

AMID THESE STORMSFINEST HOURISSN 0882-3715Richard M. Langworth, EditorPost Office Box 385Hopkinton, New Hampshire03229 USATel. (603) 746-4433Senior EditorsJohn G. Plumpton130 Collingsbrook Blvd.Agincourt, OntarioM1W1M7 CanadaH. Ashley Redburn, OBERosemere, Hollands MeadOvermoigne, Dorchester,Dorset DT2 8HX EnglandNews EditorJohn Frost8 Monks Ave, New Barnet,Herts. EN51D8 EnglandFeatures EditorDouglas J. Hall183A Somerby Hill, GranthamLines. NG31 7HA EnglandContributorsMartin Gilbert, United KingdomGeorge Richard, AustraliaStanley E. Smith, United StatesRon Cynewulf Robbins, CanadaJames W. Muller, United StatesDavid Boler, United KingdomWm. John Shepherd, United StatesFINEST HOUR is publishedquarterly for Friends of the InternationalChurchill Societies,which offer several levels of supportin their respective currencies.Membership applications andchanges of address should be sentto the appropriate national officeson page 2. Permission to mail atnon-profit rates in the USA grantedby the US Postal Service,Concord, NH, Permit no. 1524.Copyright 1995. All rightsreserved. Designed and producedfor ICS United States by DragonwyckPublishing Inc. Printed byReprographics Inc. Made in USA.# TO THE disappointment of its sponsor (Wendy Reves), editor (Martin Gilbert)and visionary (ICS), Never Surrender, Companion Volume 6 Part 2 of the OfficialBiography (this space last issue), is held up until June. I only learned this in mid-February and mention it for the benefit of ninety people awaiting copies fromour New Book Service. Each publisher blames the other for the delay.In June, however, it will take its place as a key volume — thanks to thegenerosity of Wendy Reves, who in 1989 pledged the entire editorial costs of tenfinal companion volumes, 1940-65. She has kept her part of the bargain despitemany provocations. The preparation of Volume 3 is unaffected. The lessonMartin Gilbert and I have learned is that we cannot leave things to publisherseven after a manuscript has been turned in. Once Volume 3 is handed over, ourrole in Churchill's words will be: "Continue to pester, nag and bite."# IN MARCH the President of the United States welcomed Gerry Adams, leaderof the "political wing" of a terrorist organization, to Washington for St.Patrick's Day, and permitted him overtly to raise money during his visit toAmerica. So the Prime Minister of Great Britain refused some Presidential phonecalls, the President spent VE Day in Moscow with the liberators of Chechnya,and pundits are saying the UK-US "special relationship"really is dead this time.In January 1938, Churchill wrote in The Gathering Storm (Chapter 14), thePresident of the United States, "deeply anxious at the deterioration of the internationalsituation," offered to host Europe's leaders in Washington for a settlementof differences. This pregnant overture was rejected by the Prime Minister,in defiance of the advice from his ambassador in Washington and without consultinghis foreign secretary. Roosevelt's offer "of bringing together the leadingEuropean Powers to discuss the chances of a general settlement, this, of course,involving however tentatively the mighty power of the United States, wasrebuffed by Mr. Chamberlain," whose response was "received by the Presidentwith some disappointment." That's too nice a way of putting it.This is not a precise parallel. Mr. Adams and the IRA are not Hitler andthe Nazis. The IRA has murdered 10,000 souls; Hitler could do that in a day. Itdoes, however, provide a reminder that the best of friends may disagree, yetremain friends. And on 4 April Mr. Major was back at the White House.George Will writes that the Great Democracies "are safer now than anyother time this century." With safety comes a certain latitude. The President hasa constituency of Irish-Americans who in their ignorance donate funds to theIRA (whose "political wing" enjoys 3% support in southern Ireland); but he alsoknows that this is not a Cold War face-off, with nuclear devastation in the cardsif he errs. If his action abets the "peace process" it will be hailed as ingenious; ifnot, it will be written off as naivete. (In politics, WSC said, you can be killedmany times.) The fate of the world doesn't rest on this initiative, as perhaps itdid rest on Chamberlain's response to Roosevelt in 1938.Such events however are not climacterics in the longest, most beneficentrelationship between two nations this century. I have heard it said that forClinton the "special relationship" is with Germany (that same Germany whichprecipitated the Bosnian crisis by prematurely recognizing breakaway Yugoslavrepublics); and at a London symposium on Britain's role Henry Kissingerthought the "special relationship" must now be with Europe (that same Europeso adept and unified over trade and monetary policies.) Perhaps there are betterexamples of "special realationships." Churchill wrote about one in particular. Idaresay his will be around awhile longer. RICHARD M. LANGWORTHThe Editor's opinions are his own and not necessarily those of the Churchill Societies, their directors or trustees.4 / FINEST HOUR 86

QUOTE OF THE SEASON: BUDGET WARS"It is the business of the Treasury to canvass all proposals which involve expenditureand to compel those who bring them forward to show, not merely that they are necessaryand desirable, but that they are more necessary and more desirable than other necessaryand desirable projects. Without such severe controversial examination of estimates, thefinances of the wealthiest country would soon be in disorder and the money of the taxpayersquandered irretrievably."-WSC, LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL, Vol E, pp 227-28SUBMITTED BY DAVID DRUCKMAN, ILLINOIS, USACelebrating Victory in Europe Daywith ICS in London, May 8th-9thLONDON, MAY 6-8TH (REUTERS) —The largest assembly of heads of stateand government to come to Londonsince Queen Elizabeth's 1953 coronationmarks the 50th anniversary of theend of World War II in Europe. BuckinghamPalace has announced thatleaders from more than fifty countries,including German ChancellorHelmut Kohl, will attend the Victoryin Europe commemorations fromMay 6th-8th. Japan, another defeatedWorld War II power, will be representedby its ambassador.The Prince and Princess of Wales,who separated two years ago, are tomake a rare appearance together inpublic for the ceremonies. TheDuchess of York, who separated fromPrince Andrew in 1992, will not betaking part. The Queen, Prince Philipand Prince Charles are to attend ajoint session of the two Houses ofParliament on May 5th.The first major set-piece event onMay 6th will be a dinner at the ornateGuildhall for visiting heads of state.There will also be a memorial serviceat St Paul's Cathedral on May 7th anda gala finale in Hyde Park on May8th. For ICS, however, the big newscomes on the selfsame day...LONDON, MAY 8TII — By the timeyou read this, ICS will be approachingthe grand finale to four days ofnational celebration commemoratingthe 50th anniversary of the end of thewar in Europe, all orchestrated bychairwoman Wylma Wayne in London(tel. 071-109-5310).A black tie dinner at the ImperialWar Museum, amid the Spitfires andHurricanes, with guest speaker WinstonS. Churchill MP, will host 350people, including some very importantguests and a large delegation ofICS Friends from the United Statesand Canada.Among ICS guests: His ExcellencyThe Hon. Neil Blewett, AustralianHigh Commissioner; H.E. The Hon.Royce Frith, Canadian High Commissioner;H.E. the French AmbassadorM. Jean Gueguinou; H.E. the RussianAmbassador M. and Mme.Adamashina; the Duke and Duchessof Marlborough; the Viscount & ViscountessMontgomery of Alamein(President of the European-AtlanticGroup); Maj-Gen. Kenneth & theHon. Celia Perkins; Lt-Gen. SirMichael and Lady Rose; Lt-Gen. SirPeter and Lady de la Billiere; theBaroness Brigstocke (Chairman,English-Speaking Union of the Commonwealth);Mr. & Mrs. Winston S.Churchill; Mr. & Mrs. Peregrine S.Churchill; Dr. & Mrs. Borg (ImperialWar Museum); and Martin Gilbert.All this augurs well for the nameand fame of Sir Winston, which ICSstrives above all to preserve, and tothe work of ICS, UK under DavidBoler and his fine Committee includingthe indefatigable Wylma Wayne.INTERNATIONAL DATELINES12th InternationalChurchill ConferenceBoston, October 26-9thGuests of Honor:The Lady Soames, DBEThe Hon. Celia SandysChief Speakers:Wm. F. Buckley, Jr.Arthur Schlesinger, Jr."The conservativemaster of the wellmadeargument"(PW), WilliamBuckley has spokenand written againstthe overweeningstate for fifty years.(Speaking 27 Oct.)"The dean of AmericanLiberalism,"Arthur Schlesingerhas won PulitzerPrizes for his biographyof Jacksonand history of theKennedy era.(Speaking 28 Oct.)FOR years it has been our ambitionto host Arthur Schlesinger andWilliam Buckley at an ICS event.Now through the catalyst of ourBoston Conference, this aim has beenrealized, and these two famous writers,speakers and debaters will deliverback-to-back speeches: Mr. Buckleyon Friday Oct 27th, Dr. Schlesingeron Saturday the 28th.Not only are Buckley and Schlesingeramong the most accomplishedthinkers in America. They also typifya Churchill characteristic that is rarein the high-pitched clatter of today'spolitics: the belief (as Canadian Sen.Grafstein puts it in his piece on pages35-37) "that personal friendship andcivility are more important for thosein public life than personal politicalpartisanship." >»continuedFINEST HOUR 86 / 5

Conference Schedule• All Days: A unique exhibit byKenneth Rendell, the acclaimed autographspecialist. Memorabilia fromhis personal collection will portraythe "Larger Than Life" Churchill ashe appeared on German, French andBritish wartime propaganda. This iscertainly an exhibit not to be missed.• THURSDAY 26 October: Studentpresentations including theWashington Chapter award winner,"Mobilizing the English Language,"by Thomas Baldwin, St. AlbansSchool, DC. Evening: Spirit of Bostonlobster clambake dinner cruise withtraditional dance music.• FRIDAY 27 October: Book Day.A panel of historians considersChurchill's Triumph and Tragedy; CeliaSandys discusses her new book, FromWinston With Love and Kisses (and hernext one, covering 1895-1908) andhosts a book signing. Academicpanel: "Churchill, Roosevelt and theEnd of World War EL" Evening: BlackTie banquet with guest speakerWilliam F. Buckley, Jr. and the nationalanthems of all five ICS membernations, sung by Solveig Barber ofICS Canada.• SATURDAY 28 October: 9AM:trolley tour of "Churchill's Boston" —famous and obscure city sites associatedwith Sir Winston since 1900.11AM: Kennedy Library privateexhibit of the JFK and Halle Papersconcerning the Honorary Citizenshipfor Sir Winston Churchill proclaimedby President Kennedy in April 1963.Afternoon: "Churchill Initiatives"with Fred Farrow ("Churchill and theGeneral Strike"), Douglas Russell("Lt. Churchill, 4th Hussars"), PatrickPowers ("Teaching Churchill") andCoach Johnny Parker of the NewEngland Patriots ("Churchill as Inspiration").Evening: Black Tie banquetwith guest speaker Arthur M.Schlesinger, Jr. (see pp 38-39 thisissue) who will speak before dinner.After dinner, the Grand Finale: "HarrowSongs" with the Harvard GleeClub — including all four HarrowSongs with special Churchill verses,along with "Jerusalem" and "The BattleHymn of the Republic."• SUNDAY 29 October: Chairman'sFarewell Breakfast.• Registration materials will be inthe mail very shortly. Chief of staffParker Lee strives for "zero defects"registration. We'll know who isresponsible for everything and theanswers to all your questions. Computerconsultant Mike Pedersen willprovide materials including colorkeyedadmission badges, and willman the registration desk computer.• Attention High School TeachersDo you include a unit on Sir WinstonChurchill as part of your curricula?Please share your experiences withothers during the 1995 Boston Conferencediscussion, "TeachingChurchill," especially designed forteachers of teenagers. If you plan toattend the Conference and would liketo participate in this discussion,please contact Dr. Patrick Powers,2096 Placita de Vida, Santa Fe, NM87505, tel. (505) 471-7909.• Harrow Songs: For nearly 150years "Songs" have been part of theHarrow School tradition, and from1940 to 1960, Churchill scarcelymissed a year of the annual event,weeping unashamedly as he joinedthe pupils in the tunes of his childhood.Four Harrow songs containverses for Churchill: "Stet FortunaDomus," the majestic, more or lessunofficial school song; "DonorumDei," composed especially for the50th Anniversary Churchill Songs atthe Albert Hall; "The Silver Arrow,"not written until after Winston hadleft Harrow, but one of his favoriteswhen he began attending again; and"Forty Years On," the best knownHarrow anthem, which contains twoChurchill verses.From "Forty Years On"written for WSC, first sung 12Nov54Sixty years on — though in timegrowing older,Younger at heart you return to the Hill:You, who in days of defeat ever bolder,Led us to Victory, serve Britain still.Still there are bases to guard or beleaguer,Still must the battle for freedom be won.Long may you fight, Sir, who fearlessand eagerLook back to-day more than sixty years on.JOHN FROST"International Datelines" would notbe half its size without the "cuttingsservice" of John Frost of Hertfordshire,UK, whose Historical NewspaperService is world famous. Aschoolboy passion for news hasturned into a collection of 60,000 editionsdating back to 1640, plus100,000 cuttings. As a leading Britishnewspaper archivist, Frost now providesnewspapers for use in TV documentaries,magazines and books, abooming business in which he is nowaided by his 30-year-old son Andrew.For years, John has supplied FinestHour with Churchill cuttings, andthere is little on WSC that escapes hiseye. Anyone in need of the "papers"for any date is welcome to contact theJohn Frost Historical Newspaper Service(address on page 4), tel/fax (081)440-3159.NATIONAL NON-STANDARDSWASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 8TH —The lamentable National Standardsfor World History, which made somuch news in the USA late last year,incidentally omitted Sir WinstonChurchill — but as many know, it6 / FINEST HOUR 86

It's well we have Dr. Lenemanaround to tell us what Churchill ("intoday's parlance") thought of women!Of course, she might try readingClementine Churchill by Mary Soamesbefore she reports WSC's opinion onthe "merely decorative" sex. Not thatthis would prevent the EdinburghEvening Nezvs from filling a page with60 point type reading BRITISH BULL-DOG 'SEXIST.' This sort of generationalchauvinism, which demands charactersfrom 1919 be as "enlightened" astoday's "historians," will continue — inthis case until some female pilot getsshot down by any of a dozen lunaticgroups you can name, and the wordgets out what they did to her. RMLCOMING UPLong Sunset, the memoirs of AnthonyMontague Browne, Sir Winston'slast private secretary (1952-65) will bepublished in London by Cassells inMay. The ICS New Book Service willstock English editions as soon as possible.This will be an important book bya key aide and a sound contribution tohistory.WHERE'S SIR WINSTON?LONDON, AUGUST 1994 — Jonah Triebwasserof ICS/USA, in town with childrenTommy and Alison to see suchsites as the Cabinet War Rooms andParliament, went to Parliament Square— and did not find Churchill! The statuehad been encased in a box to protectit from cementdust and scratchesfrom a publicworks project nearby.Cockney workerssaid theythought "the oldboy" would be outof his box bySeptember.What we'd liketo know, Jonah, is how long has St.Stephen's Tower been leaning overat this precarious angle?NEW CASSETTES & BOOKSIn England, Argo/Decca/EMIhave finally produced theunabridged "Wartime Speeches,"ADVERTS• Ezra Brooks Churchill BourbonBottle. Commemorates 1946 "Iron Curtain"speech at Fulton, a limited editionfor which the molds were laterdestroyed. Perfect condition with originalsticker and cork intact. Asking $225.Larry Kryske, 4 St. George Ct., LittleRock AR 72211.• Blenheim Cottage, Maine Coast:discount rentals to Friends of iCS. AtTenant's Harbor (Camden 30mins.,Portland 1 l/2hrs.) All modcons, completeWSC library, dock & stone beach,sleeps six. Sailing, fishing, superb oceanviews out of our picturesque harbor. Afew weeks left for summer 1995. Contactthe Editor• Personals of a limited nature arefree to Friends of ICS and may be sentin care of the editors.last seen on twelve 33 1/3 rpm LPrecords. They comprise three doublepacks in a box, cost £19.99 and playfor 7+ hours. This is the first timethe full helping has been availablein thirty years. Now, NorthAmericans please don't write usasking how to get them in Canadaor the USA — we'll check andannounce when we find out.Completely new for 1994 is a twocassettepack from Harper CollinsUK of Robert Hardy reading anabridged version of My Early Life.As might be expected, Hardy doesthe job very well: three hours playingtime, £6.99 in the UK.In America, the Easton Press areoffering their leatherbound editionsof the Official Biography (in ten volumes,$610 payable in installments)and The Second World War (six volumes,$275, payable in installments).Easton have done ICS afavor by placing membershipbrochures in shipments of thesebooks, so we don't mind mentioningtheir availability again. Telephone(800) 367-4534 or write MBI BooksDivision, 677 Connecticut Avenue,Norwalk CT 06854. -DJHHANGING IN THERENEW YORK, DECEMBER 31ST — In aGallup Poll for LISA Today a "representativesample" of 167 respondentswas asked to name the menthey most admired (women were adifferent poll). Churchill received 18votes, more than Pope John Pauland Jimmy Carter, and one less thanHarry Truman and Richard Nixon.(How Truman would hate knowinghe was tied with Nixon...)Ahead of Churchill and the Popewere Rev. Billy Graham (35), DwightEisenhower and Ronald Reagan (22each), which suggests that Gallupsampled only midwestern Republicanborn-again Catholics. Or something.Anyway, we're pleased to seeWSC surpassing several living personsand the only non-American inthe top six. Now, about "Man of theCentury..."MR. KEATING IS A FANIn Finest Hour #76 (p20), we stated:"The Australian Prime Minister,Mr. Paul Keating, following his discourtesyto The Queen during hervisit to Australia, accused GreatBritain of deserting his country..."Michael McRobbie of Canberraasks us to note that it should not beassumed that Paul Keating is anti-Churchill — quite the contrary, infact: "Keating has said words onrecord to the effect that Churchillwas by far the greatest statesmanthis century, followed a distant secondby Roosevelt. He has also saidthat when he was young Churchillwas the major influence on him ashe wanted to do the sorts of things(i.e. politics) that Churchill did. It iscertainly the case that he doesn'tthink that the British covered themselvesin glory in Malaya/Singaporein 1941-42 and he certainly favoursAustralia becoming a republic; buthe has frequently mentioned hisgeneral admiration of Britain's rolein WW2, and of many British institutions."»>continued opposite8 / FINEST HOUR 86

CHURCHILL IN ANCHORAGEANCHORAGE, ALASKA, FEB. 16TH —This spring, students at theUniversity of Alaska, Anchorage,were offered a seminar entitled"Churchill and the Two WorldWars," taught by Prof. James W.Muller, Chairman of the ICS Boardof Academic Advisors (USA andCanada). The course, offered to bothundergraduate and graduate studentsin the Department of PoliticalScience, gives students a look atwhat WSC calls "a second ThirtyYears' War" and a review of themost striking events of our century.Students nicknamed the course"Forced March through the TwentiethCentury," because the assignedreading included the eleven volumesof The World Crisis and TheSecond World War, plus selectionsfrom Great Contemporaries andThoughts and Adventures. The littleknownsequels to The World Crisis,The Aftermath and The Eastern Front,which have been out of print sincethe 1970s, were made available tothe students with the help of MarkWeber, Richard Langworth and theICS New Book Service, which hasbound the latter from extraCollected Works sheets and dug upused copies of the former.A crossword puzzle on charactersand incidents of The World Crisiswas prepared by Professor Mulleras part of the students' midtermexamination. Finest Hour will run itin the next issue.Another seminar, on Churchill'sHistory of the English-SpeakingPeoples, will be offered at theUniversity of Alaska, Anchorage,from July 5th to August 8th. Forinformation call (907) 786-4740.DR. FREDERICK WOODS, FRSACREWE, CHESHIRE, UK, FEB. 26TH —Pioneer Churchill bibliographerFrederick Woods.-

