Sir Winston Churchill's birthday, Nov. 30

[Texas Star]

Saw on YouTube that Winston Churchill, KG, was born on this day in 1884 or '85. Died in 1965.

A fine writer and statesman, although responsible for the WW I disaster at Gallipoli.

But I think most will agree he redeemed himself in 1940. ..

 

[Rustyt1953]

 

[Camster]

Saw on YouTube that Winston Churchill, KG, was born on this day in 1884 or '85. Died in 1965.

A fine writer and statesman, although responsible for the WW I disaster at Gallipoli.

But I think most will agree he redeemed himself in 1940. ..

I just finished a book about his life during WW2. "The splendid and the vile". A good read.

 

[sheepdawg]

Hard not to admire a man that drank like a fish, smoked 10 to 20 cigars everyday and lived to the ripe old age of 90.

There's a story about the first time Churchill and FDR met. Seems FDR liked to pull a cork too and could hold his own with most everyone when it came to amounts consumed. The first time he met Chuchill the two proceeded to have a few drinks. FDR tried keeping up with Churchill but after 5 or 6 hours he could do no more. FDR had to be helped to bed while Churchill kept on. FDR's hangover the next day was legendary and it took him 2 more days to fully recover. Churchill on the other hand appeared no worse for wear and started back up at lunch the next day.

 

[Dashriprock]

One of my favorite Churchill exchanges:

Bessie Braddock MP: “Winston, you are drunk, and what’s more you are disgustingly drunk.”

WSC: “Bessie, my dear, you are ugly, and what’s more, you are disgustingly ugly. But tomorrow I shall be sober and you will still be disgustingly ugly.”

 

[Sistema1927]

Churchill almost single-handedly saved Western civilization. And for that, there are those today who would tear down his statues.

I remember watching his funeral on B&W TV while living in England.

 

[Kurusu]

Well. Happy Birthday to "the old warhorse" wherever he might be.

Always a great favorite of mine.

 

[Texas Star]

I have several of his books, inc., My Early Life, where he told of using his Mauser pistol during the charge of the 21st Lancers at Omdurman. He was lucky to survive.

His account of escaping Boer captivity is also thrilling.

Many years ago, Man at Arms profiled four of his pistols, and CBS TV showed the guns he kept by him as Prime Minister. He supposedly was responsible for getting Colt .45 autos for the Commando regiments that were also his idea. Most troops had weak powered .38's. Churchill bought a .45 (not .455) auto in 1915 and the outline was visible beneath his suit jacket in a few photos in WW II.

 

[Absalom]

Winston Churchill had the most interesting life and career of any British leader of the 20th century, and was certainly the most consequential.

His judgment, especially military, wasn’t exactly brilliant, and he supported decisions that turned out to be costly mistakes during both wars.

But above all, he provided leadership when it was needed. He stood firm during the “Darkest Hour” when folding was tempting and Hitler would have made it relatively easy.

From abroad and in hindsight we tend to see him in more heroic terms than his voters did in the grit of British domestic politics, where he found himself un-elected shortly after the war.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

He was actually born in 1874. His mother was American.
Someone said that in WWII :
"He mobilized the English language and sent it into battle."
::

 

[Rustyt1953]

 

[Rudi]

He was indeed a great man. I remember watching his funeral on TV here in the States, live from England.

 

[Texas Star]

Hit YouTube and see the charge at Omdurman from, Young Winston, with Simon ward as Lt. Churchill. He used that C-96 Mauser just as the real Churchill described.

 

[ACP230]

When I was a kid my folks worked for the Lutheran Mission in
Papua New Guinea. The place was run by Australians then. As
a proud American kid, I butted heads with several of the Aussie kids.
Also some of the Aussie teachers as well.

My mom was describing my antics to one of the Australian women.
Who listened to the description of what I'd been up to, reared back
and told mom, "Maybe you're raising another Winnie, my dear."

Probably the best compliment I've ever been paid. And one I certainly
haven't lived up to.

 

[Abbynormal]

The greatest half American that never claimed citizenship!

 

[chief38]

I've always admired Winston Churchill and could never quite get how the Brits threw him under the bus right after WWll. I know they elected him again a few years later on, but it's hard to imagine that another Prime Minister would have led them through WWll with resolve, courage, pride and leadership as he did.

I've read a few Biography's on his life and he was definitely a "one of a kind" fellow!

 

[Texas Star]

I've always admired Winston Churchill and could never quite get how the Brits threw him under the bus right after WWll. I know they elected him again a few years later on, but it's hard to imagine that another Prime Minister would have led them through WWll with resolve, courage, pride and leadership as he did.

I've read a few Biography's on his life and he was definitely a "one of a kind" fellow!

Apparently, QE II agreed. She made him a Knight of the Order of the Garter soon after ascending the throne in 1953.

 

[Absalom]

I've always admired Winston Churchill and could never quite get how the Brits threw him under the bus right after WWll. I know they elected him again a few years later on, but it's hard to imagine that another Prime Minister would have led them through WWll with resolve, courage, pride and leadership as he did.

Historians tend to believe that this was exactly Churchill’s problem. He governed during the war as prime minister of a coalition government, and functioned mostly as a war leader.

People in parliamentary democracies (which Britain is, despite being technically a constitutional monarchy) normally don’t vote for leaders, but for parties, policies, and programs. And in 1945 Churchill suddenly was just the head of the Conservative party, which didn‘t have much to offer in that respect. Churchill‘s personal popularity wasn‘t enough, his party needed a majority in Parliament for him to keep his office. The party lost, and he was out.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

He was offered a peerage after the war, but he declined it as wanted to remain in the Commons.
He reminds me a lot of Theodore Roosevelt, that same incredible energy, a willingness to go in Harm's Way.

 

[Dave_n]

I was in London for the funeral (still in graduate school at that time) and perhaps the most moving moment was when his body was transferred down the Thames by boat. The loading cranes along the waterfront all dipped their top booms in rotation as the boat came by them en route to Waterloo Station. When you bear in mind that all of the crane operators were unionized and the unions were "definitely anti-Tory" this was an unscheduled operation, showing that he was respected for what he did in WWII. Dave_n