Donald Forbes., vigorous criticismof theNazi regime.In 1945 hebecame Hon.Secretary ofChurchill'sconstituencyassociation,working closelywith itschairman, thelate Sir James Hawkey, in rebuildingthe Conservative Party inWanstead & Woodford. One of theearliest Friends of ICS/UK, Donaldhad also chaired the ad-hoc committeeformed to commission the statueof Winston Churchill unveiled byField Marshal Montgomery onWoodford Green in 1958.Born in London in 1908, Donaldwas a chartered accountant. Longactive in Wanstead and Woodford,he served as borough councillor,deputy mayor, mayor and aldermanuntil retiring when the borough wasmerged with Ilford to form theLondon Borough of Redbridge.Donald mastered a personalcomputer at the age of 80, and spentmuch of his last years recording hisfascinating public life. As a result,David Thomas in his recent book,Winston Churchill, the Member forWoodford, was able to rely on anauthoritative array of papers thatDonald had made available. Allwho knew him from both sides ofthe pond hailed him as a prince ofgood fellows.At Buckingham Palace to receivethe CBE in 1987, when The Queeninquired about his past activities,Donald summed up the highlight ofhis memories in a simple sentence:"I looked after Mr Churchill in theconstituencies of Epping andWoodford, Your Majesty."SHEILA MINTO, LVO, OBELONDON, OCTOBER 19TH — SheilaAlison Minto was born in London in1908, youngest of seven children ofa Scottish sugar trader; she grew upnear Dunoon on the Firth of Clyde.In 1929 she joined the Civil Service,assigned to the secretarial staff atthe War Office, and was transferredto 10 Downing Street in 1935. Althoughshe thought this assignmentwould be "dull and political," shestayed thirty-three years and servedeight Prime Ministers, becoming intime the senior permanent secretary,unofficially known as the "QueenBee." Her effortless and naturalauthority and good humour areremembered by her "hive." She wasrespected but never feared. Afterretirement, she became somethingof a celebrity on TV chat shows,where she delighted audiences withgood-humoured anecdotes abouther various masters.Shortly after Churchill movedinto Downing Street, Sheila Mintofound a distressed young girl sobbingoutside the Cabinet Room: "Ican't go in." Loud "harrumpings"could be heard issuing from beyondthe door.WSC's private secretary, lookingharrassed, grabbed Sheila, saying,"For God's sake go in and cope!"WSC demanded to know who shewas and then ordered her to sitopposite him at the Cabinet table,throw away her shorthand notebook,and take dictation straightonto the typewriter. As she completedeach page Churchill rang a belland a Royal Marine came in to takeit away. From then on, she was inregular demand.At first she found it difficult tocope with Churchill's workinghabits and was never entirely comfortablewhen taking dictation, withthe possibility that "an incontinentbudgerigar might suddenly alighton my head." She soon discoveredthat if WSC was in a bullying moodher best defence was to bully himback. She became and remaineddevoted to him. She had to adjust tohis hours: "It was not at all unusualto start at 10PM and go on until2AM or 3AM. Sometimes he decidedto work in bed and would pokehis head out of the bedroom doorand say, with a mischievous grin, 'Ishall require two young womentonight.'" -DJHMAURICE ASHLEY, CBELONDON, OCTOBER 4TH — MauriceAshley, a recipient of the ICS EmeryReves Award for his work with SirWinston Churchill on Marlborough,died today aged 87. A prolific historianwith a special interest in the17th century, Ashley made his reputationas an expert on Cromwell. In1989, when Churchill's behaviour asa husband and employer was underattack, he sprang to his defence,writing: "He treated me with utmostconsideration, almost as an equal.Every evening after dinner, Winstonplayed games of backgammon withhis wife. He consulted her on publicand private matters and frequentlytook her advice. In my experience hewas neither rude nor greedy. Hewas indeed a wonderful man."Recalling those years at an ICSdinner in London the same year,Ashley said that as a young socialist,he did not always see eye to eyewith his boss but conceived a deepadmiration for him both as an historianand a man. -RMLSIR KARL POPPERLONDON, SEPTEMBER 17TH — SirKarl Popper, 92, was one of the mostinfluential thinkers of the 20thcentury, notable for his part inundermining Marxist theory in hismasterworks, The Open Society andIts Enemies and The Poverty ofHistoricism. He believed withChurchill that individuals do shapehistory, and not the other wayround. Yet his ideas appealed to abroad range of political leaders,ranging from Margaret Thatcher tothe Portuguese socialist PresidentMario Soares.A member of ICS UnitedKingdom and intellectually activeuntil his dying day, Sir Karl wroteto The Times last year in support ofSir Winston's war record, arguingthat any peace with Hitler wouldhave meant the extension of theHolocaust. As his list of books andacademic distinctions grew, he wasknighted in 1965 and made aCompanion of Honour in 1982.-M.J. KAY >»continued opposite10 / FINEST HOUR 86

MAJ. MICHAEL PARISH, MCATHENS, SEPTEMBER 12TH — MajorMichael Parish, who was awardedthe Military Cross both for hisescape from German-held Crete in1941 and for his subsequent rescueof Allied soldiers from the Greekmainland and islands, died in thecountry he loved today, a fewmonths after publishing his memoirs,Aegean Adventures and theFailure of Churchill's Dream (reviewedin FH #82). His distinguishedmilitary career is discussedin that review, but what I want tomention here is his response to thecritiques I made of his thesis that theAllies could have finished Hitlerfaster, forestalling the Iron Curtain,by an invasion up the Danube startingfrom a base in the Greek islands.His was certainly the most gallantresponse to a critical review Ihave ever read (FH #84, p33),underscoring his desire to search fortruth and his respect for Sir Winston(and Sir Fitzroy Maclean). He was,the Daily Telegraph said, "outstandinglybrave, and modest. Despite hiswounds, asthma and deafness, hecontinued to lead a full life. He hadstyle and showed a sparkling senseof fun." -RMLR. ADMIRAL 'PAFF PAFFARDLONDON, SEPTEMBER 12TH — RearAdmiral 'Paff Paffard, who diedaged 90, was for fourteen years secretaryto a great war leader,Admiral of the Fleet Lord Tovey. Allhis diplomatic skills were needed in1942 when Tovey fell out with theAdmiralty and with Churchill afterobjecting to Admiralty interferencewith his conduct of the convoys toRussia. Tovey particularly objectedwhen Whitehall ordered the convoyPQ17 to scatter, with disastrousresults. Despite Paffard's efforts,matters deteriorated by 1943 andChurchill tried to persuade Cunninghamto take over the HomeFleet. Cunningham declined to doso unless Tovey was sick. WhenTovey hauled down his flag in 1943,Paffard was appointed CBE, andaccompanied Tovey to his nextappointment, as C-in-C The Nore.Nore Command was crucial inpreparations for the invasion ofEurope and received a special Admiraltycommendation for its vitalcontribution. -DAVID BOLER &For Valour: Remembrance at Bladon, 25 January 1995Festooned with flowers: the graves of Sir Winston and his father Lord Randolph (d.1895).BLADON, OXON., UK, JAN. 29TH —ICS United Kingdom arranged aspecial commemoration of the 30thanniversary of Sir Winston's deathand the 100th anniversary of thepassing of his father, LordRandolph Churchill. Over ninetyfriends of ICS and 75 members andfriends of the Churchill family gatheredat St. Martin's Church, includingthe Duke and Duchess ofMarlborough, Lady Soames,Winston and Minnie Churchill,Nicholas and Serena Soames, CeliaSandys and her husband Maj. Gen.Ken Perkins, and children from alltheir respective families. Notableguests included Lady MargaretColville, Lady Williams (nee JanePortal), the Countess of Onslow,LOCAL NEWSLady Rowan and the Countess ofAvon, Sir Henry and Lady Beverley(he is director general of theChurchill Memorial Trust),Headmaster and Mrs. NickBomford and Head Boy SimonMitchell of Harrow School, andMaster and Mrs. Broers of ChurchillCollege. Past members of theChurchill secretariat included GraceHamblin, Doreen Pugh, PeterKinna, Elizabeth Gilliat and MarianSpencer. The list was a cornucopiaof WSC/ICS Who's Who!Lessons were read at the Serviceby Winston Churchill and LadySoames.The rafters were shaken bywholehearted renditions includingSir Winston's favourites, "O GodOur Help in Ages Past" and "TheBattle Hymn of the Republic,"which as many recall were sung atthe funeral in St. Paul's in 1965. TheOrder of Service was kindly arrangedby Lady Soames, who alsoorganised a wonderful floral display.It is a wonder that wesqueezed 160 into a church holdingonly 130!The Rector of Bladon, the Rev.Roger Humphreys, gave a mostmoving address in difficult circum-FINESTHOUR86 /11

stances, as he had only been atBladon for a few weeks. After theService, wreaths were laid on SirWinston's and Lord Randolph'sgraves by members of the familyand this writer on behalf of all theChurchill Societies. The pouringrain seemed somehow appropriate,but detracted nothing from a movingoccasion.Afterwards the Duke ofMarlborough kindly allowed us useof the Stable Yard Restaurant atBlenheim, and a special luncheonwas enjoyed by all, the highlightbeing a speech by WinstonChurchill who quoted passages ofhis Aunt Sarah's description of herfather's funeral from her book, AThread in the Tapestry. This memorableoccasion will live long in thememory of all who were present.-DAVID BOLERORDER OF SERVICE & ICS TIESAvailable from ICS/UK, PO Box 244,Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 OYF, UKTo help defray recent expenses weare selling some of the Orders of Servicefrom Bladon on January 29th, signed bythe Duke of Marlborough, Lady Soamesand Winston Churchill MP, a fine additionto Churchilliana collections. Price is£5.50 postpaid, or £2.50 for the regularedition without signatures, (allow £1extra overseas)Committee member Dennis Jacksonhas now produced our special ICS tie tocelebrate the 50th anniversary of VEDay. Fashioned in high grade navy bluepolyester, it has a single motif of the ICS"V" logo bracketed with stripes: blue forthe Battle of Britain and WSC's rank asHon. Air Commodore of 615 (County ofSurrey) Fighter Squadron, white for theCliffs of Dover and Lord Warden of theCinque Ports (1941), and green forChurchill's most famous home,Chartwell, near Westerham, Kent in the"Garden of England." The tie costs £6.50inclusive of post in UK (allow £2 extrafor overseas).ALASKA CHAPTERANCHORAGE, NOVEMBER 30TH —The Alaska Chapter of ICS celebratedthe one hundred twentieth birthdayof Sir Winston tonight at theAbove: Lady Soames arriving atDenali National Park on Alaska RRwith conductor Gary Valinske, 16Sept. (photo J.Muller). Right: JimMuller and Mark Wohlgemuth of theCanaries; Sharon Jones, who sang the Alaska Flag Song; Lady Soames; Craig Carlson of theCanaries; Peter Strandjord, pianist; Michael Padden of the Canaries, 20 Sept. (photo Paul Ubl).Hotel Captain Cook with Patron ofthe Societies Lady Soames as honoredguest. Her visit was cosponsoredby Commonwealth North,Anchorage's premier public policyforum, with the aid of BP Exploration(Alaska). Lady Soames's twoaddresses on 20 September, to abreakfast meeting of CommonwealthNorth and a black-tie dinnerof the Alaska Chapter, dealt respectivelywith her father's characterand interests and his life as apainter. As is now traditional, thedinner speaker was serenaded withHarrow Songs by the "Canaries"while Sharon Jones sang the AlaskaFlag Song, accompanied by PeterStrandjord at the piano. Toasts wereproposed by Judith Hoersting,Donald F. Behrend and DavidThorsness. The dinner programincluded a reproduction of SirWinston's only WW2 painting(Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakesh).Thanks to the speaker were offeredby Professor William Jacobs.Because of her visit, the size of theFarthest North and Farthest WestChapter has doubled.Mayor Rick Mystrom welcomedLady Soames to Anchorage. Shetoured the Alaska Center for thePerforming Arts, where preparationswere in progress for a productionof "Phantom of the Opera," andlunched with the Honorary BritishConsul for Alaska, Professor DiddyHitchins. In her capacity as Directorof the Royal National Theatre inLondon, she met with state andlocal arts leaders and was interviewedby the Anchorage Daily News.Her schedule afforded her time toappreciate Alaska's scenic splendorby airplane, boat, railway, bus, van,car as well as on foot. She visitedAnchorage's Alyeska Resort for abreathtaking view of the TurnagainArm of Cook Inlet, took a boat toPortage Glacier to see "calving icebergs,"and rode the Alaska RRnorth to Denali National Park. Hereshe had a clear view of Mt.Mckinley, North America's highest,whose north and south peaks werenamed for her father in 1965. On aseparate trip she crossed the ArcticCircle to visit the facilities of BPExploration on the North Slope, andsaw the beginning of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline at Prudhoe Bay.In the course of her visit, copiesof Lady Soames's book, Churchill:His Life as a Painter, sold like hotcakes.Despite the best efforts oflocal bookshops to meet demand,the book was sold out citywide atthe end of her visit. -JWMICS has nearly 30 Alaska friends, atribute to the frequent events, with elegantinvitations, menus and programs,by Judith and Jim Muller. To receivethe next invitation contact ICS Alaska,1518 Airport Heights Dr., AnchorageAK 99508, tel. (907) 272-7846.CHICAGO CHAPTERPlans for a more active ChicagoChapter continue to develop, andthere will be at least two meetingsduring 1995. Anyone interested inhelping, or contributing with anexhibit or talk, should contact Jos.Just, 251 Frontage Road #25, BurrRidge IL 60521, tel. (708) 654-3500.12 / FINEST HOUR 86

Overleaf: Sir 'Winston Churchill on Champagne & SpiritsCelia Sandys asked us recently to put together every Churchill quote we could find on Champagne for atalk she gave in London on September 11th last, and the following page emerged from the ether. We have sinceadded everything we could find about scotch whiskey, and anything else alcoholic, including alcohol itself, andbunged the lot into our quotes database.Churchill used his affinity for alcohol as a prop to his persona, but contrary to certain revisionist biographers,he was never drunk. "I had been brought up and trained to have the utmost contempt for people whoget drunk, except on very exceptional occasions and a few anniversaries," he wrote in My Early Life. So successfulzvas WSC in the use of this prop that he acquired- the very reputation he and his father would have disapprovedof. Some writers continue to say he was an alcoholic. Well, prove it to us.With Celia Sandys''s permission we now produce these quotes for your delectation in Finest Hour. Wewelcome additions (with attribution, please) so as to round out the collection. -The editorLocal News, concludedDETROIT CHAPTERThe ICS chapter for Detroit andWindsor, Ontario is being reactivatedby Gary Bonine, who haslunched with Fred Farrow, Presidentof Century Instruments inLivonia. Fred met Churchill whendriving lorries during the GeneralStrike in 1926, and will be speakingabout his experience and writing anarticle. The program will depend onthe wishes of chapter members at anorganizational meeting to beannounced later. All current Friendsof ICS in the area will receive amailing automatically.ICS Detroit, 9000 E. Jefferson, #28-6,Detroit MI 48214, tel. (313) 823-2951.EMERY REVES CHAPTERDALLAS, NOVEMBER 30TH — TheNorth Texas ICS chapter met to celebratethe birth of Sir Winston. Dr.James Hopkins, Southern MethodistUniversity history professor andauthor, spoke about the relationshipbetween Sir Winston and EmeryReves, the chapter's namesake, providingan interesting account of Mr.Reves's life. He also reviewedrecently published Churchill biographiesand informed us of others inpreparation. The evening was repletewith good food & Champagne.Following three years' honorableservice, Ann and Richard Hazlettpassed the directorship to NathanHughes, whose wife Dr. Selma Hugheshas lectured cogently at earlier chaptermeetings. Nathan welcomes the helpand suggestion of anyone in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area: contact him at 1117Shady glen dr., Richardson TX 75081.NEW ENGLAND CHAPTERSUDBURY, MASS, APRIL 8TH — FHeditor Richard Langworth lecturedabout his forthcoming book, A Guideto the Books of Sir Winston Churchill,and discussed Churchill book collectingat a luncheon meeting andconference planner at the WaysideInn. Friends from as far off as NewJersey attended: report next issue.The ICS Executive Committee alsomet the day before at the CopleyPlaza, site of the 1995 Conference,and chairwoman BarbaraLangworth conducted planning sessionsboth there and in Sudbury.Friends of ICS in New Englandinterested in receiving news of and invitationsto local ICS events please contactDr. Cyril Mazansky, 50 DolphinRd., Newton Center MA 02159, tel.(617) 296-4000 ext 5000.WASHINGTON CHAPTERThe recent address by Dr. ChrisHarmon has been submitted to ICSUnited States for possible publication,and at a meeting of theExecutive in Washington February9th, Mike Altenburger, DorothyHartland and Aida Schoenfeldannounced the winners in theChurchill Essay Contest: TomBaldwin of St. Albans High Schoolplaced first, followed by EricNicholson, also of St. Albans, andGeoffrey German of ThomasJefferson High School. Cash prizeshave been sent, and Tom Baldwinwill deliver his paper at a Chaptermeeting on April 20th. Finest Houreditor Richard Langworth has beeninvited to chair this meeting, tospeak about his forthcoming bookconcerning Sir Winston's books, andto respond to Mr. Baldwin's essay.This event will be at the TowerClub. Copies of My Early Life will bepresented to our three prize winners,and the charge will be $30 perplace for anyone wishing to attend.Details are in the mail to areaFriends; anyone else interested incoming may contact Ron Helgemo.The summer meeting will be apicnic on July 20th, and DorothyHartland, Dan Borinsky and JohnHoltzman will discuss the possibilities.John Mather discussed currentnational activities and indicated hewas going to be involved in Chaptersupport activities. The Executivealso discussed the potentialsequence of ICS events over the nexttwo years, including the 1996Fiftieth Anniversary of the Fultonspeech and the tour this same yearof "Churchill's England."Friends wishing to attend or assistwith future events or help in other waysshould contact Ron Helgemo, 2037Wethersfield Ct, Reston VA 22091, tel.(703) 351-2967. M>FINEST HOUR 86 /13

WSC on ChampagneWSC: "I could not live withoutChampagne. In victory I deserve it. Indefeat I need it." (Quote supplied byRML; attribution requested.)•[An 1895 conversation withLord Sandhurst, Governor ofBombay; Winston was a subalternaged 21.] WSC: "We ... enjoyed abanquet of glitter, pomp and icedChampagne ... His Excellency, afterthe health of the Queen Empresshad been drunk and dinner wasover, was good enough to ask myopinion upon several matters, andconsidering the magnificent characterof his hospitality, I thought itwould be unbecoming in me not toreply fully ... There were indeedmoments when he seemed willingto impart his views; but I thought itwould be ungracious to put him toso much trouble, and he very readilysubsided." (My Early Life)•India, 1897: "A single glass ofChampagne imparts a feeling ofexhilaration. The nerves are braced:the imagination is agreeably stirred;the wits become more nimble. Abottle produces a contrary effect.Excess causes a comatose insensibility.So it is with war: and the qualityof both is best discovered by sipping."(Malakand Field Force)WSC before theBattle of Omdurman,1898: "As I strolled alongthe river bank we werehailed from the gunboatswhich lay 20 or 30 feetIrom the shore. One vesselwas commanded by ajunior naval Lieutenantnamed Beatty [later Adm.of the Fleet and hero oflutland] ... 'How are youoff for drinks? ... Can youcatch?' Almost immediatelya large bottle of Champagnewas thrown fromthe gunboat to the shore. Itfell in the waters of theNile, but happily where a graciousProvidence decreed them to be shallowand the bottom soft. I nippedinto the water up to my knees, andreaching down seized the preciousgift which we bore in triumph backto our mess." (My Early Life)•WSC after losing his first election,1900: "I returned to Londonwith those feelings of deflationwhich a bottle of Champagne oreven soda water represents when itis half emptied and left uncorked fora night." (My Early Life)•In 1929, told by his New Yorklecture agent, Louis Albers, thatScotland Yard had learned that hislife was threatened: "Please fetch mea bottle of Champagne." Albers: "Ihad better go first and make plansagainst these plots." WSC: "Firstthings first. Get the Champagne."•Kay Halle: [At a 1931 lunch]"Mr. Churchill sat at the head of histable in Renaissance splendor in anopen-throated silk shirt, a velvetsmoking jacket and slippers withWSC threaded in gold on the toes.In front of him stood a bottle of PolRoger. Later in World War IIMadame Pol-Roger is said to haveallocated the remaining output ofthat particular year for his use ingratitude for the liberation ofWIT AND WISDOMFrance. After the war, he was toname one of his race horses PolRoger. "His favorite vintage was '47.•WSC: "Have another glass, mydear boy, I shan't write it down inmy diary." (To the 2nd Lord Birkenhead,in his Life ofF. E. Smith)•WSC: "Prof! How many pints ofChampagne in cubic feet have I consumedin 24 years at the rate of apint a day, and how many railwaycarriages would it fill?" Lindemann(consulting his slide rule): "Only apart of one, Winston." WSC: "Somuch to achieve, so little timeremains." (A repeated exchange onthe capacity of hotels, ships, etc., inwhich the Prof always went along.)•Montgomery: "I neither drinknor smoke and am 100% fit." WSC:"I drink and smoke and I am 200%fit." (Memoirs ofF.M. Montgomery)•WSC: "I have a profound distastefor skim milk and no deeprooted prejudice about wine. So Ihave resolved the conflict in favourof the latter ... I've often been thebetter for it — seldom the worse."(Kay Halle's Irrepressible Churchill)•WSC, 1940s: "I could haverespected the ancient tradition of adry Navy, but this tantalising businessof the empty wine glass — andthen this matter of too little and toolate — I hope you don't follow suchbarbarous practices in your house,Franks!" (To the British Ambassadorduring a visit to the White House)WSC on ScotchChurchill's alleged favoritescotch was a blend, Johnny WalkerRed, which (in my opinion) makeshim a much less discerning consumerof scotch than he was ofChampagne. His recipe for a highballwas: (1) enough whiskey tocover the bottom of a tumbler; (2)enough soda (or water) to fill it up.14 / FINEST HOUR 86

The pale amber liquid he drankstarting around 10AM was so dilutedthat it had no effect, especiallysince he more or less sipped it. Thehabit began with his 1899 visit toSouth Africa: "The water was not fitto drink. To make it palatable, wehad to add whiskey. By diligenteffort, I learned to like it." (Remarkin Silver Spring, Md. USA, Feb.1947)•WSC, 1899: "Wishing to fitmyself for active service conditions Iovercame the ordinary weakness ofthe flesh. By the end of five days Ihad completely overcome myrepugnance to the taste of whiskey.Nor was this a momentary acquirement.On the contrary the ground Igained in those days I have firmlyentrenched, and held throughoutmy life. Once one got the knack of it,the very repulsion from the flavourdeveloped an attraction of its own,and to this day, although I havealways practised true temperance, Ihave never shrunk when occasionwarranted it from the main basicstanding refreshment of the whiteofficer in the East." (My Early Life)mWSC, 1925 [pausing in a speechand lifting a glass beside him]: "It isimperative that I should fortify therevenue, and this I shall now, withthe permission of the Commons,proceed to do." (Budget Speech)•WSC, c.1930 to Bob Boothby: "Ifind alcohol a great support in life.Sir Alexander Walker, who keepsme supplied with your nationalbrew, told me that a friend of his,who died the other day, drank abottle of whiskey a day for the lastten years of his life. He was 85!"•To the Iraqi ambassador whorefused a nightcap: "What? Youdon't drink? Good God ... I meanJesus Christ... I mean Allah!"•Churchill delighted in the sulfadrug, M & B, that knocked out hispneumonia in 1943, and referred tohis doctors, Lord Moran and Dr.Bedford, as "M & B." He discoveredthat the most agreeable way ofinducing these drugs was throughwhiskey or brandy, which drewprotests from his nurse. WSC: "Dearnurse, pray remember that man cannotlive by M & B alone."•1945: "On no account reducethe barley for whiskey. This takesyears to mature and is an invaluableexport & dollar producer ... It wouldbe improvident not to preserve thischaracteristic British element ofascendancy." (Triumph and Tragedy)0WSC, 31 March 1949: "This gloriousgift, my tea!" (A toast after hisM.I.T. speech, Ritz Hotel, Boston)On alcohol in generalWSC: "When I was younger Imade it a rule never to take strongdrink before lunch. It is now myrule never to do so before breakfast."(The Wit of Sir Winston)•WSC: All I can say is that I havetaken more out of alcohol than alcoholhas taken out of me!" (Oftenrepeated, well authenticated.)•[Describing the 1908-22 Dundeeelectoral opponent who eventuallybeat him, the socialist EdwinScrimgeour.] WSC: " ... a quaint andthen dim figure in the shape of Mr.Scrimgeour, who pleaded for thekingdom of God upon earth withspecial references to the evils ofalcohol ... He was a Prohibitionist,possessed of all the virtues Idespise, and none of the sins Iadmire." (Violet Bonham-Carter,Winston Churchill as 1 Knew Him)*WSC, 1916: "Battalion Headquarterswhen in the line was strictly'dry.' Nothing but strong tea withcondensed milk, a very unpleasantbeverage ... The companies' messesin the trenches were ... allowedmore latitude. As I have alwaysbelieved in the moderate and regularuse of alcohol, especially underconditions of winter war, I gladlymoved my handful of belongingsfrom Ebenezer Farm to a Companyin the line." (Thoughts andAdventures)•1916: "Whatever else they maysay of me as a soldier, at least nobodycan say that I have ever failedto display a meet and proper appreciationof the virtues of alcohol."(Farewell to Royal Scots Fusiliers)•WSC, 1920s [after lunch at the"dry" American Embassy]: "YourAmbassador [Charles Dawes] is atypical American. He comes fromthe heart of your country. I admirehim and dine with him every week.But on leaving your Embassy, Ialways repair immediately to myClub, where I order each of thewines and brandy of which I wasdeprived at his table."-Kay Halle, Irrepressible Churchill•WSC, 1929 [referring to beertaxes and death duties]: "Again, thefailure of beer was repaired by theharvest of death." (Budget Speech)•Note by RML: Churchill gavethe name "Bottlescape" (1930s) toone of his famous still life paintings.According to Peregrine Churchill,he received a huge bottle of brandyone Christmas and sent the childrenaround Chartwell to find "associateand fraternal bottles" to form "abodyguard to this majestic container,"which dominates the painting.•WSC, 1933: "It is possible thatthe dry, bracing electrical atmosphereof North America makes theuse of alcohol necessary and morepotent than does the humid climateof Britain ... I must confess that onone occasion I was taken to aspeakeasy. I went of course in mycapacity as a Social Investigator."(Colliers, 5Aug33, Woods C218.)•WSC, 1939 [on the first WW2air raid drill]: "We gave theGovernment a good mark for thisevident sign of preparationand...made our way to the shelterassigned to us, armed with a bottleFINEST HOUR 86 /15

of brandy and other appropriatemedical comforts." (Gathering Storm)mWSC, 1942: "Silly tales have beentold of how these Soviet dinnersbecame drinking-bouts. There is notruth whatever in this. The Marshaland his colleagues invariably dranktheir toasts from tiny glasses, takingonly a sip on each occasion. I hadbeen well brought up." (The SecondWorld War)•[To Desmond Morton enroute torioting Beirut as WSC's representativeto the French, Lebanese, andBritish General Maitland 'Jumbo'Wilson in 1943.] WSC: Take my aircraftand a case of scotch for 'Jumbo,'a case of arak for Riad el-Sohl and sixcases of Champagne for theFrenchman." [A reconciliation waspromptly effected.]To Morton at Chequers: "Comehere, Desmond, drink this and tellme what you think of it." Mortonprotested; it was before lunch."Never mind, try this." Mortonadmitted it was a drinkable but notremarkable (Johnny Walker?) scotch.(Kay Halle, Irrepressible Churchill)•1940s: "I neither want it nor needit but I should think it pretty hazardousto interfere with the ineradicablehabit of a lifetime." (WhenLord Moran asked if he wanted orneeded a post-lunch liqueur)•WSC, 1940s [offered sherry in theSmoking Room of the House ofCommons]: "No, I am going to lunchat Buckingham Palace and it wouldnot look well if I were to slitherunder the Royal table." (A.P.Herbert, Independent Member)•[Near the Commons, WSC wasapproached by the formidableLabour MP Bessie Braddock.] BB:"Winston, you are drunk, and what'smore, you are very drunk!" WSC:"Bessie, my dear, you are ugly, andwhat's more, you are very ugly. Buttomorrow I shall be sober and youshall still be very ugly." $New Books:Epping and Woodford: Seats for LifeRICHARD M. LANGWORTHCiiUKCMJI *..r for WoodfordHURCHILL expected Dundee would sup-him all his political career when heCportwon it in 1908, but he was out in the Liberaldecline of 1922 and defeated elsewhere twicebefore securing Epping (Woodford after 1945),which sustained him until the end. This is thesecond book about Churchill's career as a constituencyMP (Tony Patterson's A Seat For Life,1980, handled Dundee), and it's a good one,thanks in particular to the memoirs of the late Donald Forbes,hon. secretary of Sir Winston's constituency association in 1945-65. Author Thomas provides results for every election, summarizesthe campaigns, traces the history of Churchill's work as thelocal MP, and even relates such details as Churchill's post-premiershipattitude toward the 1956 Suez debacle ("We shouldeither have never started or never stopped"). And he capably conveysthe terrible wrench of the old man's decision not to standagain in 1964. The book is peppered with good illustrations ofpeople, campaigns, newspaper headlines and cartoons.The only real threat to Churchill's seat came in 1938, afterhe had challenged orthodox Tory approval of Munich. I wish theauthor had included Churchill's lovely 13 September 1939 replyto his chief association critic, Colin Thornton-Kemsley, related inthe War Papers and in Kemsley's own memoirs, Through Winds andTides. The latter wrote to say he'd been wrong, and Churchill inhis infinite generosity replied: "I certainly think that Englishmenshould start fair with one another from the outset in so grievous astruggle, and so far as I am concerned the past is dead."Thomas also drives home the crucial point that, had hisassociation thrown him out in 1938, Churchill would have beenunable to join the Government in 1939 and become PrimeMinister. One could say I suppose that WSC would have quicklyfound another safe seat; but he was vastly unpopular for tellingthe truth about Munich, and it had taken him two years and threeby-elections to regain Parliament after losing Dundee in 1922.I wished for more detail about certain aspects, particularlythe original decision to stand, and the mounting concern that SirWinston wasn't up to the job after 1958. Also, certain items mentionedin the text are not published and a couple of illustrationsdon't fall in the right places. Otherwise this is a fine and workmanlikepiece of research on a hitherto ignored subject.Churchill, Member for Woodford, by David A. Thomas, London: Cass,224pp, illus. Reg. £19.50/$35 hard, £12.50/$16 soft. ICS Book Serviceprice: hardbound $28, softbound $14 + $4 shipping. Order from Editor.16 / FINEST HOUR 86

1 lth International Conference 1QQ4:More Photos from the Great EventPHOTOS COURTESY JOHN G. PLUMPTON AND ICS CANADAWe regret that a cacophony of subjects demanding coverage last issue prevented our running more photos from our fine Canadian convention(FH 85, pp24-7 & covers). These will help right the balance.The equestrian performance by LordStrathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) was aFriday afternoon highlight, Calgary, 23 Sept.They made it memorable: Conf. chair JohnPlumpton, his tireless wife Ruth and guests ofhonour Celia Sandys & Lady Soames.Lady Soames, JGP, troop commanderWrapping up for the management (BernieWebber, left), Celia expressed the pleasurewe all felt at our fine Canadian welcome.James Muller, University of AlaskaAnchorage, punctuated his academic discussionwith two verses from Harrow Songs.Patrick Powers gave the final presentation,"The Four C's: Churchill, Canada, Civilizationand Commonwealth" 25 September.L: Elizabeth Snell, resident genealogist,with self-confessed Churchill familymatriarch, Banff Springs, 26 Sept.. * \An erudite crowd: front row, Bev and GlynneJenkins; behind them Marvin Nicely, JohnMather and Prof. Kirk Emmert, Kenyon Coll.James Milner, Univ. of Toronto student speaker,and ICS Canada President Randy Barber,with Celia Sandys at the book signing session.Dr. Barry Gough, Wilfred LaurierUniversity, on "A War of Combinations:First Lord of the Admiralty and First SeaLord," whilst the editor ("Guide toChurchill's Books") fumbles.ICS USA chairman Paul Robinson (1) and ahall of happy diners after a bright and ultrawarmday at beautiful Chateau Lake Louise.FINEST HOUR 86 / 17

Toasts on Sir Winston's 120th Birthday"The Author of Our Being"BY WINSTON S. CHURCHILL, MPAT A FAMILY DINNER AT THE PINAFORE ROOMSAVOY HOTEL, LONDON 30 NOVEMBER 1994ONE HUNDRED twenty years ago today at1:30 in the morning, a being was born whowas to change the course of history. It is givento few on earth to be the saviour of their nation andthe amazing thing about young Winston Churchillwas that from a very early age he knew that thiswould be his destiny. In 1891, when he was only 16,he had the following conversation with a schoolfellowat Harrow, for which we are indebted to the dedicatedresearches of Martin Gilbert in his latest book,In Search of Churchill.Sir Murland Evans recalls: "It was a summer'sevening in one of those dreadful basement rooms inthe Headmaster's House, a Sunday evening to beexact, after Chapel Evensong. [Churchill and I]frankly discussed our futures. After placing me in theDiplomatic Service, perhaps because of my Frenchdescent from Admiral de Grasse who was defeatedby Lord Rodney in the battle of the Saints in 1782; oralternatively in finance, following my father's career,we came to his own future." 'Will you go into the army?' I asked. 'I don'tknow, it is probable, but I shall have great adventuresbeginning soon after I leave here.' 'Are yougoing into politics, following your famous father?' 'Idon't know, but it is more than likely because, yousee, I am not afraid to speak in public' You do notseem at all clear about your intentions or desires.''That may be, but I have a wonderful idea of where Ishall be eventually. I have dreams about it.' 'Whereis that?' I enquired." 'Well, I can see vast changes coming over a nowpeaceful world; great upheavals, terrible struggles;wars such as one cannot imagine; and I tell you Londonwill be in danger — London will be attacked andI shall be very prominent in the defence of London.'" 'How can you talk like that?' I said; 'we are foreversafe from invasion, since the days of Napoleon.''I see further ahead than you do,' Churchill replied. 'Isee into the future. This country will be subjectedsomehow to a tremendous invasion, by what means Ido not know, but [warming up to his subject] I tellyou I shall be in command of the defences of Londonand I shall save London and England from disaster.'Mr. Churchill is M.P. for Davyhulme, Manchester, andan Honorary Member of the Churchill Societies." 'Will you be a general then, in command of thetroops?' 'I don't know; dreams of the future areblurred but the main objective is clear. I repeat —London will be in danger and in the high position Ishall occupy, it will fall to me to save the Capital andsave the Empire.'"The man whose birth we honour tonight not onlysaved Britain, but all of Europe. Who can doubt that,but for him, Britain would have made a negotiatedsettlement with Hitler in the summer of 1940? Hitlerwould have been free to turn his entire strengthEast. Russia would have fallen. Then Britain wouldhave been occupied with the full panoply of the Naziapparatus, including the Gestapo, concentrationcamps and extermination centres. Those nations thatwere occupied by the Nazis and, above all, the survivorsof the concentration camps of Central Europe,have no doubt that they owe their freedom to oneman.Two and a half years ago I was invited to addressa 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the WarsawGhetto Uprising, where I met a handful of those whosurvived. One woman in particular told me that,though she had only been twelve years old at thetime and could not speak English, her family hung18/FINEST HOUR 86

upon every word of Grandpapa's broadcasts on theBBC: "I could not tell what he was saying but Iknew that he was our only hope of freedom, indeed ofsurvival."What a wonderfully proud heritage he has bequeathedto us, his heirs. We remember him as a father,a grandfather or a great-grandfather and nowthere are even great-great-grandchildren to be toldof one who will undoubtedly go down in history asthe greatest man of the 20th Century. Those of us oldenough to have known him personally recall him as awarm, loving human being, bubbling over with funand mischief. So often, over the years, people havesaid to me: "You must have been very frightened ofyour grandfather, he must have been most intimidating!"Nothing could be further from the truth! Hewas the most approachable of human beings.I should like to share with you, for the benefit ofthe younger generation present this evening, my veryfirst memory of him. It was during the war. I was littlemore than three years of age and the Prime Ministerno doubt had one or two other responsibilitieson his mind! Nevertheless, he had London scoured tofind a secondhand clockwork model railway set forme and, when it arrived, he got down with me on hishands and knees on the floor to help set up the circulartrack. To his delight he noticed that there weretwo locomotives. "Winston! You wind one up, I'llwind the other, then we'll put them back to back.Let's have a crash!"Finally, I should like to share with you the lines ofDuff Cooper, later Lord Norwich:To W.S.C.When ears were deaf and tongues were mute,You told of doom to come,When others fingered on the flute,You thundered on the drum.When armies marched and cities burnedAnd all you said came true,Those who had mocked your warnings turnedAlmost too late to you.Then doubt gave way to firm belief,And through five cruel yearsYou gave us glory in our grief,And laughter through our tears.When final honours are bestowedAnd last accounts are done,Then shall we know how much was owedBy all the world to one.Though now dead for nearly thirty years, he willlive on in our hearts where we shall cherish his memorywith love and pride. I invite you to join with mein our final toast and ask you to stand. I give you:"Winston Churchill — the author of our being!""He Did It All"BY CAROL FERGUSONFROM THE GREENVILLE (TEXAS) HERALD BANNER26 NOVEMBER 1994THOSE of us who date back to the World War IIera have found 1994 a memorable one for 50thanniversaries.To name just a few: the Normandy invasion inJune followed shortly by the Allied liberation ofParis. President Franklin Roosevelt signed the GIBill of Rights, band leader Glenn Miller's plane disappearedover the English Channel on his way to entertaintroops, and in December the Battle of theBulge began.Another important date comes up this week, andwhile the event itself is not tied directly to WW2, theperson we remember played a major role in the successfuloutcome of the war. As a matter of fact, had itnot been for his repeated warnings about the rise ofNazism, many might well have grown up watchinggoose-stepping soldiers on our own streets andspeaking German whether they liked it or not.His political opponents — and some of his friendsas well — wrote him off as a warmonger and a rabblerouser, but he persisted in calling for rearmament,labeling Hitler a "bloodthirsty guttersnipe." This oneman's efforts to prepare Britain for the battle to comealso bought our country valuable time before we toobecame involved.By now you've probably guessed: Wednesdaymarks the anniversary of the birth of WinstonChurchill — 120 years ago.The life span of this remarkable man covers muchof what we consider "modern" world history. To put itinto perspective, he was first elected to the BritishParliament during the reign of Queen Victoria, andhe didn't retire from public service until 1964 whileLyndon Johnson was President of the U.S.Churchill was the first person to whom I heard theterm "Renaissance man" applied. Nowadays thephrase is flung around indiscriminately, seeminglyto anyone who can "chew gum and walk at the sametime." Churchill, however, genuinely fits the definition:a versatile person who performed brilliantly inmany fields. Statesman, politician, author, historian,war reporter, Nobel Prize winner and a pretty fairamateur painter — he did it all.Churchill's last recorded statement before hisdeath in January 1965 at the age of 90 was as follows:"The journey has been interesting and wellworth the taking — once."To which we might reply: If you do it right, once isenough.nMs. Ferguson is a feature writer for the Greenville HeraldBanner and a Friend of ICS/USA. Reprinted by permission.FINEST HOUR 86/19

-XL*School Days:Young Winston's Mr. SomervellChurchill never forgot what he learned of Englishat the hands of "a most delightful man."BY ERIC AND HILDA BINGHAMROBERT Somervell M.A. (Cantab), the eldest ofsix sons and three daughters, was born atKendal, Cumberland on 29 September 1851.He died at Sevenoaks, Kent in 1933, three yearsafter being cited by his 56-year-old former student,Winston Churchill, as the man who taught him thatmost precious heritage, the English language.His, mother, Anne Wilson, married Robert MillerSomervell in 1849. The elder Somervell, at the age of21, started his own business as a leather merchant inKendal in 1842, travelling many miles selling allover England to shoemakers. Before Robert, the eldestson, was born, his father joined with a brother toform a business.The partnership between the two brothers was thebeginning of a most successful, world-renowned shoebusiness known as Somervell Brothers, which prospereduntil 1949 when it became K Shoes Ltd. It exportedits products as far away as Virginia, U.S.A.(The business is still based in Kendal though thefamily now have no financial interest.) As the businessgrew, along with the family, they moved to alarger house in Windermere named "Hazelthwaite."Robert's mother being the daughter of a very wellknown Quaker family of Kendal, it was inevitablethat the children attended a Quaker school. Situatedin the centre of the picturesque Lake District markettown, stands a very impressive Friends MeetingHouse in an area called Stramongate. The originalportion of this building was built in 1774; the rearextensions were added during 1855-1860, and thesedates apply also to the school buildings, which, nowmuch modernised, form part of the Cumberland educationcommittee's Stramongate primary school.The provisional list of the Old Boys Association ofStramongate school contains the name R. Somervellwith the year 1867, in the approximate date column,with a pencil note in the margin, "Harrow School."Actually Robert left in 1865 to attend a school in St.John's Wood, London. Robert joined the family shoecompany in 1867, at the age of sixteen. During hisshort time with the company he made a vital contri-Mr. & Mrs. Bingham, Friends of ICS, UK, operate FerndaleFarm & Stud in Poulton-Le-Fylde, Lancashirebution to its future prosperity.In 1878, at 27, Robert left the company, enteringKing's College Cambridge. In 1882 he was placed topof the first class in the History Tripos, a remarkableachievement for what would now be described as amature student. He married Octavia PaulinaChurchill (no relation), second daughter of Rev. JohnChurchill, at Shrewsbury in 1882.The circumstances of Robert's first teaching appointmentare most interesting. The year was 1882,when a new Headmaster was appointed at LiverpoolCollege, the Rev. Edward Carus Selwyn. Arriving inLiverpool to take up his duties, Selwyn found thestaff at the college old and inefficient. He returned toCambridge and promptly collected three of his contemporaries,including Robert Somervell, who he wasso keen to have on his staff at Liverpool that he doubledRobert's salary by paying him the income fromhis own fellowship at King's.Edward Selwyn married in 1884, losing his fellowship,which caused a reduction in Robert's salarywhich the governors would not make up. After ashort time Robert left Liverpool by invitation, to becomea master at Harrow in 1887. He had an acutebusiness brain which he used in Harrow's interest asBursar from 1888 to 1919.In the year 1888, Winston Churchill burst uponthe scene — one supposes "burst" is the right word —entering Harrow on April 17th for the start of thesecond term. He was initially placed in Mr. H.O.D.Davidson's small boarding house called Garlands, onPeterborough Hill. After two or three terms in Garlands,Winston transferred to a large boarding house,the Headmaster's, where he stayed for the rest of hisyears at Harrow.During Winston's first year at Harrow, as hewrote in My Early Life (1930, Woods A37) he remainedin the bottom form: "Mr. Somervell — a mostdelightful man, to whom my debt is great — wascharged with the duty of teaching the stupidest boysthe most disregarded thing, namely to write mereEnglish. He knew how to do it. He took a fairly longsentence and broke it up into its components."In 1935, Faber and Faber published a biography ofRobert Somervell, written by one of his sons, who20 /FINEST HOUR 86

Left: The Somervell home in Kendal, later part of the offices of K Shoes. Centre: The family later moved to "Hazelthwaite,"Windermere. Right: 58 Stramongate; inset: memorial plaque for Stramongate School, 1698-1932.wrote, "One compliment deserves another ... My fatheroften spoke in after years of the remarkableEnglish compositions Mr. Churchill showed to him,sometimes on subjects quite other than that whichhe had selected. Another example which survivestoday was an elaborate essay on the style of JohnGilpin, on Rhampsinitus, the hero of one of the talesin J.S. Philpot's Herodotus in Attic Greek, which wasone of my father's favourite school texts. Another wasan elaborate essay complete with many maps describingan imaginary battle in Russia."This was a remarkable forecast of the Great War;although it predicted the wrong antagonists (Englandvs. Russia), it did foresee the coming strife at alevel of ferocity undreamed of when Winston was aschoolboy. It accurately forecast the exact year of thewar's outbreak, 1914. The original, 1500 words withsix battle plans, can be seen in the Harrow archives.Somervell was so impressed with the essay, writtenby Winston when he was fourteen, that he preservedit, and after the last war it was presented to theschool by his son, Sir Donald Somervell, later LordSomervell of Harrow.Winston left Harrow in December at the end of theSeptember term 1892. Thirty-eight years later hepublished his autobiography, My Early Life. "Mr.Churchill's reviewer would require to be almost asskilled a writer as he is himself, or at least to haveunlimited space for quotation, in order to give an adequatenotion of the charm and briskness of his book,published to-day," recorded The Times. "The materialis, of course, splendid. Anyone who could write at allwould be able to make a good show of the events inwhich he was concerned up to the age of eight-andtwenty.But there be few who could play on all thestrings — humour, headlong excitement, quiet irony,melancholy regret for vanished customs and glories,love of sport, the pleasures of friendship — with sosure a hand."A number of weeks before publication Winstonsent out over 100 personal copies to friends and colleagues.His inscription "To. R. Somervell" is dated15 October, five days before formal publication. Thetyped note on the right is most likely the work ofMrs. Violet Pearman, Winston's principal secretaryat the time: "This book is confidential until its publicationon Monday next."On the 20th Somervell replied (Winston S.Churchill, Companion Volume V, Part 2, p. 209): "Mydear Winston, A thousand thanks for the present ofyour book, with your name in it too, enhancing mypleasure in its possession. It reached us at Breakfasttime, and I have but read a few pages as I have had abusy morning over my Hospital affairs. My wifeseized upon it, & could talk of nothing else at lunch.Now I have taken my first dip, & find it so delightfulthat I think I shall have to ration myself to so manypages a day, to prolong the pleasure. It is most admirablydone, and your kind mention of me touchesme deeply. With our united thanks and kind remembrancesof you and Mrs. Churchill, Yours sincerelyadmiringly and gratefully, R. Somervell."Battle map from WSC's prescient account of a 1914 war, written in1889! ICS hopes someday to publish this essay.FINEST HOUR 86/21

Robert Somervell left the teaching staff at Harrowin 1911, staying on until 1920 as Bursar. Upon hisfinal retirement he sat for a portrait in oils by theartist Fred Yates of Windermere. Leaving Harrow,he resided at Sevenoaks, Kent, not far fromChartwell. For many years he was treasurer of theCounty Hospital at Sevenoaks. It was typical ofChurchill, with his vivid memory and generosity ofheart, to pay proper tribute to the man who taughthim the joy of "the ordinary British sentence."AcknowledgmentsWe wish to express grateful thanks to the followingfor their help and encouragement to enable us to researchthis article: Robert Somervell (grandson);A.D.K. Hawkyard, Archivist, Harrow School; The Societyof Friends, Kendal; G.A. Lee, Head of English,Rossall School; Cyril McGibbon, Liverpool; and ourson Brian for the typescript. -The authors. $The School Days of Churchill's FriendsBrendan Bracken, David Lloyd George, Max Beaverbrookand Franklin Roosevelt were of diverse backgrounds, yetadmired fervently by Churchill. Was there some commonfactor in their upbringing? It seems unlikely, and yet...BY RON CYNEWULF ROBBINSTODAY'S school dunce may be tomorrow's genius.And genius will sometimes flourish onstony ground without a school in sight. A fascinatingaspect of our assessment of world figures isan intense preoccupation with their formal education— or lack of it. Admirers and detractors readily believethat Churchill did badly at Harrow.There is rich diversity in the schooldays of themen with whom Churchill shared his inner sanctum.As a poor boy, Lloyd George, destined to gain fame asBritain's Prime Minister in the First World War, wastutored in Latin and French by his uncle, a Welshvillage shoemaker approaching fifty. The uncle wasundeterred by the fact that he, too, was tackling bothlanguages for the first time.Brendan Bracken, a masterly Minister of Informationin the Second World War, had such a closefriendship with Churchill that there were recurring— but unfounded — rumours he was the greatstatesman's son. Churchill was too amused to denythe calumny. Bracken took a circuitous route (it includeda detour to Australia) before becoming anover-age entrant at Sedbergh, a prominent Englishpublic school — the type listed "private" in NorthAmerica. His gratitude to Sedbergh was reflected inpraise and generous gifts. He was averse to bestow-Mr. Robbins, a journalist, was a founding director of theSchool of Journalism and Communication at the Universityof Regina, Saskatchewan. He is a regular contributorto Finest Hour and resides in Victoria, B.C.ing praise on Harrow, the public school he was fondof denouncing to Churchill as "that bloody Borstal ofyours." Churchill could afford to laugh at the slight.Borstal, in Kent, was the location of a vocationalprison for juvenile delinquents. It was set up in 1902.Harrow came into existence in 1571. Palmerston,Peel, Byron and Galsworthy were Harrovians.Lord Beaverbrook, born William Maxwell Aitkenin Canada, was Minister of Aircraft Production 1940-41. His father was a Presbyterian minister. Beaverbrookwould lead Churchill and Lloyd George insinging hymns around a piano after dinner and it issafe to conjecture that they swapped stories abouttheir schooldays. Although he flunked a universityentrance examination, Beaverbrook had the Midastouch.Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the President whosegenius rallied his nation to defend democracy,formed a mighty partnership with Churchill in WorldWar II. Given modern push-button warfare, it willremain without historic parallel. Many war-wearyBritons could not hold back their tears when Rooseveltdied suddenly in 1945 shortly before the Alliestriumphed. Roosevelt came from a well-off patricianfamily. He attended the famous Groton preparatoryschool and moved on to Harvard and the ColumbiaSchool of Law.BRACKENBrendan Bracken, an improbable candidate forfame in his schooldays, later enjoyed camouflaging22 / FINEST HOUR 86

his origins. However, he made a public parade of hisbrilliancy with a self-assurance that delightedfriends and tormented enemies who claimed he was alucky interloper in the upper echelons of governmentand the country homes of the aristocracy. Luck hadnext to nothing to do with it. Bracken carved a careerfrom unpropitious beginnings. His sturdy virtueseasily outweighed his faults. That may help to explainwhy Churchill was happy to have him in hiscircle for thirty years and treat him more as a sonthan a friend.Born in Templemore, Tipperary of Irish parentage,Bracken decided that the dark side of Ireland'srepublicanism was not for him. His father, Joseph, astonemason and property owner, had a healthy bankaccount. Joseph allied himself to the republicancause, but eventually preferred discretion ratherthan endanger his family and business.Bracken was only three in 1904 at the time of hisfather's death and this probably contributed to hisunrulmess in childhood. He played truant fromschool and annoyed neighbours by pouring soupthrough their letterboxes. He repeatedly pulled theold trick of manipulating cotton reels to rattle doorknockersand incurred the wrath of householdersroused from armchairs in the vain hope of greetingcallers.A priest, not quick enough to identify assailants,was the target for Bracken and his brother whoarmed themselves with catapults. Invading a neighbour'sgarden, Bracken chopped down trees andhosed water through a window. At cricket, he embarrassedteam-mates by declining to surrender his baton being declared out by the umpire. What sorelyvexed his mother was his pastime of throwing stonesat conventgirls. He lovedher dearly butsuffered becauseshe wasremote — outsidehis orbit.Mrs. Brackenhad to manageher moneycarefully to feedand clothe herlarge brood. Itwas advisableto take a lessspacious housein TipperaryTown. Brackenwas a pupil ata convent thereand then went. . to the Christ-Churchill and Bracken leaving for a meet- .ing at No.10 Downing St., 1940. ian BrothersPrimary School. A tight rein could not curb his rebelliousnature.Ultimately, Dublin was the family home. Jesuitschooling now failed to discipline him and he led astreet gang. Tall, with a mop of fiery red hair, he hada streak of audacity and no one was too highly placedfor him to contradict or upset by voicing his often disjointedopinions. Unpopularity left him untamed.Brashness never quite deserted him. It served himwell in the cauldron of British politics which capturedhis interest even before he reached his teens.But it was a characteristic Churchill's wife, and hisson, Randolph, found objectionable. Churchill sweptaside their protestations. He understood Bracken'strue worth.Bracken had plenty of brain power, but he carelesslyforfeited the affection, and exhausted the patience,of teachers eager to develop his potential. Heignored subjects he found boring, no matter how crucialthey might be to academic attainment. Neverthelesshe devoured books — if they attracted him. Heraced through reference volumes — if he had an egotisticalpurpose in mind for the information they contained.And he possessed a remarkable memory thatwas a reliable servant all his life.Two finely crafted biographies (authors: AndrewBoyle and Charles Edward Lysaght) highlight the incidentthat forced Bracken's mother to take action toend the reckless behaviour menacing his future andthreatening the family's good name. A bully of a ladchallenged Bracken and rushed forward with raisedfists. Bracken was so enraged that he tossed him intoa canal. Had it not been for the rescue effort ofBracken's brother, Peter, the bully would havedrowned — he could not swim a stroke. There was awarning from the police. Only the respectability ofthe family home prevented prosecution. A secondchance was out of the question.Nearly fourteen, Bracken was packed off to a Jesuitboarding school which had a regimen designed tojolt students into recognizing their responsibilities.He dodged the harsh routine by running away anddrifting from town to town. He gave himself a holidayat a hotel and bossed the servants around. Hismother was stuck with the bill for his antics. In despair,she sent him to Australia.A second cousin, Father Tom Laffan, welcomedhim at Echuca, Victoria. The year, 1916, was a fatefulone for Bracken. His introduction to Australiasteered him to manhood — a manhood distinguishedby exceptional generosity of spirit and an iron resolveto overcome the foes of freedom. It should be addedthat Press freedom was ever sacrosanct to him.He had access to Echuca convent library andtaught in a Catholic primary school. His qualificationswere insignificant, but his plausibility got himother teaching posts which suited him far better thanhis forays into farming and sheep station work. HeFINEST HOUR 86/23

scraped together sufficient funds to return to Britainin 1919 and contemplated upgrading his education.Obsessed with the notion of acquiring an acceptableschool tie, he puffed up his resume and taughtfor a period to enlarge his bank account. In 1920 heset out for Yorkshire and succeeded in corneringWilliam Nassau Weech, the headmaster of Sedbergh,a school founded in the sixteenth century. Brackenhabitually darted between fact and fiction at a bewilderingpace and had no qualms about posing as anAustralian bereft of parents. He was nineteen butpretended to be a bit over fifteen to merit consideration.He brandished a cheque book and announced hecould afford the fees. Weech explained the prime necessitywas to pass the entrance examination.Bracken struck a sympathetic chord in the headmasterwho had the precious gift of detecting raretalent in the young. He overlooked Bracken's patentlie about his age and risked breaking school rules.The "Australian" was given his chance and excelledin the entrance test.Bracken did not stay long at Sedbergh. Skill atgames was steadfastly encouraged and he found thatdisconcerting. Constant sinus trouble, and shortsightedness,handicapped him. His seniority was alsoa drawback. But he clearly proved to the staff he wasa writer to be reckoned with and relished vaunting aknowledge of history harvested from his reading.Journalism handed Bracken the golden key tofame. In London he met a book publisher worried atthe prospect of his magazine, Illustrated Review,going under. He saw Bracken was the editor heneeded. Still posing as an Australian, Bracken savedthe day and changed the title to English Life. His futurewas assured.His editorial acumen, combined with astonishing financialflare, enabled him to build a magazine andnewspaper empire. The Economist was the jewel in thecrown. History Today was another Bracken creation.The Conservative Party mirrored his philosophy.He joined the ranks and had no difficulty in winninga parliamentary seat. At last, he had abundant opportunityto revel in the English way of life whichhad supplanted Ireland in his heart.From his youth, Bracken had hero-worshippedChurchill. There appears to be no precise record ofjust how they became acquainted. Bracken's editorship,of course, brought him into contact with eminentwriters and politicians. We do know Churchillwrote for English Life and perhaps that was the genesisof their relationship.Bracken strove to make himself indispensable toChurchill. He slaved willingly for him during electioncampaigns and was a tireless assistant in Churchill'swilderness years.When he left public life Bracken, who had receiveda viscountcy, spent much time at Sedbergh. He endowedit and kept a keen eye on its administration.He was unmarried and his Sedbergh visits took theedge off his loneliness.He died of cancer at the age of fifty-seven.Churchill was greatly distressed. The Irishman hadbeen a stalwart, a treasured companion, in war andpeace. Churchill's eyes brimmed with tears when heheard of his loss. He murmured: "Poor, dear Brendan."Bracken epitomized a quality Churchill exhibitedand prized most highly: loyalty. Their affinity waswell-rooted. The finest of comrades-in-arms, theynever paused in the fight to defeat tyranny.Torydom's "Terrible Twins," WSC and Lloyd George.LLOYD GEORGEDavid Lloyd George was contemptuous of the iconoclasticassertion that nothing worthwhile can betaught. He had laboured too strenuously for his educationto swallow that, and warmly acknowledged hisdebt to the lowly paid mentors who equipped him tofind the road to fame.His father, William, had a temporary teachingpost in Manchester when Lloyd George was bornthere. Returning to Wales to try farming, William fellill and died of pneumonia. Lloyd George's mother, almostpenniless and faced with the hard task of bringingup three little children, gladly accepted an invitationto make her home with her bachelor brother,Richard Lloyd, in the village of Llanystumdwy, amere mile from Criccieth, in Gwynedd."Uncle Lloyd," a kindly surrogate father, tutoredLloyd George in Latin and French by lamplight in astone cottage that had the outside splendour of a24/FINEST HOUR 86

ose-creeper. Indoors the erudite shoemaker insistedon space for the books he had garnered.The nearby tinkling of the Dwyfor trout streamwas background music for Lloyd George's studies. Inhis turn, he would teach Churchill how to walk skillfullythrough the intricate corridors of Westminsterand wrest support from less gifted, but immenselycritical, opponents.Towards the end of his days, Lloyd George wastold by Churchill that he would recommend him foran earldom. The Welshman was handed the title ofEarl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor and Viscount Gwynedd.This grand appellative ran counter to his earlier detestationof the House of Lords whose right to rejectbasic decisions of the House of Commons he curtailedas a result of an epic struggle in which Churchillstood valiantly beside him. He did not live longenough to take his seat in the Lords.Churchill was always mindful of the battle to subduethe Upper House. He could have become a peerto set the seal on his glorious accomplishments, butcontentedly accepted a knighthood because that allowedhim to sit in his beloved Commons.Lloyd George's tuition from his uncle was precededby instruction at the village school. He toddledin at the age of three and quickly learned to read.The graceful calligraphy, typical of other students,was beyond his capability. Throughout his life, hehad difficulty tying his shoe laces and rarely turneddoorknobs the right way.Lloyd George's schoolmaster, David Evans, wasdedicated and forthright. To the villagers, he seemedto have walked straight out of Goldsmith's The DesertedVillage: "And still they gazed, and still thewonder grew, That one small head could carry all heknew." History was prominent in the curriculum.The Bible and Bunyan were to the fore; runners-upwere Shakespeare, Dickens, Scott and Defoe.Lloyd George possessed a phenomenal memory. Inold age he could accurately relate what he absorbedin his youth about Stonewall Jackson's role in theAmerican Civil War — right down to tactical details.Like most of his countrymen, he was lured into anearly love affair with words and sat entranced in aBaptist Church admiring (and later imitating) hisuncle, an eloquent but unremunerated preacher.He discovered that more than sparks flew from theanvil at the local smithy. The air was full of fierywords let loose by the blacksmith and the lads hegathered around him to argue and upbraid the governmentin London. The smithy was another schoolroomfor Lloyd George.The school leaving age was twelve. Uncle Lloydwas instrumental in arranging for his nephew tospend two more years in the classroom, despiteshortage of money. On Lloyd George's fourteenthbirthday, the family had to tackle the flinty problemof a profession for him. He was too bright to be sidetrackedinto farming or pupil-teaching. Uncle Lloydinduced Lloyd George's mother to agree her boy mustbe trained as a solicitor, the second branch of the lawin Britain; the first, a barristership, was prohibitivelyexpensive. A short cut had to be taken. LloydGeorge would have to pass the Preliminary Law Examination(it stipulated a knowledge of Latin andFrench) and then be articled to a Welsh solicitor. Thevillage school could not coach him in languages soUncle took over.Lloyd George (age fifteen) passed the initial examinationand, afterwards, the final one. At the outsetof his legal duties, guided by his chief in drawing upa court document, Lloyd George said: "I want tolearn." Eagerness to learn developed into an abidingpassion. It carried him from success as a lawyer tothe peak in politics.Whatever faults have been attributed to him, nobodywho dealt with him denied that he had a marvellousasset: in private he would listen with almostlimitless patience to workers or national leaderspleading for help and understanding. Eagerness tolearn was a major motivation.Wales fashioned him. His persuasive oratory, anddetermination to lessen social injustice, were thewarp and woof of his Welsh temperament. But it wasthe timeless example of Abe Lincoln's crusadingpower that had a compelling influence on LloydGeorge. He needed an icon and Lincoln's ideals becamehis personal religion. He identified with himand had framed texts of the American's noblest sayingsat hand to signpost his life.The Welsh were wholeheartedly on the side of theNorthern States in the American Civil War and thisinspired Lloyd George to revere "Honest Abe." He readevery biography of him he could lay his hands on.It is impossible to exaggerate the effect Lincolnhad on Lloyd George. Similarly, it is impossible toover-rate the effect the "Welsh Merlin" had onChurchill in moulding his politics and reinforcing hiswill to serve justice and freedom. Churchill could notbe anything but his own man. However, it cannot begainsaid that his alliance with Lloyd George taughthim lessons he applied in the Second World War torally Britain and overcome ruthless enemies.BEAVERBROOKLord Beaverbrook had an imp of mischief whisperingin his ear. During childhood he listened with anintensity that landed him in trouble. He kept listeningin adulthood, but generally other people had toshoulder the consequences. Friendly as he was withChurchill, he had no pangs of conscience about diningwith him and neglecting to tell him that whilethey sipped brandy, the Beaverbrook presses wereprinting criticism of Churchill's policy. Accustomedto political strife, Churchill had a marked preferenceFINEST HOUR 86/25

. Beaverbrook and Churchill aboard Prince of Wales enroute theArgentia Meeting with FDR, 1941.for friends of the calibre of Beaverbook and Brackenwho met him head on. Their disagreements werevaluable sounding boards and also necessary intellectualrecreation.Beaverbrook was "Max" to bosom companions.The name somehow matched his personality and inflexiblewill which drove him towards any goal at ferociousspeed. Those attempting to impede him werescattered in all directions. (Toad of Toad Hall wouldhave been out-distanced by Max in five seconds flat.)Churchill was blessed with Promethean fire butborrowed extensively to blaze away at Hitler. Familiaritywith Max's methods prompted Churchill to recruithim for the defence of Britain at a perilous hourin the Second World War. He forced a huge burdenon the Canadian by giving him supreme command ofproduction lines for the aircraft which heroic pilotsflew to victory in the Battle of Britain. The legendaryMax organized non-stop output and appeared to beliving several lives at the same time.His father, William Aitken, emigrated to Canadafrom Scotland at the invitation of the Church of Scotlandto become a minister at Maple, Ontario, Max'sbirthplace. William had married a farmer's daughterand they brought up a large family. Max was raisedin Newcastle, New Brunswick, where William hadcharge of an important pastorate in pioneering territory.The manse was commodious for that era. Maxbent the truth in claiming poverty marred his upbringing.The Reverend Aitken, sitting comfortablyin his study next door to his library, had no cause tocomplain; his wife and family were well cared for.Max chose the British historian A.J.P. Taylor forhis Boswell. Their friendship encouraged a sycophanticportrayal. Yet Max's blemishes were not entirelyoverlooked. Taylor explains that the Aitkens had alive-in servant and a hired man to cultivate the gardenand milk a cow. Up-to-date amenities were not tobe expected. Water was hauled from a well and atthe end of the garden there was an earth closet.Max had a broad grin which dominates photographsof him from infancy to old age. He was oncetold: "God couldn't make your mouth bigger withoutremoving your ears."He indulged in pranks galore and a teacher forecastsuccess would elude him. Taylor doubts Max'sparty boasts that he studied the works of Scott andStevenson.Son of the manse, he had to be in church regularlyand he knew his Bible. He gained a knowledge thatnourished his mind and excited his imagination. Editorialwriters for Max's Daily Express, in London,were aware their jobs were secure if they could emulatethe beauty and simplicity of Biblical prose. A tripthrough old files of the paper discloses an irksomerepetition of the phrase: "For why?" — Max's firmfavourite included in editorials he wrote himself.There are authentic tales of Max's propensity formaking money before the age of twelve. Adept atmarbles, he soon monopolized the supply of marblesin the neighbourhood. He sold soap door-to-door toacquire a bicycle. He had a compulsion to fill hispockets full of coins and at thirteen started a paperhe named The Leader, a prophetic indication of hisfuture. His father shut down publication the minuteMax transgressed by working on a Sunday. He becamea "stringer" — a local correspondent — for TheSaint John Sun before he left school and also soldsubscriptions for it.A university education was proposed, but he wasfloored by Latin in the entrance examination. Completelyunworried, he concluded his time would bewasted on campus.He joined a law firm to do clerking. On the side, hesold insurance and sent stories to The Montreal Star.Allowed into law school, he denounced its stuffinessand broke free. After buying and managing a bowlingalley, he had energy left over to assist aspiring politicianswith their campaigns.Max sold the bowling alley at a profit and wassomething of a drifter for a couple of years. He hit onthe idea of selling bonds and swore an oath to pile upmoney. Canada was expanding economically at a furiousrate and he hastened to Montreal, the financialcentre. His multifarious company and merger dealsprospered and he was heard to remark: "Everyonewho buys an enamelled pan in Canada, pays tributeto me." Off to Britain he went in 1910, a wealthyyoung man certain to grow wealthier. His evangelicalfervour captured votes and he entered Parliament.His speeches had directness overlaid with charm.Newspaper ownership was a magnet and under histight editorial control, the circulation of the Daily Expressand Evening Standard soared. The Express wasexpanded to a Sunday edition. Readers were subjectedto potent doses of propaganda from Max whoselopsided advocacy of Empire Free Trade was toleratedbecause he would not countenance dull editions.26/FINEST HOUR 86

Some of the liveliest stories were gathered from hispolitical and business contacts. He strained friendshipsby unveiling secrets politicos and financiershad hoped to conceal from the public. The pranksterside of Max surfaced on his front pages.None of this unduly affected Churchill's relianceon him. Political in-fighting was apt to see Maxchampioning Churchill if the exchanges got reallyrough. Their collaboration, spawned by the threat ofinvasion, was magnificent and Max's freewheelingmethods wrought the means to hound the Luftwaffefrom the skies above Britain.Greeting the President at Quebec, 11 September 1944.ROOSEVELTThe preservation of civilization was the imperativethat created the Roosevelt-Churchill partnership anddetermined its imprint on history. The conquest ofFrance and invasion of the Soviet Union by the Germans,followed by the Japanese bombing of PearlHarbour, girded up free people everywhere and consolidatedAnglo-American leadership.Viciously mauled in previous disasters, bothstatesmen had survived courageously. They had alsotoiled hard in the often brutal arena of politics andtheir combined experience was a priceless weapon.Having held government office in the First WorldWar, they were acutely conscious of the agony awaitingthe Allies on the road to victory; differencesmight cloud their objective but not obscure it.Roosevelt had an idyllic childhood which has nocounterpart in the men closely linked to Churchillfrom 1939 to 1945. He was born at Springwood, HydePark, New York, into a wealthy family and nurturedby adoring parents. At the time of his birth, he andhis mother nearly died and that "bonding" bestows aunity nature knows more about than psychologistsare able to fathom.There is no armour against the hammer blows ofadversity and Roosevelt was harshly called on toprove his durability. The quality of his character canbe seen in the tenacity of his refusal to abandon politicsafter polio partially crippled him. His presidentialdirection of the war was accomplished from awheelchair. That single fact is symbolic of his greatness.Amiability and urbanity hallmarked his personalitydespite his affliction.Roosevelt's social conscience was too delicatelytuned for his opponents but, in the thirties, underprivilegedand jobless Americans were heartened bythe certainty that their welfare and dignity were hisabiding concern. The depth of his humanity wasunique, the strength of his belief in freedom indomitable.His father, James, was a great deal older than hismother, Sara. Her father, Warren Delano, was enterprisingenough to build himself a fortune before hewas thirty.Sara was a descendant of William the Conquerorand not reluctant to mention it. She spoke entertaininglyof other ancestors: merchant skippers seekinggold by sailing through rough seas and engaging inrough commerce.James increased the wealth he inherited, but wasnot seduced by the pleasure of pursuing money. Hewas cut out for the leisure of country living andwould have fitted handsomely into the life-style ofthe English squirearchy. It is understandable that hehad been intent on marrying Sara. She possessedgood looks, grace and charm. They had a well-balancedattitude towards their son and did not vie forhis affection. It was inevitable that the young motherwould have considerable impact on the boy's development:James was less active as death closed in onhim.Sara, alone with her son, did not succumb to thetemptation to molly-coddle him. She was a delightfulblend of mother and friend. Her nicely controlled devotionfostered the finer sensibilities which enhancedRoosevelt's recognition of his duty to those devoid ofhis advantages.Several governesses laid the foundation for Roosevelt'seducation and he was tutored in German andFrench. His home was his school; mother was alwaysat hand.There was no surge of rebellion in him. Sara hadhim up by seven to begin studies that occupied amajor portion of his waking hours. He did scamperoff once. Returning scruffy and worn-out, he foundthe security of home soothing; no one could unfreezehis silence about any adventure that may have befallenhim.At the age of three, he was taken to Europe by hisparents. The liner carrying them back to New Yorkran into a roaring gale and mountainous seas. Bulkheadswere broken. Water poured into their cabin.The danger of sinking was very real. Roosevelt graphicallyrecalled the brush with death and a small boy'sFINEST HOUR 86/27

Dinner at the WhiteHouse, 1943: ourfavorite photo ofChurchill andRoosevelt, following arepast with theinevitable robustconversation, as fine aportrait of friendshipas we are likely toencounter.uninhibited thrill at weathering an Atlantic storm.Sailing and the sea were Siamese twins to him.Growing up, he toured Europe under the supervisionof a male tutor. Visits to Germany familiarizedhim with Teutonic characteristics and customs. Sarawas loath to lose her only child to a formal school.He was fourteen, however, and further delay wouldbe unwise. She sent him to Groton. Two cold showersa day, sharp discipline, and an absence of luxuries,threw him into a new and sterner world. He did notbalk at the sudden change. His letters to Sara werecheerful apart from a repugnance for repeated servingsofsausage!He should have entered the school at twelve and,starting slowly, had to learn to mix with fellow studentson their terms. At first, the air and deportmentof a widely travelled youngster put them off. TheRoosevelt charm soon won them over. Groton hadbeen planned along the lines of Rugby, in England,and had a robust games schedule. He took boxinglessons and played splendid golf and tennis.He lit no fires academically, although his markswere far from disappointing. The headmaster, EndicottPeabody, praised him as "an intelligent andfaithful scholar and a good boy." Peabody was a dramaticand lasting influence. Roosevelt's respect forhim resulted in a long friendship.The school's emphasis on Christianity had the approvalof Roosevelt and his family. "Sacred Studies"were on a curriculum drawn up for a classical education.He was taught ancient history and strengthenedhis grasp of English and French literature.American studies were not prominent. In non-schoolhours, he participated in charity work and camp activitiesdesigned to lighten the lot of indigent boys.Roosevelt spent four years at Groton and ended bywinning the Latin prize. He was an exceptionallyskilful sailor and wanted to join the Naval Academy.Sara said Harvard would be better and he boundedforward there with the elan that was to bring himvictory in four Presidential elections.He plunged into everything at university. Hispeers had other altars, other gods, and frowned onhis energy. They felt their slower style would servetheir lesser ambitions. Roosevelt studied economicsat length. The dismal science was dismally taught,in his view. He shunned philosophy. It chilled himand his friends. Government and history were hismajors, English and public speaking his minors. Heobtained a Bachelor of Arts degree and dismissed itas inadequate educational drill compared with thestimulus and all-consuming demands of editing theCrimson, the Harvard paper. The editorship was aprestigious electoral appointment and opened hiseyes to his capacity for leadership.Sara thought politics declasse for a Delano: she insistedher son was more a Delano than a Roosevelt.Her offspring humored her, but would not surrenderhis pride in being a Roosevelt. He remembered thatduring his childhood, his father had introduced himat the White House to President Cleveland. Theheady wine of politics had been sipped and appreciatedat a tender age. He decided to pattern himselfafter Theodore Roosevelt, a distant cousin, whoreached the presidency by using the governorship ofNew York as a stepping stone.FDR could waltz his mother in and out of a roomor a mood, and he was deaf to any plans that precludeda political career. Sara also had no say in hischoice of a wife. He had met Eleanor Roosevelt, anotherdistant cousin, and her loving appeal enthralledhim. They were married when he was a universitystudent. Sara had been shocked by his boldnessin proclaiming Eleanor was to be his bride withoutany previous intimation at Hyde Park of his intentions.Discreetly, he and Eleanor (Theodore'sniece) overcame Sara's brooding disappointment. Hehad left Harvard for the Columbia School of Law andeventually joined a New York law firm. He spokeopenly of his presidential aspirations. Co-workers didnot scoff. Their assessment was that he could followall the way the example of Theodore. They wereright. He arrived at his destination with a brio thatdaunted opposing candidates.Lend-Lease to save Britain, and the converting ofAmerica into "the arsenal of democracy," have engravedhis name on posterity. In the Great Depression,his New Deal restored the American Dream.Because of his war-time leadership, the nobility ofthe United States earned the acclaim of millions releasedfrom the hell of oppression. He was an enduringdisciple of freedom and defended it fearlessly. $28/FINEST HOUR 86

Sedbergh and Brendan BrackenIn the Heart of England's North Country lies a little-knowntribute to Churchill at a school he never attended: anotherexample of the long arm of Brendan Bracken.BY DR. D.W. McLENNANr"F YOU want to see a typical English public [private]school, you should visit Sedbergh." This.comment from my long-time partner, friend andOld-Sedberghian, Chris Cones, came on the eve ofour departure for a holiday in the north of England.It also led us to a most remarkable and sincere tributeto Winston Churchill that seems to be virtuallyunrecorded. Such a find must be very rare consideringhow well researched and documented his life hasbeen!In the autumn of 1987, my wife Mona and I decidedto explore the English Lakes District and theYorkshire dales and moors. As is our custom, we researchedthe trip well and had made reservations atsmall inns, pubs and hotels. Our plans did not includea visit to Sedbergh and we were disinclined tochange them at the last minute.Fortunately, the day we were to drive from Windermereto Skipton dawned windy, cold and rainy. Inother words, it was typical North-Country weather.We got an uncharacteristically early start and weresoon heading East on the A65. Mona was navigating,and as we approached Kirkby Lonsdale, she remarked:"It is only ten miles out of our way to Sedbergh,so let's go!" We turned north on the A683 andin a few minutes we were in Sedbergh village.The town is quite small and is dominated by hillsstretching up 2000 feet and deeply veined by freerunningstreams splashing past hundreds of complacentsheep, nibbling on the greenery. If the theory ofDr. McLennan is an anesthesiologist in Grimsby, Ontario,and a longtime friend of ICS, Canada. For more onBracken, see pages 22-24 this issue, and Finest Hour #63.evolution is believed, these animals should have thelegs on one side of their body a lot longer than thoseon the opposite side, as they spend all of their timeon the hillside. All of the houses in the village arebuilt of dark stone. They look as though they havenot been dry for 500 years.We soon found Sedbergh Public School with itslush green playing-fields, and we started to explore.The most notable school building is the chapel whichlooks much grander than its name implies. I rememberedthat Chris used to have to read the lessons inthe chapel as one of his duties as Head Boy. It was adreaded task for him due to his tendency to stutterwhen stressed. Outside the building, we came acrossa memorial to a Victoria Cross winner from the BoerWar. Nearby was another stone monument to threeV.C. winners from World War II. Close-by stood thecloistered war memorial to all the Old-Sedberghianswho had given their lives for their country. Theirnames carved in stone seemed to stretch forever. Thepasture all around was heavy with cattle grazingmournfully. The results of their natural functionsmade walking treacherous.As we strode into the school-building complex, Inoticed a sign marking the head-master's office. Justoutside that building in an alcove was a familiarlookingbust. Closer inspection confirmed that it wasindeed that of Brendan Bracken. This was puzzling,but there was no-one handy to answer our enquiriesabout his presence. Army cadets in their metal-shodboots clicked smartly around the campus and answeredour questions politely, but none of them couldtell us about Brendan.We were just winding up our tour of the school andI was taking a few photos to give to Chris, when agentle voice beside me remarked, "Unfortunately, it isFINEST HOUR 86/29

not a very nice day to be taking pictures." This commentcame from a very attractive elderly lady whowas obviously curious about the presence of twoCanadians on the school grounds. When I explainedthe reason for our visit, she insisted on phoning forher husband. Mr. Bishop was a retired master agedabout 70. He was tall, sprightly, pink-of-face, andbeautifully spoken. He was in charge of alumni affairsand still took "the lads" on hill-climbs, sometimes incompany with their parents on Visitors Days.Mr. Bishop told us that Sedbergh School wasfounded in the 1520s and had enjoyed a variable reputationover the ensuing four and one-half centuries.It had been long linked with St. John's College, Cambridge,and as a result had to endure some of theless-than-splendid cast-offs from St. John's who weresent to Sedbergh as Masters or Heads, primarily toget them out of Cambridge. Nevertheless the reputationof Sedbergh flourished and it entered the secondrank of public schools, behind the likes of Eton, Harrowand Winchester. When I asked about Bracken,Bishop twinkled, and gave me a short history ofB.B.'s connection with the school.Brendan Bracken was born in Ireland, becoming amischievous, unruly, unwashed, and unkempt youngman who was nicknamed "snotty" by his peers. Hewas given to great excesses of behaviour, and was remarkablycareless with the truth. His father diedwhen Brendan was quite young and so he lost one ofthe natural curbs to his excessive ways. After a seriesof silly, alarming and sometimes dangerous scrapes,Bracken was "advised" by his family to leave thecountry. The Great War was on; he got on a steamerand sailed through submarine-infested waters toAustralia at the age of 15.He managed to get a teaching job in the MurrayValley of New South Wales. He was described as unusuallytall with kinky red hair that resembled awig, and a face that looked more Polynesian thanIrish.* He suffered chronic sinusitis and dental infectionswhich made him miserable and left him withdark, discoloured teeth and foul breath. One priestavowed that "Bracken has less faith than any Irishmanknown to me." He was a loud, boisterous talker,but amazingly well-informed.After a few years in Australia, Bracken becamerestless and returned to Ireland only to find that hismother had remarried one Patrick Laffan, and theyhad produced a daughter, Maeve. After a tumultuousvisit the Laffans gave Brendan £200 on the conditionthat he "leave Ireland and never return." Brendanset out for England, where he held a few teachingposts, but soon realized that in order to prosper inEnglish society and business, he must have a goodEnglish public school background. After several unsuccessfulattempts to enroll in "good" schools, hemanaged to obtain a letter of introduction to Mr.Weech, headmaster of Sedbergh.Bracken arrived at the school after the start of theMichaelmas term of 1920 and was received by Mr.Weech. In order to be more acceptable as a FifthForm applicant he "adjusted" his year of birth from1901 to 1904. He lamented to Weech that his parentshad both been killed in a brush fire in Australia, andthat his father's last dying words to him had been"Go to England and get a good public school education,my son." There is some evidence that he mayhave proffered his term's dues in cash, which he laidon the startled headmaster's desk.Bracken was accepted to Sedbergh with some misgiving.He did not really fit into the school routine. Inorder to avoid athletics, he feigned a marked limp.He was four or five years older than his schoolmatesand was reluctant to participate in class discussions.When one unfortunate master tried to force him tojoin a discussion, Bracken responded with a torrentof arcane and tiresome questions that ensured theploy was never attempted again. There were so manycomplaints about his behaviour that the headmasterhad to rethink his decision. He finally relented,granting the culprit the freedom of the library: Brendancould read what he wished, and could attendSixth Form history and literature classes. In spite ofhis disruptive presence, Bracken won the class prizein history at the end of the term.Bracken's stay at Sedbergh amounted to only thatone term. The circumstances under which he left, inDecember 1920, are unknown. It seems likely thatthe severance was a relief to both parties, butBracken was entitled to wear the school tie and tocall himself "an old Sedberghian." More important,he was never to forget his indebtedness to the school.Bracken's subsequent meteoric career and hisawesome accomplishments have been documentedelsewhere (FH #63). He was one of the "Three B's"that often formed Churchill's sole support (Bracken,Birkenhead and Beaverbrook). It has been said thathe founded the finest daily newspaper, the bestweekly paper, and the best financial sheet in theU.K. He became a close friend of Churchill at theearly age of 21, and was his most reliable and enthusiasticsupporter through all the good and bad timesof the Twenties and Thirties. The rumour that hewas Churchill's illegitimate son was not particularlydiscouraged by either party, though it caused somehard feelings between Bracken and both Clemmieand Randolph.After his retirement in 1950 from a brilliant andexhausting career in politics, Brendan resumed histies with Sedbergh. He accepted the post of Chairmanof the Board of Governors. He took his dutiesseriously and visited the school often. A room was reservedfor him (in the sick bay) on a permanentbasis, and he was intimately involved in running theinstitution. He delighted in chatting up the studentsand going on long walks in the hills.30/FINEST HOUR 86

Ob\\ T M FM0DERAT 0R (JONAH TRIEBWASSER): Jonah.Triebwasser@marist.eduVINI—J-INL- EDITOR, FH(RICHARD LANGWORTH): Malakand@aol.comThe Online Com mitt oe continuesto make great progress, and hasalready held several "real-time"chat sessions with a view to creatinga home for Churchill in cyberspace.Readers should be awarethat several ICS online servicesalready exist: (1) ICS OnlineBulletin, a 26k download containinglatest ICS news, extracts fromthe next ICS publication, timelyquips and quotes, new book news,and other late-breaking informationincluding meetings andregistration information. For acopy by email, contact the editor.(2) Churchill Forums on AmericaOnline (keyword "Communities,"then click on "organizations board"and "Churchill Society") andEworld (shortcut "Time Machine,"then click on "Timetalk" and "WinstonChurchill." (3) Research Serviceon AOL (keyword "Referencehelp", then click on "Academic ResearchService" ... "US & WorldHistory ... The Churchill Years. (4)Most important is Jonah Triebwasser'sregular emailings of committeebusiness and otherChurchill news, including plannedchat sessions, to our full Internetmailing list, now over 35 worldwide.To be placed on the list,email your online address to ourModerator.When Mr. Bishop enquired about my interest inBrendan Bracken, I told him of my membership inICS. He beamed and said, "Perhaps you would like tosee our school library." He led usacross the street to a building thatwas built in the 1700s, the onlyschool building at that time. Itlater became a library, then a museum,and finally a library again.We entered through the back doorand as we faced the front of the library,I saw the admonition RE-MEMBER WINSTON CHURCHILL carvedon the inside of the front door. Ithad a huge classical surround builtin wood, and mounted on the lintelof that magnificent door was alarge bronze bust of Churchillglowering over the room. The stairwayup to the next level was graced with oil portraitsof WSC and Bracken, hung side-by-side. The second[first] floor was laid out in the form of a U-shapedbalcony with many alcoves for private study. The effectwas both practical and aesthetically pleasing.Toward the end of his life, Bracken decided tocommemorate the two greatest influences on his life.He commissioned the famous architect AlbertRichardson to remodel the old school building tohonor Churchill and to improve Sedbergh. Brackenattended to the most minute details of design andconstruction. He chose oak for the floors, Canadiancedar for the ceilings, Guarea wood from CentralAmerica for the library fixtures. He donated manysplendid books from his own personal library, someof which can still be viewed there. He then turnedthe whole project over to his old school on the conditionof total anonymity. Still not content, Bracken donatedhis own money to fund scholarships named forChurchill but reserved for "needy boys of Scottish descent."In 1958, the bust of Churchill disappeared fromthe library! The police were called in and an all-outinvestigation started. It was to no avail, and the conclusionwas that gypsies had stolen the artifact andhad melted it down to sell forscrapmetal. The bust was a one-offby Oscar Nemon. Fortunately themolds were found and a secondpiece was poured which, I suppose,made it a "two-off'!During the fifties, Bracken'shealth had begun to fail. It hasbeen estimated that he hadsmoked 28,000 cigars and 280,000cigarettes in his lifetime. The grimrealities caught up with him andhe was diagnosed as having throatcancer. He died a painful, lingeringdeath. Towards the end, one of hismain considerations was to spareSir Winston's feelings about his impending death. Asmight be expected, Churchill wept for "poor, dearBrendan."So died one of the most flamboyant and least-understoodgiants of his time. There can be little doubtthat he was a hopeless romantic. He enriched Sedberghby about £100,000. He donated over £100,000to Churchill College Cambridge, and he rememberedmany of the "smaller folk" who helped and guidedhim along the way. The enigma of Brendan Brackenworsened because he ordered that all his private papersbe destroyed on his death. His anonymous donationof the perfect little library to Sedbergh Schoolhas only recently become public. It is as though hewanted this romantic gesture to be a secret betweenhim, W.S.C., and Sedbergh School.*Bracken was so infuriating in debate that one of hisopponents shouted the following conundrum at him: "Youare so phoney that even your hair, which looks like a wig,is not!" Stanley Baldwin's nickname for him amounted toone of Baldwin's few displays of familiarity with things Indian:"Winston's Faithful Chela" (servant).FINEST HOUR 86/31

Collecting Churchill on PostcardsDOUGLAS J HALLPicture postcards first made an appearance in 1894 and postcard aficionados were busy celebrating theircentenary last year with exhibitions and fairs. In the early days the cost of postage was a halfpenny(equivalent to 0.21 current pennies) and only the address could be written on the reverse with any messagewritten below the picture. Picture postcards caught on, became a craze, then a cult. Collecting picturepostcards became a major British hobby rivalling, and possibly even surpassing, collecting postagestamps, which had a fifty-year start. The pastime is known as Deltiology and has spread across theworld. Most collectors specialise in a particular subject, and one of the most popular subjects is WinstonChurchill. These examples are from my collection of some 300 on the subject. $SChurchill's engagement to Clementine Hozier in 1908 was anewsworthy event: it is not often that the press can announcethe engagement of a Cabinet Minister. But the President ofthe Board of Trade was 33 and his bride-to-be 22, and theywere a popular subject. Among several postcards depictingthe couple, Rotary's is one of the best. Value £4-6.A Belgian postcard printed in Brussels, postmarked at LaLouviere, 17 May 1900, captioned, "La Guerre Anglo-Boer.Arrivee a Pretoria des prisonniers du train blinde d'Estcourt[Lord Churchill a gauche en casquette]." In the fashion of thetimes, the sender has written a message around the picture.An interesting and very rare type, value £20+.Above left: World War I was on, and patriotic postcards were in highdemand. Britain's First Lord of the Admiralty is flanked by flags ofBritain, France, Belgium, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro. Published1914 by Woodland, value about £4. Above right: Churchill's controversialappearance at the Sidney Street siege prompted Arthur Balfourto ask in the House: "I understand what the photographer was doing,but what was the Rt. Hon. gentleman doing? This Cortenberg cardgives a wider view than the more common Valentines or Rotarycards. Value £5. Left: postmarked 1933, this card with facsimile signaturewas mailed to News of the World readers to announce the serialisationof "The World's Greatest Stories" retold by WSC (with major aidfrom Eddie Marsh). A common card, value £3.32/FINEST HOUR 86

This odd photo-montage is a very early piece of World WarII propaganda. It carries only the copyright line, "BSC, JamaicaRow, Birmingham." However, another card in my collectionwith the same picture bears the caption, "Adolph'sfuture being decided by the Big Four." The baby is Hitler, thematron WSC; the other three nuns/nurses are (I think) Eden,Chamberlain and Halifax. Exactly what message this postcardattempts to convey is obscure. Perhaps we should havea caption contest? Reader entries welcome — send to editor!Churchill was a big fan of Charlie Chaplin's movies, if nothis politics, which Churchill described as "Bolshy." WSC offeredto script a "Young Napoleon" film for Chaplin. Thiscard shows them dining at the Dominion Theatre, TottenhamCourt Road on 27Feb31, when Churchill attended the premierof "City Lights." Chaplin's co-star, Virgina Cherrill, ison his left. I do not know the attentive lady on Churchill'sleft. From a modern series on "Yesterday's Britain" publishedby Iris. It has no collector, but some historic, value.MEN OF THE MOMENT. :MINI) HOWrMKP I WORKFORLeft: Reg Haines's oftenusedphoto was used forthe WSC cardin the patriotic "Men ofMoment" series (1914).Within two weeks of thiscard's posting on 2 May1915, Winston Churchillwas no longer First Lordof the Admiralty.Valueabout £5. Centre: A rareearly World War I cardin W.N. Sharpe's"Keepers of the Empire"series (£8). Right: AgnesRichardson's famousWorld War II series ofWinnie-loving cherubs isnow highly collectible(£4-6).Adjacent: An amusing1945 Belgian card captionedin three languages(Flemish, Frenchand English): "And nowlittle boy, it is time ...topay!" (£15). Centre: AWorld War II card byM. Shoham Press, Tel-Aviv, then in Palestine.Will someone pleasetranslate? (Value £15).Right: Valentine's"Helpful Thoughts"cards were publishedfrom 1941 onwards andreprinted in black andwhite in 1974. Value ofthe WW2 originals, £3-5;of the 1974 reprints, 50p.ETUS Hierefope1 ,

A bibliophile's column named in memory of Churchillbibliographer Frederick Woods, 1932-1995"The Book in Your Hand" • RICHARD M. LANGWORTHMission statements are very trendy these days, sohere's the mission of my forthcoming book, A Guide tothe Books of Sir Winston Churchill: it aims to tell youwhat you're holding in your hand.I want to establish that this is not a bibliography. Iam not concerned with Churchill's pamphlets, contributionsto other books, periodical contributions, or workscontaining his letters and speeches, as are the bibliographers.I deal only with the forty-five titles we can legitimatelycall his books — a book being something largerthan a pamphlet, usually hardbound, or at least knownto exist hardbound. Nor will I be describing signatures,page thicknesses of other minutiae properly the sphereof the bibliographer. My descriptions will be limited tobasic size, page count, the design of covers, spines anddust jackets, and how to tell a first edition book orjacket from later printings. Unlike a bibliography, mybook will include aesthetic judgments about the desirability,collectibility and value of each edition, and extractsfrom book reviews. It is an all-purpose Churchillbooklover's manual.The purpose of this project is self-defense. Hopefullythis book will eliminate a number of phone calls I receiveby people who ask: "What exactly am I holding inmy hand?" Unfortunately, the job has been delayed byother ICS work; however, I am turning back to it thisSpring and hope to have it done in 1995.rColonial Malakands: First edition (left) with our subjectcopy from 1900-01; note deleted "L" in byline.A Very Odd "Malakand Field Force"I recently came upon a physically beautiful copy ofChurchill's first book which seemed to be a contradictionin terms — a book that shouldn't exist. The cloth bindingis that of Longmans, Green & Co.'s Colonial Edition (firstseen 1898), but the pages (from the dedication back) andpagination are from the Silver Library edition (1899 et.seq.). The endpapers are the "multiple swan" design likeSilver Library volumes, but printed in blue-grey (tomatch the binding) instead of brown as on the latter.Like all Silver Library editions it contains two Prefaces,the first from the first edition (slightly altered, includinga new first sentence), the second (dated 15 October 1898)in which Churchill explains that this is a corrected versionof the "slovenly" first edition. An ink inscription onWOODS CORXHRthe half title lists a New Zealand town where the bookwas found, and a date, "April 28th, 1901."The spine is different from first Colonial issues inthat it omits the initial "L." from the byline, whichreads, "Winston Spencer Churchill," as on the Silver Libraryedition (ICS Alba) and the Second Colonial edition(ICS Albb, described in Finest Hour 73, pp 25-6).The title page, however, is the first edition layout — includingthe byline initial, viz.: "Winston L. SpencerChurchill."What do we have here? First, careful examinationproves that this book has not been altered: it is originaland genuine. Second, there is no possibility that thetitle page is a Silver Library with the NEW EDITION orNEW IMPRESSION lines and S.L. logo omitted: thetype and leading is strictly first edition style. The titlepage is pre-November 1898 in style. (That was the dateLongmans stopped using the "L.," when ICS Alba andAlbb were printed.) But the evidence is that this bookdid not exist before 1900 or 1901. Read on...Ronald Cohen's analysis of Malakand printings inFinest Hour 54 mentions fifty extra first edition titlepages style printed in September 1898, and for awhile Ibelieved this book contained one of them. But when heand I examined it personally we found that the titlepage was not a cancel (glued-in replacement sheet), butintegral with the first signature (gathering) of pages —it had all been printed at the same time. Yet the firstPreface (contained in the same signature) has the samealtered structure as this Preface in the Silver Libraryvolumes.Mr. Cohen's FH 54 article mentioned that Longmanstransferred small amounts of one edition to another inan effort to meet demand. Forty-six sets of sheets fromthe first edition were transferred to the Colonial Libraryon 13 October 1898 — could this be one of them? No,since except for the title page, it does not use first editionsheets. Could it be one of the Malakands printed on 22November 1898 (the first Silver Library and secondColonial issues) or 19 February 1901 (the final impressionof Silver Library issues)? No, because in those printingsthe "L." was dropped from the title page byline.The publisher's records produced by Ronald Cohen inFH 54 show only one occasion on which Silver Librarysheets were transferred to the Colonial issue: sixty setsof sheets transferred sometime between June 1900 andJune 1901. Since no other entry in the Longmansrecords explains it, it is logical to conclude that thiscopy is one of the sixty. Since it was bound as a Colonial,not a Silver Library edition, the publishers nodoubt felt that it should not have a Silver Library titlepage; so they used what was handy: title page type (butnot preface type) from a first Colonial issue. It wouldnot have been hard, in those days of hand-set type, tosubstitute a leftover Colonial title page setup for the SilverLibrary setup in running off these sixty copies. Norwould it have been difficult to print the endpapers inblue-grey rather than brown to match the blue-greyColonial issue binding.The evidence (backed up by the inked inscription) isthat this book didn't exist until 1900 or 1901. This ispartly conjecture, and your critiques are welcome! g34/FINEST HOUR 86

WSCasPresidentof theBoard ofTrade,1910Churchill as LiberalA Toast to the University Club of Toronto,and a Remembrance of 'The Other Club"BY SENATOR JERRY S. GRAFSTEIN, Q.C., TORONTOPUBLISHED WITH THE KIND ASSISTANCE OF STANLEY H. WINFIELDMY TOPIC for the toast to the club isChurchill: Winston Churchill as a Liberal! Astrange topic for a club toast, some mightsuggest, since Churchill himself was considered bysome as not exactly "clubbable," though he was amember of a number of clubs. Since we, in the Senate,particularly these days, get the feeling in thecountry that we are not exactly "clubbable" ourselves,Churchill as the classic irreverent outsiderseems a rather kindred spirit.In 1910 Churchill jointly founded, together withthe great F.E. Smith, Q.C. — one of the finest speakersof his day (later Lord Birkenhead, L.C.) — yet anotherkind of club, a dining club for politicians of allstripes and outstanding non-politicians interested inideas, served up with superb cuisine, laced with finewine and shrouded by mellow smoke of aged cigars.One purpose of the club was to cut across party linesand create friendships to minimize political differencesand partisanship. This they grandly named"The Other Club," and Churchill rarely missed itsregular fortnightly dinners. "Great tact will be necessaryin the avoiding of bad moments," Churchillwrote to Bonar Law about "The Other Club's" organizingidea. Churchill always believed that personalfriendship and civility were more important for thosein public life than personalized political partisanship.It seems that your Convenor hopes to establish,within the boundaries of the University Club, a similarenterprise, and courageously concluded that hecould think of no other outsiders. So, sensing my unnaturallust to hold any audience captive on anytopic, he asked me to launch this year's toast to theClub.I sensed my topic, Churchill as Liberal, might beboth diverting and timely in light of recent eventsthough I had a stern admonishment by your Presidentthat / was not to speak about politics.So enticed, I intend to give you a taste of one embattledSenator's revisionist view of history, ratherMr. Grafstein is a Liberal member of the Senate of Canada. Hisspeech on 27 October 1993 came to the attention of Mr. Winfield ofthe Churchill Society of BC,who secured permission for its publicationhere.than current politics. Any semblance in my remarksbetween today's politics and yesterday's history istherefore purely coincidental.The year is 1903. The place is England. Englandstands at the very height of her imperial power. Germanyplots to outstrip England's superior seapowerby secretly laying plans for the construction of massivedreadnoughts. Military strategists in Englandrespond that Britain's control of the seas should beaccelerated by enlarging her already awesome fleetto safeguard the Empire in all her majesty and maintainthe balance of power in Europe.Meanwhile, on the domestic front, a number ofyoung sparkling political stars are emerging. WinstonSpencer Churchill, first elected to Parliament asa Tory in the 1900 election in the constituency of Oldham,is bent on following in the illustrious, if ill-fatedsteps of his late father, Lord Randolph Churchill,who was a leading member of the Tory establishment.Lord Randolph was a friend of the Prince ofWales and inheritor, so young Churchill believed, ofthe great social policies of Benjamin Disraeli, calledby all "Tory Democracy."Unfortunately, Lord Randolph Churchill's meteoriccareer, aimed right at the Prime Minister's office,was cut down by a serious disease, upsetting hisrationality, causing him slowly to slide into a tormentedand deranged death.After his father's unhappy demise, youngChurchill, already a soldier, became a notoriouscolumnist and respected author, whose sensationalescape from a Boer gaol in South Africa was widelypublicized in all the London papers, has returned toEngland to pursue his fame and fortune in print andpolitics.England finds herself embroiled in a divisive nationaldebate, splitting the coalition government ledby the Conservative Party and its alliance with Liberalsand others who call themselves Unionists. Suddenly,the Tory prime minister, Arthur Balfour, reversesfifty years of traditional Tory Free Trade policyand supports higher tariffs for the first time.Churchill, an unabashed Free Trader, uncomfortablewith this sudden departure from the traditionalpolicies of the Tory Party, seeks new friends and alliancesto maintain his principled philosophy. At theFINEST HOUR 86/35

"Socialism seeks to pull downwealth, Liberalism seeks toraise up poverty...Socialismexalts the rule; Liberalismexalts the man. Socialismattacks capital, Liberalismattacks monopoly." -wsc, 1908same time, Churchill is also becoming increasinglydisenchanted with the elitism of Tory social policiesthat protected the prerogatives of the upper classesat the numbing disadvantage of the poor.Churchill meets and quickly becomes enamouredwith another rising political star, David LloydGeorge, destined to become the greatest Liberal ofhis age. They seem to share more things in commonthan set them apart. Lloyd George, a Welsh lawyerrising from humble origins by his lyrical gift oftongue, is a mesmerizing and charming personality.Churchill is duly mesmerized and charmed.Churchill writes and speaks in favour of Free Tradein the run-up to the coming election, antagonizingTory loyalists on all sides, including PrimeMinister Balfour and Churchill's own Tory Associationin Oldham. Conspiring with the Tory whips in London,in his absence, his association passes a resolutionsuggesting Churchill seek another constituency, sincehe so disagrees with party trade policy.So it is in Spring of 1904 that Churchill rises tospeak in Parliament after Lloyd George in yet anotherturbulent debate on Free Trade. Churchill is aTory still...Churchill is insulted when the Tory front benchand almost all the back bench (except a few hecklers)immediately leave the House and repair to the smokingrooms while he is speaking — a deliberate snub.Weeks later, Chtochill rises in the House of Commons,loses his train of thought in mid-speech andretires embarrassed. Members murmur that he maybe suffering from the same defect that doomed his fatherdecades before.Shortly thereafter, on May 31st, WinstonChurchill, revived, re-enters the House of Commons,pauses, bows to the Speaker and crosses the floor tosit beside Lloyd George in the same seat occupied byhis revered father when in opposition. Churchill realisedhe must make the move, even though his associationdeferred taking further punitive actionagainst him. As a newly minted Liberal, he assaysopportunities and chooses a Liberal riding, a seat inNorthwest Manchester, the home of Cobden andBright, the bastion of Free Trade.When asked why he left the Conservative Party,he retorts that he did not leave the ConservativeParty or his principles. Rather, the ConservativeParty deserted its principles and left him.Churchill warms to the task, carrying his Liberalcolours, and in June 1905, at the Cobden Club, heldwithin the auspices of the Midland Club in Manchester(the home of Free Trade) he launches a scathingattack on his former Conservative colleagues.The words today sound familiar. "We know perfectlywell what to expect ... [the Tory Party] has becomethe party of great vested interest; corruption athome, aggression to cover it up abroad; trickery oftariff juggles, tyranny of party machine; sentimentby the bucketful, patronage by the pint; openhand atthe public exchequer; open door at the public house;dear food for the millions ... and ... cheap labour bythe millions ..."Does not this diatribe, friends, sound faintly familiar?After the 1905 election, a new government forms.This time it is a Liberal-Unionist coalition, led by SirHenry Campbell-Bannerman (a relative of a distinguishedMember of this Club and my great friend,the Honourable David Smith, Q.C.).Winston Churchill becomes a youthful member ofthe outer Cabinet as Undersecretary of the Coloniesunder Lord Elgin, who sits in the Lords. It was atthis time that Eddie Marsh, soon to becomeChurchill's lifelong assistant, reluctantly agreed tojoin Churchill as his private secretary. He was toldby Lady Lytton, to assuage his fears about the mercurialChurchill, that "the first time you meet Winstonyou see all of his faults and the rest of your lifeyou spend discovering his virtues."My admiration for Churchill deepened even furtherafter I happened across a speech he gave in hissuccessful by-election in 1908 at Dundee, followinghis defeat in Northwest Manchester. The speech wasmade during Churchill's most enlightened period,when he ran flat out under Liberal colours. Thespeech also clarified for me my youthful confusionwhen I was first attracted to the siren song of Socialism.Churchill, with powerful clarity, boldly contrastedLiberalism and Socialism with these wordswhich have echoed down through the decades, witheven greater resonance."Liberalism is not Socialism, and never will be. Thereis a great gulf fixed. It is not a gulf of method, it is a gulfof principle. ... Socialism seeks to pull down wealth, Liberalismseeks to raise up poverty. Socialism would destroyprivate interests; Liberalism would preserve privateinterests in the only way in which they can besafely and justly preserved, namely by reconciling themwith public right. Socialism would kill enterprise; Liberalismwould rescue enterprise from the trammels ofprivilege and preference ... Socialism exalts the rule;Liberalism exalts the man. Socialism attacks capital,Liberalism attacks monopoly."36/FINEST HOUR 86

"In the twinkling of an eye,I found myself without a seat,without a party, and withoutan appendix. -WSC on 1922XAJ1C id so, in the next two decades, from 1905 to1923, Churchill held a dizzying array of portfolios asa Liberal minister — President of the Board ofTrade; Home Secretary; First Lord of the Admiralty;Minister of Munitions; Secretary of State for Warand Air; and Secretary of State for the Colonies.His vibrating fortunes, matching his ideas, racedup and down in public opinion like a roller coaster. Ineach ministry he brought a volcanic energy and a visionarystream of ideas. He was, in turn, the fatherof the submarine, of the tank, of oil driven warships.He created the first Anglo/Arab oil consortium to fueland secure British naval might.As President of the Board of Trade, he organizedlabour exchanges to prevent sweat labour. He firstestablished unemployment insurance in England. Heled attacks against the House of Lords when it defeateda Liberal budget — the famous "People's Budget"— which led to the first reform of the Lords.He wrote articulate books — radical in their time— entitled Liberalism and the Social Problem andThe People's Rights, defining a sweeping socialagenda of reform that only became accepted publicpolicy decades later.He railed against property speculation and contrastedwealth built on real estate as "plunder" comparedto "production" of goods as being in the publicinterest. He advocated public works in times of unemployment(public jobs in reforestation and roadbuilding). He promoted legislation restricting eighthourwork days for coal miners and restrictions onchild labour. He repeatedly advocated a "safety net"to protect the victims from the ravages of competition.While he believed in Free Trade and competition,he also believed in offering some protection tothose who simply could not compete.He declaimed on public platforms that the biggestthreat to the cause of peace came not from abroadbut the crisis at home: the gap between rich andpoor, obsolete laws protecting inherited property andthe vested interests. He argued repeatedly for "minimumstandards of life and work" to attain domesticcivility.Viscount Simon, a close and lifelong contemporary,wrote after Churchill became Prime Ministeragain in 1951: "At the root of his many sided nature... remains the essence of Liberalism. His tolerance,his sympathy with the oppressed and the underdog,his courage in withstanding clamour, his belief ... inthe individual... all derive from a heart, a head [and]made him a Liberal statesman ... his Liberal viewswere not a mere pose, so that he has carried his Liberaltemper with him throughout his life ..."Other colleagues noted that a major theme of hislife was individual rights and his unswerving beliefin the liberty to work out, as one civil servant wrote,one's own salvation, to follow one's own star. SoChurchill wished to afford equal freedom for othersto do likewise. "I stand for Liberty" he proudly proclaimedmore than once. This was his lifelong Liberaltheme. He vehemently opposed Bolshevism andCommunism because he believed each was, at itsvery roots, opposed to individual liberty. He carriedover this belief in the essence of liberty as the foundationfor relations between states that so informedall his foreign policy principles.In 1921-1922, Churchill was a player in negotiationsthat led to the Irish Settlement. This suddenreversal in Liberal policy turned out to be a key tothe fall of Lloyd George and the Liberal Party. TheIrish Treaty was fatal to them, as it led not to peacebut continuing civil unrest. This sudden reversal inpolicy was the beginning of the end for the LiberalParty in England.In 1922 Churchill fell ill with appendicitis duringan election. He wrote looking back on this period adecade later: "In a twinkling of an eye, I found myselfwithout an office, without a seat, without a party,and without an appendix."Later, in 1923, Churchill ran two more times andwas defeated. He finally reverted to Conservatismagain, after making his peace with Baldwin, theLeader of the Conservative Party, who, after the1924 election immediately appointed Churchill to theExchequer. Churchill never would return to the Liberalfold and the Liberal Party never regained its lustre.Again, Churchill believed that he had not left theLiberal Party but that the Party had deserted itsown principles and lost its way.One of the most fascinating insights intoChurchill's attraction to the Liberal Party was hislifelong helpmate, companion and wife, ClementineChurchill, born and bred a Scottish Liberal.Churchill was once asked why his marriage was sosuccessful. He responded by saying that he had neverhad breakfast with his wife. Of the volumes writtenabout his relationship with Clementine, awkward,complex and difficult at times, one note endeared meto his famous wife. Throughout their loving and illustriousrelationship, spanning six decades together,she always voted Liberal.Friends, on that note, may I conclude by askingyou to rise, liberally to charge your glasses, and raisea fulsome and Liberal toast to the Club — The UniversityClub. $FINEST HOUR 86/37

ENGLISH-SPEAKING AGENDAAn ongoing series of occasional opinion pieces on subjects of broad international interest anddebate among what Churchill called "The Great Democracies." Rebuttals and counter-argumentsare cordially welcomed. Previous articles include Gorbachev vs. Churchill and thelessons of the Cold War {Finest Hour #78), Free vs. Fair Trade {#77 and #81), Statesmanshipand Democracy (#75), Churchill's Relevance Today (#72), Canada's Constitution (#69), Britainand Europe (#67), Australia's emerging foreign policy (#66)Toward a Divisive DiversityThe bonds of national cohesion in America are sufficientlyfragile — and not only in America. Public education shouldaim to strengthen, not weaken, them.BY ARTHUR M. SCHLESINGER, JR.New York State's Social Studies Syllabus ReviewCommittee issued a 1991 report recommending revisingthe curriculum to emphasize multi-cultural education.Dr. Schlesinger was one of the dissenters fromthe report. This is excerpted from his dissent.IT IS unquestionably necessary to diversify thesyllabus in order to meet the needs of a more diversifiedsociety. It is unquestionably necessaryto provide for global education in an increasingly interdependentworld. Our students should by allmeans be better acquainted with women's history,with the history of ethnic and racial minorities, withLatin American, Asian and African history. Debate,alternative interpretations, "multiple perspectives"are all essential to the educational enterprise. I welcomechanges that would adapt the curriculum tothese purposes. If that is what we mean by multiculturaleducation, I am all for it.But I fear that the report implies much more thanthis. The underlying philosophy of the report, as Iread it, is that ethnicity is the defining experience formost Americans, that ethnic ties are permanent andindelible, that the division into ethnic groups establishesthe basic structure of American society andthat a main objective of public education should bethe protection, strengthening, celebration and perpetuationof ethnic origins and identities. Implicit inthe report is the classification of all Americans accordingto ethnic and racial criteria.Dr. Schlesinger is Albert Schweitzer professor of theHumanities at the City University of New York and a winnerof Pulitzer Prizes in history and biography. He is achief speaker at the 12th International Churchill Conference,Boston, October 25-29th.These propositions are assumed rather than arguedin the report. They constitute an ethnic interpretationof American history that, like the economicinterpretation, is valid up to a point but misleadingand wrong when presented as the whole picture.The ethnic interpretation, moreover, reverses thehistoric theory of America — which has been, not thepreservation and sanctification of old cultures andidentities, but the creation of a new national cultureand a new national identity. As Secretary of StateJohn Quincy Adams told a German contemplatingmigration to these shores, those who would settle inAmerica must recognize one necessity: "They mustcast off the European skin, never to resume it. Theymust look forward to their posterity rather thanbackward to their ancestors."A Society DividedOf course students should learn more about therich variety of peoples and cultures that have forgedthis new American identity. They also should understandthe curse of racism — the great failure of theAmerican experiment, the glaring contradiction ofAmerican ideals and the still crippling disease ofAmerican society. But we should also be alert to thedanger of a society divided into distinct and immutableethnic and racial groups, each taught tocherish its own apartness from the rest.The republic has survived and grown because ithas maintained a balance between pluribus andunum. The report, it seems to me, is saturated withpluribus and neglectful of unum.The first paragraph of the preamble notes that "noother country in the world is peopled by a greater varietyof races, nationalities, and ethnic groups." Itcontinues: "But although the United States has beena great asylum for diverse peoples, it has not always38/FINEST HOUR 86

een a great refuge for diverse cultures." Both pointsare correct — but the report is oblivious to the historicalfact that the second sentence explains the first.Why has the U.S. been exempt from the "trendstowards separation and dissolution" that, as the reportlater notes, are having such destructive effectsin Russia, Canada and elsewhere? Obviously the reasonthe U.S. is still the most successful large multiethnicnation is because, instead of emphasizing andperpetuating ethnic separatism, it has assimilatedimmigrant cultures into a new American culture.Most immigrants came to America precisely inorder to escape their pasts. They wanted to participatein the making of an American culture and anAmerican national identity. Even black Americans,who came as involuntary immigrants and havesuffered — still suffer — awful persecution and discrimination,have made vital contributions to theAmerican culture.The preamble rejects "previous ideals of assimilationto an Anglo-American model." Of course Americaderives its language and its primary political purposesand institutions from Britain. To pretend otherwiseis to falsify history. To teach otherwise is tomislead our students. But the British legacy hasbeen modified, enriched and reconstituted by the absorptionof non-Anglo cultures and traditions as wellas by the distinctive experiences of American life.That is why America is so very different a nationfrom Britain.The report does on occasion refer in general termsto the need for unum as well as for pluribus. The preambleobserves, "Special attention will need to begiven to those values, characteristics, and traditionswhich we share in common." I do not, however, findthis concern much reflected in the body of the reportor in the proposals for syllabus revision. Part II beginsby describing "the search for common culturalgrounds" as "more important than ever." This comment,if true, should give that search a much higherpriority than it receives in the report. Buried towardthe end is a comment on the importance of examiningwith care "what the elements are that hold togethera nation or culture in spite of what are oftengreat differences. This surely is one of the centralquestions to be considered in any course in Americanhistory." It surely is, but it receives practically no attentionin the proposals for curricular revision.A basic question is involved: Should public educationseek to make our young boys and girls contributorsto a common American culture? Or should itstrengthen and perpetuate separate ethnic and racialsubcultures? The report places its emphasis on cultivatingand reinforcing ethnic differences. Students,the report says, should be "continually" encouragedto ask themselves what their cultural heritage is,why they should be proud of it, "why should I developan understanding of and respect for my own culture(s),language(s), religion, and national origin(s)."Would it not be more appropriate for students to be"continually" encouraged to understand the Americanculture in which they are growing up and to preparefor an active role in shaping that culture?Am I wrong in sensing a certain artificiality andinauthenticity in all this? If the ethnic subcultureshad genuine vitality, they would be sufficiently instilledin children by family, church and community.It is surely not the office of the public school to promoteethnic separatism and heighten ethnic tensions.The bonds of national cohesion in the republicare sufficiently fragile already. Public educationshould aim to strengthen, not weaken, them.Our democratic ideals have been imperfectly realized,but the long labor to achieve them and to movethe American experiment from exclusion to participationhas been a central theme of American history.It should be a central theme of the New York socialstudies curriculum.And it is important for students to understandwhere these democratic ideals come from. They comeof course from Europe. Indeed, Europe is the uniquesource of these ideals — ideals that today empowerpeople in every continent and to which today most ofthe world aspires. That is why it is so essential (inmy view) to acquaint students with the Western historyand tradition that created our democratic ideals— and why it is so wrong to tell students of non-Europeanorigin that Western ideals are not for them.I regret the note of Europhobia that sometimesemerges in vulgar attacks on "Eurocentric" curriculums.Certainly Europe, like every other culture, hascommitted its share of crimes. But, unlike most cultures,it has also generated ideals that have opposedand exposed those crimes.The report, however, plays up the crimes andplays down the ideals. Thus, when it talks about theEuropean colonization of Africa and India, it deplores"the eradication of many varieties of traditional cultureand knowledge." Like infanticide? slavery?polygamy? subjugation of women? suttee? veil-wearing?foot-binding? clitorectomies? Nothing is saidabout the influence of European ideas of democracy,human rights, self-government, rule of law.The Schools' FunctionI also am doubtful about the note occasionallysounded in the report that "students must be taughtsocial criticism" and "see themselves as active makersand changers of culture and society" and "promoteeconomic fairness and social justice" and "bringabout change in their communities, the nation, andthe world." I very much hope that, as citizens, studentswill do all these things, but I do not think it isthe function of the schools to teach students to becomereformers any more than I ever thought it thefunction of the schools to teach them the beauty ofFINEST HOUR 86/39

private enterprise and the sanctity of the status quo.I will be satisfied if we can teach children to read,write and calculate. If students understand the natureof our Western democratic tradition, they willmove into social criticism on their own. But let us notpoliticize the curriculum on behalf either of the leftor of the right.I recognize that I am very much in the minority inthese comments. But I cannot conscientiously goalong with my colleagues. I respect their serious concernand devoted labor, and I have enjoyed my associationwith them. I would only beg them to considerwhat kind of nation we will have if we press furtherdown the road to cultural separatism and ethnicfragmentation, if we institutionalize the classificationof our citizens by ethnic and racial criteria and ifwe abandon our historic commitment to an Americanidentity. What will hold our people together then? ItACTION THIS DAYJOHN G. PLUMPTONSpring 1895 • Age 20Churchill remembered his years at Sandhurst, fromwhich he "retired" with a commission in the 4th Hussars,as "hard but happy." He felt that he had demonstrated thathe "could learn quickly enough the things that mattered."Thirty years later he made a poignant reflection on thefate of young soldiers of his generation. "In contrast withmy school days, I had made many friends, three or four ofwhom still survive. As for the rest, they are gone. TheSouth African War accounted for a large proportion notonly of my friends but my company; and the Great Warkilled almost all the others."Nevertheless, he continued, his world opened like Aladdin'sCave. "From the beginning of 1895 down to the presenttime of writing I have never had time to turn around.I could count almost on my fingers the days when I havenothing to do. An endless moving picture in which one wasan actor. On the whole Great Fun! But the years 1895 to1900 which are the staple of this story exceed in vividness,variety and exertion anything I have known — except ofcourse the opening months of the Great War."The momentous years of the Second World War and thenuclear age lay ahead.Spring 1920 • Age 45Churchill's tireless role in his "endless moving picture"was evident even when he was on holiday. While stayingas a guest at Sir Philip Sassoon's luxurious coastal home,he would excuse himself for several hours to work on hiswar memoirs.Aware of his propensity to work all the time, he wroteClementine from the Duke of Westminster's villa in Marchthat he was enjoying painting and riding. "I have not donea scrap of work. This is the first time such a thing has happenedto me. I am evidently 'growing up' at last."The threat of Bolshevism remained his prime concern.In a speech at Sunderland he asked his audience: "Wasthere ever a more awful spectacle in the whole history ofthe world than is unfolded by the agony of Russia?" One ofhis fears was that Prime Minister David Lloyd Georgewould concede too much to Russian interests at the ParisPeace Conference.Frances Stevenson recorded the following exchange betweenChurchill and Lloyd George: "Winston still raving onthe subject of the Bolsheviks, and ragging D [David] aboutthe New World. 'Don't you make any mistake,' he said to D."You're not going to get your new world. The old world is agood enough place for me, and there's life in the old dogyet. It's going to sit up and wag its tail.''"Winston,' said the PM, 'is the only remaining specimenof a real Tory.'" 'Never mind,' laughed Winston, 'if you are going to includeall parties, you will have me in your National Party.''"Oh no!' was D's retort. 'To be a party you must have atleast one follower. You have none.'"On another occasion they had a more serious exchangewhich an observer recorded in his diary: "At the Cabinetthis morning the PM gave Winston a dressing down aboutRussia. Winston had been complaining that we had no policy.This the PM described as ridiculous. Our policy was totry to scrap the results of the evil policy which Winstonhad persuaded the Cabinet to adopt. Winston was not onlybacking a wrong horse but a jibbing horse like Denikin."Churchill, unable to withstand the growing desire forpeace and trade with Russia led by his own Prime Minister,wrote Lloyd George that "since the armistice my policywould have been 'Peace with the German People, war onthe Bolshevik tyranny.' Willingly or unavoidably, you havefollowed something very near the reverse." But Churchill'ssupport for the Russian General Denikin finally wanedthroughout the spring months.While working on his own memoirs of the Great War, healso read the accounts of others. He commented to Clementineon Philip Gibbs's Realities of War. "If it is monotonousin its tale of horror it is because war is full of inexhaustiblehorrors. We shall certainly never see the like again. Thewars of the future will be civil and social wars, with a completeoutfit of terrors of their own."Despite the opposition of Sinn Fein, the Government introduceda Home Rule Bill for Ireland in February. As violencegrew in the Emerald Isle, Churchill urged restraintin dispatching regular British soldiers. He suggested a specialforce of former soldiers to back up the Royal Irish Constabulary.As the Irish Home Rule Bill was being debated in JuneChurchill, writing in the Illustrated Sunday Herald, calledfor tough measures against the murderers in Ireland whileholding out hope for a real reconciliation with the Irishpeople.Spring 1945 • Age 71Looking forward to final victory, Churchill glumly butprophetically commented: "I think the end of this war maywell prove to be more disappointing than was the last."In February he met Roosevelt and Stalin in the Crimeawhere they signed the Yalta Agreement. With full under-40/FINEST HOUR 86

standing of the Anglo-American relationship with the Soviets,Churchill commented that "the only bond of the victorsis their common hate." His parting toast to Marshal Stalinwas that the Soviet leader would live "to see his belovedRussia not only glorious in war, but also happy in peace."Churchill was deeply anxious about the fate of Polandand Greece. On his return from Russia he visited Athenswhere he was wildly received in Constitution Square. TheAcropolis was floodlit for the first time since the beginningof the war.In Egypt he met his friend Franklin Roosevelt for thefinal time. As they parted, Churchill recalled that "I felt hehad a slender contact with life."Back home his worst fears were realized concerning theSoviets' intention not to uphold the Yalta Agreement regardingPoland. Specifically, he learned that soldiers of thePolish Home Army were being rounded up. Jock Colvillerecorded: "The PM and Eden both fear that our willingnessto trust our Russian ally may have been vain and they lookwith despondency to the future."As Churchill crossed the Rhine River on 26 March hisold friend and political ally, David Lloyd George, died.Churchill told the House of Commons that "there was noman so gifted, so eloquent, so forceful, who knew the life ofthe people so well."Shortly after he made the following valedictory commentsabout the life of his great American friend and ally,Franklin Roosevelt. "As the saying goes, he died in harness,and we may well say in battle harness, like his soldiers,sailors, and airmen, who side by side with ours arecarrying on their task to the end all over the world. Whatan enviable death was his. He had brought his countrythrough the worst of its perils and the heaviest of its toils.Victory had cast its sure and steady beam upon him."The end of April brought the death of two of his mortalenemies, Mussolini and Hitler. Jock Colville informedChurchill that German radio had announced that Hitlerhad died "fighting with his last breath against Bolshevism.""Well," commented Churchill, "I must say I think hewas perfectly right to die like that."The two days of VE-Day celebrations were some of themost celebratory in Churchill's long life. On 8 May afterlunch and an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balconywith the King and Queen he returned to 10 DowningStreet and then drove to the House of Commons in an opencar. No engine power was necessary, said his bodyguard.The car was literally forced along by the crowd.He led a procession of his Cabinet and members of theHouse of Commons to St. Margaret's Church for a ThanksgivingService. Before heading back to Buckingham PalaceChurchill asked Inspector Thompson for a cigar. "For onceI had forgotten to bring his case," wrote the Inspector."Drive to the Annexe and I will get one," said Churchill. "Imust put one on for them. They expect it."Returning to the Annexe after his meeting at thePalace, Churchill went to the Ministry of Health balconyoverlooking Whitehall. The Times described the scene:"One of the most moving and remarkable scenes in the nationalrejoicing took place just before 6 o'clock when PrimeMinister Churchill spoke from a balcony in Whitehall to agreat crowd, whose self-disciplined orderliness and gaietywere so typical of the proud, unconquerable spirit of Londonthrough the dark and perilous days now left behind.This was London's own joyous meeting with the Nation'swar leader and with other Ministers who have worked athis side though five exacting years. Mr. Churchill spoke tothis assembled multitude of citizens only a few sentences,but they were deeply expressive. 'This,' he said to them, 'isyour victory.'"Late in the evening he again appeared on the balconyand the crowd below him sang "Land of Hope and Glory"and "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."The next day he made a tour of London in an open car.At 8:30 that evening he decided to go out again. Informedthat the open car had been dismissed he angrily retortedthat he would just walk. Going down Downing Street waseasy but on reaching Whitehall he realized that it would beimpossible to continue so he decided to walk between histwo escort cars. Everyone wanted to talk to him and touchhim so the Prime Minister decided to climb on the top ofthe car assisted by Inspector Thompson who describes theincredible scene: "After a while he climbed along the carroof on all fours until he could sit on the front with his legsdangling over the windscreen. He looked very funny andvery happy and the crowds cheered their heads off."Returning to the balcony at Whitehall he led the crowdin a singing of "Rule Britannia."Later in the month Churchill was informed by theLabour Party that the coalition could not continue. At theKing's request he took over a caretaker government whileconducting a general election, continuing the war withJapan and creating a post-war Europe with Truman andStalin.During June Churchill fought an election, on one dayvisiting ten cities. As it became clear that the peoplethought Labour had a better post-war policy and wereabout to express their long-held resentment against theConservative pre-war appeasers, Churchill hoped that hisown popularity could withstand the tide. He advised theoverseas troops that there is "no truth that you can voteLabour or Liberal without voting against me."Spring 1970On 27 February a letter appeared in The Times announcingan appeal to raise £30,000 for a national memorialto Sir Winston. Individual contributions from £1 to £50and corporate contributions up to £500 would be accepted.If broad public support was indicated the governmentwould donate a site in Parliament Square. Surplus fundswould be directed to the upkeep of Chartwell. The names ofall subscribers would be recorded in a book to be placed inthe Library of Chartwell. The letter was signed by LordChandos, Paul Channon, Elliot of Harwood, Lord Goodman,Jo Grimond, Edward Heath, Douglas Houghton, I.Jakobvits, Horace Maybray King, Earl Mountbatten ofBurma, A.G. Norman, Lord Portal of Hungerford, SteliaReading, John Rogers, Duncan Sandys, Emmuanel Shinwell,Gen. Slim, G.R. Strauss, Jeremy Thorpe and JohnTilney. (See cover and note on page 3.)The appeal was not without controversy. Even LadySpencer-Churchill wrote to The Times with a plea for a siteof its own rather than Parliament Square. In the end, asite on the north-east corner of the Square was chosen andthe statue stands today overlooking his beloved House ofCommons.&FINEST HOUR 86/41

Victory in Europe:Churchill in StampsBY RICHARD M. LANGWORTHIn I'Mimnemorution of the Fiftieth unniversiir) of \ L Dsiy,we divert fnmi our chronolonieul coverani' to present sixpull's of stumps documenting the events sumuindiiiK Sili ;ind9th Maj l«)45. ;iml Churchill's role in tliem.LUL- numlvrs .11 e Sioti • «' and Si.ink 1 ;. (liMn'ii- • -•• • A-\A*\\ m:irk I.'I inili.Mfi.-N ,i sei vvnh a oTninmi desi>:n lii>l MIL- J.ip.mi--.: whu iliiiIHII ilie lluhiine. Ol some J2."in) J.ip.inese sniilicis. ,i (JW oieil.lHH) survived \1anv I'S veii'r.uis pinntJil In ihe Iwo lima e\j-etienee as \aliil.itmj. ihe >.le.isimi in ilmp ihe .uomii. Nunh. un-L|iiestioriahl\ moii- n| the sain." «.!•« .iwaimi;' the up.ulers nil tluHume 1-laruls Ihe sump- are (iu:n.ida ".'"•*. N>; tys. .JIJ I niiedState 1 - *y2". si! ')^(1C. 'liu- tall nt Ikrliri N iliMimemeil li> iliuv Chur.lull e(•?•• • " ! *"*-* |F. "Japan lemairiN unsiiKiued." Cluuemtl inlil Ins IISI.-IKMS. Weare reminded heie ot CoiiojiidiM il'S \ = l J.*5. N-J and Japanese-oeeupied K.oiea tl'SA "'Ol. sj; 'i|M. Japanese waiiim.- i-siie-.eome luun l"12 M-ts*325 VI. sj: 3** 1 -U 1 -" * * " : " :1 1

THE FALL OF BERLIN"From the British nation I send you heartfelt greetings on thesplendid victories you have won...It is my firm belief that onthe friendship and understanding between the British and Russianpeoples depends the future of mankind. Here in our island we arethinking very often about you all, and we send you from the bottomof our hearts our wishes for your happiness and well-being.V—Prime Minister to Marshall Stalin, 10 May 1945A REMINDER TO THE NATION"I wish I could tell you tonight that all our toils and troublesare over. Then indeed I could end my five years' service happily,and if you thought that you had had enough of me and that Iought to be put out to grass I would take it with the best ofgrace. (But) there is still a lot to do..."My personalgreetings to you,the stout-heartedBritish ArmedForces and thewhole Britishpeople, and Icongratulate youwith all my heart.I express myconfidence in thefurther successfuland happy developmentIn the postwarperiod of thefriendly relationswhich have grownup between ourcountries."E.—Marshall Stalinto the Britishpeople, May 1945Zhukov's Red Armysurges throughshattered Berlin.A )r_D STAMP EXHIBITIONMADRID 4th - 13th APRIL 1976AP.QGEEUNCONDITIONAL SURRENDERGeneral Jodl signed Germany's unconditional surrender 8 May 19^5.Churchill broadcast the news, adding, "and our dear Channel Islandsare also to be freed today. Actually it was 9 May when ViceAdmiral Huffmeier, German Channel Islands commander, surrenderedthe only British territory occupied by Germany.A REMINDER, CONTINUED'...We must never forget that beyond all lurks Japan, harassedand failing, but still a people of a hundred millions, for whosewarriors death has few terrors...and we are bound by the ties ofhonour and fraternal loyalty to the United States to fight thisgreat war at the other end of the world at their side."—broadcast, MayFrom the dark daysof Corregidor andBataan the JapaneseEmpire had beenthrown back bysteady pressure.But despite thefate of her Axispartners, Japan inMay 1945 remainedunsubdued, and itsgovernment stillextolled theefforts of itsrenowned, valiantand resourcefularmed forces.1 Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duty, andso bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and itsCommonwealth kst for a thousand years, menwill still say "This was thesr finest hour'"SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL 1874 1965In addition torepelling Japanfrom the Pacificit would benecessary toliberate Koreanand occupiedportions ofChina.

DESPATCH BOXCOMPUTERESEI assume "BFL" was joking in issue85, page 8, reporting that the Word-Perfect Grammatik program has accusedChurchill of an error in Subject-Verb Agreement. BFL's reliance onMac's Grammatik is not well-placed.[BFL never relies on such things; shemade an observation! -Ed.] Churchill'susage was absolutely correct when heasserted, "Never Give In [Never,never, never, never, except to convictionsof honour or good sense].""Never" is not the subject of the verb.Instead, it is an adverb modifying theverb "give." "Give" is in the imperativemood and therefore takes the implied"you" as its subject. Accordingly,Churchill's statement (as usual) isgrammatically correct!ROBERT 0. ROSENMAN,GLENCOE, ILL., USAA GREAT DANISH EXHIBITI am writing to tell you that I am agreat admirer of Winston Churchill.My interest has grown stronger thelast year, and I had an idea to makean exhibit with photos aboutChurchill's life. In April I opened theexhibition, "Winston Churchill, HisLife in Pictures," at the local library inmy hometown, Randers, in Jutland.But it could only be a local audienceand our capital, Copenhagen, shouldhave the opportunity to see it as well. Iproposed this to The Royal ArsenalMuseum and the director Kay SefrenNielsen, accepted. My other idea wasto get ICS Hon. Member Robert Hardyto open it. His answer was positiveand the exhibition opened 12 August1994 in the presence of about fifty peopleincluding the former Danish Ministerof Defence Knud Enggaard.Robert Hardy made a five minutespeech which was memorable. [Theyalways are. -Ed.]The exhibition shows ninety-fivepictures from Churchill's life up to theyear 1955, where he retires as PrimeMinister. There is a small part aboutChurchill and D-day. Three politiciansand the general secretary of The DanishAtlantic Treaty Association wroteabout Churchill and what he hadmeant to them.I sent John Frost the official poster,sponsored by The Nordic Tobacco Compagniin Copenhagen. The exhibitionis now ended and a lot of people haveseen it. I have had a lot of commentsand letters from those who thought itwas a good idea. Plans are now to getit to Strasbourg to the European Parliamentthis year, to commemorate the50th Anniversary of VE-Day and the30th Anniversary of Churchill's death.I hope you will use this in some sort ofway in Finest Hour.NIELS H. BJERRE,RANDERS, DENMARKWSC AT U-MINNI recently completed a class entitled"Winston Churchill," an extensionclass offered at the University of Minnesota.It was a marvelous experienceand largely because the class wastaught by an able professor, DeborahBachrach. Ms. Bachrach had no priorknowledge of the existence of ICS untilI discussed my valued membershipand gave to her a copy of Finest Hour.She is certainly knowledgeable aboutthe life and times of Winston Churchilland I am sure would be most appreciativeof a membership in ICS. I proposeto give her a membership in appreciationof her excellent tutoring in the recentclass.RICHARD B. BROWN,MINNEAPOLIS, MN, USAFROM THE NEXTGENERATION(To Jacqueline Dean Witter)I don't know if you remember mebut I was one of the students who attendedthe ICS conference in Washington,D.C. in 1993. I spoke on how aquote from Sir Churchill influencedmy life. I also attended the dinnerwith Jack Kemp and listened to MartinGilbert at the Holocaust Museum.I wanted to write to tell you what agreat effect the conference had on me.I must admit that before the conference,I knew very little of Sir WinstonChurchill and his accomplishments.Listening to people talk about this tome-mysteriousman with such admirationmotivated me to learn more abouthim. My history textbooks never mentionwhat a great artist he was, nor hisincredible sense of humor.A few months after the conference Ientered an essay contest sponsored bythe International Peace Society andplaced second in the state of Virginia.Sir Winston was my inspiration for enteringthe contest.I am a senior in high school nowand I have applied to an internationalcollege in London. This decision wasbased on the interest of world affairsand international understanding thatI gained from attending the ICS conference.Unfortunately because of thehigh tuition, I am unsure at this timeif I will be able to attend this school,but, no matter where I go, I am surethat I want to pursue a career in internationaldiplomacy.I hope that your organization continuesto involve students in your activitiesthrough your "Teaching theNext Generation" program. I am evidencethat the effort is definitelyworthwhile.TARAH GRANT, VIENNA, VA., USATHANKS, ROBINPlease convey my congratulationsto Richard Langworth on his outstandingreviews of the four books in FinestHour No. 84 which I really enjoyedand appreciated his grasp of the Englishlanguage and his command of thesubject matter being reviewed. It washis level of excellence in Finest Hourwhich prompted me to try to retainAussie members.ROBIN LINKE,WEMBLEY, W.A., AUSTRALIACHURCHILL MOTORCARSYou must have already had enoughon the subject of Sir Winston's motorcars;but I can't help sending you thislittle bit of knowledge which I foundwhilst looking for something else inMartin Gilbert's Volume V (1922-1939). This follows the account of SirWinston's lecture tour in America, andthe terrible accident when he wasknocked over by a car on Fifth Avenue,New York:"On January 13, on BrendanBracken's initiative, a number ofChurchill's friends decided to buy hima car to celebrate his recovery. Theirchoice was a Daimler, and Churchillwas delighted by the gift. The Majesticdocked at Southampton on March 17,where Churchill's friends awaited himwith the new Daimler."44 / FINEST HOUR 86

This was in 1932, and the donorswere Lord Burnham, Sir HarryGoschen, Esmond Harmsworth, LordLloyd, Lord Londonderry, Sir HarryMcGowan, Sir Archibald Sinclair, andBrendan Bracken.We replied saying we actuallywould not be satisfied until we hadthe year, make, model and numberplate of every motorcar the Churchillsever owned, and Miss Hamblin continued...Your wish to produce a list of allcars owned by Sir Winston and LadyChurchill is an ambitious one! I will dowhat I can, but I can't even immediatelyremember details of those Idrove for them myself. Here is a startthough ... In glancing through a veryold address book of my own in theusual Christmas card search, I found:"CARS — W.S.C. Daimler. G.W.7470."How's that?GRACE HAMBLIN,WESTERHAM, KENT, UKWINSTON CHURCHILL AND THESTATUTE OF WESTMINSTERAs a Canadian I was particularlyinterested in Clive Ponting's observationin his negative biography (FH#84, p21) that because of Churchill'sselfish preoccupation with preservingBritain's ancient power, he opposedthe Statute of Westminster, a documentwhich has great historical significancefor Canada's constitutional development.The Statute of Westminster receivedRoyal Assent in December,1931. It gave formal recognition towhat had existed since 1926 and evenearlier. In the latter year, the BalfourReport, a pivotal document inCanada's evolution to full self-government,stated that Britain and the Dominionswere "autonomous communitieswithin the British Empire, equalin status and in no way subordinateone to another in any respect." Thisdeclaration was the result of tough,prolonged negotiations by CanadianPrime Ministers Borden and King,who resisted relentless and almost irresistiblepressure from British Empire"centralizers" who wished to retainImperial power and overall decisionmakingin London. Churchill saidthe Empire could be held together by"bits of string." Prime MinisterMackenzie King insisted on somethingmore legal and lasting.The Statute of Westminster ratifiedour independent status. It served todot the i's and cross the t's of the BalfourDeclaration, sweeping away as itdid the supremacy of the Governmentand Parliament of Great Britain. Forthis reason Churchill was less thanenthusiastic about the document. Withhis nature steeped in nobility, he arbitrarilyopposed changes that diminishedthe preeminence of Britain or interferedin any way with its "Imperialregeneration." He clung tenaciously tothe concept of an Empire whose ultimateauthority was an Imperial Parliamentsitting at Westminster in London.Dominion independence wasanathema to him and to his vision ofEmpire.The vision that allowed him to illuminatemajor issues which othersfailed to see was never much in evidencewhen it came to the birth of theCommonwealth. He did not even likethat name, preferring to retain theword "Empire." Churchill saw inchange only loss of leadership and alessened England. It was left to otherleaders to recognize that growth andultimately independence were the lifebloodof the Commonwealth's continuation.In spite of this, Churchill did notvote against the Statute legislation.According to The Times, however, heled formidable unofficial opposition toit. It was "bad luck," he said, that thenewly elected Parliament's first measureto deal with "should happen to bethis bill," that is, the Statute. He hadhad misgivings in 1926 when thepromise of equality was declared, fearingthat "we were needlessly obliteratingold, famous landmarks and signpostswhich although archaic had historicimportance and value." As a resultof which, he lamented, they werenow faced with the ordeal of "seeingthese promises embodied with all theawkwardness of the process in practicallegislation." His heroics neverlacked humour, however, as evidencedby his description of his attitude towardsthe legislation as being one of"discriminating benevolence."He supported an amendment to thelegislation which was defeated, for asdebate on the Statute progressed, itbegan to dawn on a majority of themembers of the House that becausethe Dominions wanted the Statutepassed as presented, there could bevery serious repercussions for the futureof Imperial relations of any lightheartedhandling of the legislation."Heavy as our hearts might be,"said Churchill, "we are bound by honourto ratify and implement theStatute. If large numbers of our fellowsubjectsin the Dominions like tothink, and like to see in print that thebonds of Empire, or if it is preferred,the Commonwealth, rested only upontradition, good will and good sense, itwas not our policy or interest to gainsaythem."Churchill's speech on this occasionwas described by a colleague, LeoAmery, as being powerful and impressivebut based on a conception of theEmpire that was out of touch with thetimes. Nations, said Amery, could notbe dealt with by "niggling points oflaw," but only on the basis of trust andconfidence.Stanley Baldwin also laudedChurchill's brilliant oratorical efforts,but said they comprised more stylethan substance. Churchill's departurefor the United States on a speakingtour was imminent, and Baldwinjested that he was about to travel"across the stormy, wintry seas to thepalpitating publicity of the new Republic."Within a few weeks of his arrivalthere, a headline in The Timesrecorded his misadventure: "Mr.Churchill Injured in Street Accident inNew York." But that is another story.W.R. WILSON,RIDGEVILLE, ON., CANADACHURCHILL COURSE ANDACADEMIC PURSUITSI wrote James Muller, sending himmy published articles about Churchilland the syllabus of the course onChurchill that I teach at the NavalWar College. For your use, I've encloseda copy of the course syllabusand my review of Charmley's End ofGlory. My review is a critique ofCharmley's awful strategic prescriptions— namely, just keep appeasingHitler — and his anti-Americanism. Ihope you approve.At present, I'm working on twomore projects dealing with Churchill.First, I'm writing an essay onChurchill's views on naval policy whenhe served as Chancellor of the Exchequerduring the second Baldwin government.This essay takes issue withmost accounts, which criticizeChurchill for disputing the Admiralty'sclaims about Britain's navalstrength. Second, I'm thinking aboutwriting a book-length study that evaluatesChurchill's tenure as First Lordof the Admiralty between 1911-5. Thisbook would deal with the prewar periodas well as the war itself. I willmake sure to keep you informed aboutmy progress in both these projects.JOHN H. MAURERNAVAL WAR COLLEGE,NEWPORT, RI., USA M,FINEST HOUR 86/45

RIDDLES, MYSTERIES, ENIGMASQ: The enclosed is a copy of a documentone of our members brought to my attention.I believe his to be an original becauseit was given him in 1941 while onduty with the RAF and there would notbe copies in colour. My suspicion is thata number of copies were autographed byWSC and Dr. Benes, President ofCzechoslovakia, and distributed on orabout 19 April 1941. Can you confirm?(See illustration accompanying.) -FromNorman G. Clark, Air Force Assoc. ofCanada, Winnipeg, Mn.A: I believe the original is undoubtedlygenuine. According to Volume 6 of the OfficialBiography, p. 1066, on 19 AprilChurchill visited Czech President in exileEduard Benes and inspected the Czechforces, accompanied by Clementine, Amb.Winant, Harriman and Biddle. The onecuriosity is over whether Churchill noticedthe bad misquote of one of hisspeeches: "brace" was the word he used,not "address," "Empire and its Commonwealth," I see he did not sign the documenton that panel...Q: What were Churchill's "Seven Tests ofFreedom"?A: Churchill's "Seven Tests of Freedom"were first stated on August 28th, 1944 ina message of encouragement to the newItalian government, which had partedfrom the Axis and joined the Allies. Theywere first published in volume form inThe Dawn of Liberation (London: Cassell,Boston: Little Brown 1944, page170), one of his volumes of war speeches,and in Churchill's Political Philosophy,by Martin Gilbert, Oxford Univ. Press,1981. Churchill was to use this same formulationtwice more, in a speech in Brusselson 16 November 1945, and to theStates-General of the Netherlands at TheHague, 9May46:There are one or two quite simple,practical tests by which it can be knownin the modern world in peace conditions— namely:Is there the right to free expressionof opinion and of opposition and criticismof the Government of the day?Have the people the right to turn outa Government of which they disapprove,and are constitutional means provided bywhich they can make their will apparent?Are their courts of justice free fromviolence by the Executive and fromthreats of mob violence, and free of allassociation with particular political parties?Will these courts administer open andwell-established laws which are associatedin the human mind with the broadprinciples of decency and justice?Will there be fair play for poor as wellas for rich, for private persons as well asGovernment officials?Will the rights of the individual, subjectto his duties to the State, be maintainedand asserted and exalted?Is the ordinary peasant or workmanwho is earning a living by daily toil andstriving to bring up a family free fromthe fear that some grim police organizationunder the control of a single party,like the Gestapo, started by the Nazi andFascist parties, will tap him on theshoulder and pack him off without fair oropen trial to bondage or ill-treatment?These simple practical tests are someof the title-deeds on which a new Italycould be foundedAddenda to Riddlesin Finest Hour #84With reference to two queries in thisspace: (1) For variants of "Blood, toil,tears and sweat," see my Churchill'sRhetoric and Political Discourse,* pp.122-23, 133 n21; and for "Iron Curtain"see pp. 110-11, 131 n5. (2) The "Shamenow, war later" quotations seem to be aversion of a letter to Lord Moyne, quotedin Churchill: A Life by Martin Gilbert,page 595. -Manfred Weidhorn, Fairlawn,N.J., USA*From Dr. Weidhorn's book: Churchilldescribed Omdurman as a city of "blood,mud, and filth." In his two Boer Warbooks Churchill wor-ried if the Boersmight augur "blood and tears." In the1930s he wrote that war (in Europe) isonly "toil, waste, sorrow, and torment."But the actual phrase appeared in a pre-WW2 article during the SpanishCivil War, when Churchill observed thatthe Republican side was becoming moredisciplined and civilized: new structureswere being erected on "blood, sweat, andtears." Having heard Baldwin use a successionof monosyllables ("Faith, Hope,Love and Work"), Weidhorn goes on,WSC "could in turn offer a solitary nationconfronting the most fearsome warmachine in history nothing but'blood, toil, tears, and sweat.'" (See TheRiver War original text, Vol 1, pl44; Londonto Ladysmith, pl65; Step by Step,pp25, 294.)Re "iron curtain," Dr. Weidhorn suspectsWSC had read these words byGoebbels (25Feb45) but was reinforcedby a German count broadcasting on2May45, and published in the newspaperswhich of course WSC read avidly:Churchill first used "iron curtain" in atelegram to Truman ten days later. But"as early as 1916, he declared in a speechthat British intelligence was not sure asto the state of German wartime navalconstruction because "an impenetrableveil" had fallen for eighteen months onGerman dockyards ... Between the wars,moreover, he spoke of the chaotic condition,the rivalries, the fears of Germanyor Russia prevailing among the nationsin central Europe, 'from the Baltic to theAegean,' 'from the Baltic to the Adriatic,''from the Baltic to the Black Sea' ...Changing circumstances brought thesetwo concepts together," resulting in:"From Stettin in the Baltic, to Trieste inthe Adriatic, an iron curtain has descendedacross the Continent, at Fulton,5 March 1946.Finally, in his footnote on pl31, Dr.Weidhorn notes that Anthony Eden used"steel curtain" referring to the dictatorstates in 1937, as did Senator Vandenbergof Russia in 1946; and that "IronCurtain" has appeared in Ethel Snowden'sThrough Bolshevik Russia (1920)as well as other books published in 1923,1918, 1915 and 1904, the last being TheFood of the Gods by Churchill's nemesis,H.G. Wells. "It is also found in the Jewishliturgy and in the Talmud." $46/FINEST HOUR 86

EDITED BY BARBARA LANGWORTHTEST your skill and knowledge. Virtuallyall questions can be answered in back issuesof Finest Hour or other ICS publications(but it's not really cricket to check).Twenty-four questions appear in eachissue, the answers in the following issue.Questions fall into six categories: Contemporaries(C), Literary (L), Miscellaneous(M), Personal (P), Statesmanship (S), andWar (W).601. Who was the "whipped jackal... [who]comes frisking up at the side of the Germantiger..."? (C)602. Churchill said, "all my philosophy isput into the mouth of the hero." Who is thehero? (L)603. Where did Churchill go to recuperateafter he was knocked down by a taxi inNew York? (M)604. As a schoolboy at Harrow, what didWinston request of his father in order to increasehis pocket money? (P)605. "... amazing medley of the gloriousand the squalid, the pitiful and the sublime,if modern men of light and leading sawyour face closer, simple folk would see ithardly ever." What was Churchill describing?(S)606. What feature at Chequers was too conspicuousat full moon and might provide anobvious target for the German Luftwaffe?(W)607. There are many books written by peoplewho worked with Churchill includingsecretaries, body guards, and doctors. Howmany authors can you name? (C)608. The Nobel prize for Literature wasawarded to Sir Winston not for a singlework but for what? (L)609. When was Chartwell first opened tothe public? (M)610. What was "Mr. Churchill's PrivateWar"? (P)611. Churchill thought that Dundee wouldbe his "seat for life." What years did he representthat constituency? (S)612. What was the significance of BletchleyPark? (W)613. Which of WSC's Harrow classmatesbecame his first secretary? (C)614. What bit of family genealogy didWSC omit in later editions of Marlboroughl(L)615. What flag was usually flown overChartwell? (M)616. At what age did Winston live in Irelandwith his parents (after his grandfather,the 7th Duke of Marlborough, was madeViceroy)? (P)617. "... there was full authority ... reasonableprospect of success ... greater interestsnot compromised, care and forethought exercisedin the preparations, ... vigour anddetermination shown in the execution."were arguments used by WSC in defense ofwhat? (S)618. Where did the famous remark aboutEngland's neck being rung like a chickenoriginate, and who was to do the wringing?(W)619. "I never left my apartment except formeals, & lay all day & most of the nightcuddling yr bulky tome ... I marched withyou ... never a cool drink, a hot bath. Whata tale!" What book inspired this glowingletter from Churchill? (C)620. What was the "crisis" Churchill wroteabout in The World Crisis'? (L)621. Winston's son Randolph and grandsonWinston authored a book together. Can youname it? (M)622. Was WSC ever a Freemason? (P)623. Whilst Chancellor of the Exchequer(1924), Churchill also held an elected, position;what was it? (S)624. What were the "Churchill Barriers"?(S)ANSWERS TO LAST TRIVIA(577) The Dominion Prime Ministers were:King of Canada, Curtin & Menzies of Australia,Fraser of New Zealand, Smuts ofSouth Africa and Huggins of SouthernCHURGH1LLTRIVIARhodesia. (578) Longmans printed 5,000copies of Malakand Field Force on the firstrun. (579) President Reagan said, quotingChurchill, "Nothing is more exhilarating asto be shot at without result." (580) Gwendelineand John (Jack) Churchill had threechildren: John George (1909), Henry Winston(Peregrine) (1913) and Ann Clarissa(1920). (581) WSC called the Germans"carnivorous sheep." (582) "The SovietGovernment had the impression they wereconferring a great favour on us by fightingin their own country for their own lives."(583) In 1921 Churchill enlisted the help ofLawrence of Arabia to bring order to theMiddle East. (584) Mr. Broderick's Army isa series of speeches given by WSC in oppositionto the Secretary of War's army reforms.(585) "Smoking cigars is like fallingin love: first you are attracted to its shape ...and you must always remember never,never, let the flame go out." (586)Churchill's great, great grandmother was anAmerican Indian. (587) Churchill lost threeelections in the 1920s: Dundee, 1922; WestLeicester, 1923; and the Abbey Division ofWestminister, 1924. (588) "... to have theUnited States at our side ... England wouldlive; Britain would live; the Commonwealthof Nations and the Empire wouldlive ..."(589) "Occasionally [Baldwin]stumbled over the truth but hastily pickedhimself up and hurried on as if nothing hadhappened." (590) Action This Day (1968)refuted Lord Moran's Diaries. (591) "Historywith its flickering lamp stumbles alongthe trail of the past, trying to reconstruct itsscenes, to revive its echoes, and to kindlewith pale gleams the passion of formerdays." (592) Churchill was looking for thepocket watch his father gave him when hehad the lake at Sandhurst dredged. (593)WSC said to appoint Anthony Eden PMshould anything happen to him. (594) Triumphand Tragedy describes the D-Daylandings. (595) "If Hitler invaded hell Iwould at least make a favourable referenceto the devil in the House of Commons."(596) As a war journalist Churchill coveredAfrica, India and Cuba (597) Churchillcalled his hole puncher klop because of thenoise it made>(598) Winston's "dominatingcharm and brilliancy" won the heart ofClementine. (599) Churchill's appointmentas Minister of Munitions (1917) generatedmany unflattering comments. (600) As a resultof the Trident Conference the cross-Channel invasion was set for 1 May 1944and the US agreed to share more informationon the atomic bomb. M)FINEST HOUR 86 / 47

"This is your victory!It is the victory of the cause of freedom in every land.In all our long history, we have never seen a greater day than this.Everyone, man or woman, has done their best. Everyone has tried.Neither the long years, nor the dangers,nor the fierce attacks of the enemy,have in any way weakened the independent resolveof the British nation. God bless you all!"VE1945VE1995"London, like a great rhinoceros, a great hippopotamus, saying,'Let them do their worst. London can take it.'London could take anything.My heart goes out to the Cockneys. Any visitors we mayhappen to have here today—and many great nations are representedby all those who have borne arms with us in the struggle —they echo what I say when I say, Good Old London!"WSC FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH BALCONY, WHITEHALL, 8TH & 9TH MAY 1945