Sir Winston Churchill: Colourful colossus world figure

Sri Lanka Daily News: Sir Winston Churchill: Colourful colossus world figure
The 137th birth anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965), the colossus world figure, British statesman, Prime Minister, falls tomorrow (November 30). He was born on November 30, 1874 at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. He was the War Prime Minister from 1940-1945, then, again in 1951-1955. Undoubtedly, he was one of the leading figures in the 20th century. He changed the entire course of history of the world by motivating the British. He was mainly responsible in defeating the most ruthless Nazi Dictator Adolf Hitler (1889-1945).

This colourful personality Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was a man of many parts. He was a Warrior, crafty strategist, shrewd politician, a great orator and debater, strict disciplinarian, an administrator, Nobel Prize Winner for Literature (1953), wittiest politician and painter. He was a great national leader and patriot, who was mainly responsible and instrumental in saving the British civilization. He was a towering figure in the world political firmament. He was able to get to the heart of a problem quickly.

Winston Churchill was born in Blenheim Palace, to Marlborough family, home in Oxfordshire. Winston’s father was Lord Randolp Henry Spencer Churchill (1849-1895) a British statesman, Secretary of State of India (1885-1886), Chancellor of Exchequer (1886), a gifted speaker and a loyal member of the Conservative Party.

Winston’s parents selected a nanny - Elizabeth Everest, to look after little Winston. She became the confidante of Winston Churchill for 18 years. Once, Winston remarked.

“My mother shone like an Evening Star. I loved her immensely, but kept her at a distance.”

Winston Churchill studied at one of the prestigious public schools in England - Harrow. He was an average student. As a kid, he played with toy soldiers. His father admitted him to the leading military school - Sandhurst. He passed out 20th out of a batch of 120 cadets.

Serving the Army, his first assignment was in South Africa. He served in two wars between Afrikaners (Boers) and the Britishers in South Africa. Churchill played a role as a War Reporter in the second South African War in 1899. He was imprisoned in Pretoria, but after few months he escaped.

In 1900, he took upto politics and was elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament. Winston Churchill was a man of principles. He crossed the floor and joined the Liberal Party in 1904. The Liberal Party of British grew out of the early 19th century. “The Liberal’s greatest leader was William Gladstone.

The predominant interest of the Liberal Party were free trade, religious and individual liberty, financial retrenchment, constitutional reforms etc.

As the first Lord of Admiralty under Herbert Asquith (1852-1928), Churchill expanded Britain’s Navy in preparation for World War I (1914-1918). World War I was due to an attack and an assassination of Austrian Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand by Serbs in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. Austria declared war against Serbia from July 29, 1914. Germany declared war on Russia August 18, 1914 and France on August 3, 1914 and then Britain declared war on Germany.

In Llloyd George’s (1863-1945) Cabinet, Churchill served as the Secretary of State for war (1918-1921), and as the Colonial Secretary (1921-1922). He oversaw the creation of the Irish Free State. Then, he returned to power as the Chancellor of Exchequer (1923-1929) and served under Stanley Baldwin (1867-1947) - Conservative Prime Minister (1923/24, 1924/29, 1935/37). From 1929 to 1939, Churchill was out of office. It should be mentioned here during this period he spoke against the rising threat of Nazi Germany.

On the outbreak of World War II - 1939 to 1945, Wisnton Churchill, once again became the First Lord of Admiralty. The World War II, began as an International conflict arising from disputes provoked by the Expansion of policies of Germany in Europe and Japan and in the Far East. An important highlight was Hitler’s Nazi Germany invaded Poland, whereupon Britian and France declared war on September 3, 1940.
The top three

In 1940, Churchill replaced Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940) as War Prime Minister. Churchill was at his best. He proved to be an inspiring war leader. He cultivated a close relationship with the Great American President - Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945) - four times President. Churchill was the chief architect of the grand alliance - USA and USSR. On February, 1945, Chief Allied Leaders of the World War II, took place at Yalta in Cremia, Ukraine with victory over Germany, Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin met to discuss the final campaign of war and post war settlement.

Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin were three men who shaped modern Europe and the post war structure of international politics.

The extraordinary personal relationship evolved between the leaders of the greatest combination of Military Power in history - the grand Alliance of the second world war, popularly known as the “Big Three”, was the Force behind to defeat the Nazi Dictator Hitler of Germany. They met to plan the strategy in Teheran (1943) and Yalta (1945).

Witty, humerous and world leader

Wisnton Churchill was one of the wittiest politicians cum statesman the world has seen.

Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin were staying in a hotel in Yalta. Roosevelt, a polio victim, going on his wheel chair, kicked and opened the door of Churchill. He (Churchill) was caught with his pants down. Roosevelt said “Winston, so sorry.”

Churchill smiled broadly and uttered:-

“Come in. PM of England, United Kingdom, has nothing to hide from United States of America.”

Once a Labour Woman Parliamentarian growled in the House vehemently criticising Conservative Prime Minister Churchill. She said “Hon Speaker, if this man is my husband, I will add some “arsenic to his morning cup of coffee.” Cool as a cucumber, Churchill got up and replied “Hon Speaker, I will be too glad to drink the cup of coffee, rather than living with the Honourable Member.”

Good relationship with a “Comi is” like wooing a crocodile

On another occasion, Churchill described a Communist in this manner - “Trying to maintain good relationship with a Communist is like wooing a crocodile.

You do not know, whether to tickle it, under the chin or beat it over the head. When a crocodile opens its mouth, you cannot tell, whether he is trying to smile or preparing to eat you up.”
Meeting the Maker

He was very popular with mediamen. One day, a journalist questioned Churchill whether, he was ready to meet “His Maker.”

Churchill replied “Young Man, I am ever ready to meet my Maker, but whether my Maker is prepared for the Great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.”

Fountain of epigrams

Sir Winston Churchill was a real fountain of epigrams. One of his famous words; I quote

In war, resolution

In defeat, defiance

In victory, magnanimity

In peace, goodwill

Once Churchill said, “There are lot of lies going around the world and the worst of it is that half of them are true.”

On another occasion, Churchill uttered “never trust a man, who has not a single redeeming vice”

Politics a funny game

In 1945, Churchill was succeeded by Clement Atlee (1883-1969) as Labour Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951. He granted Independence to India, Sri Lanka and Burma. In the 1946 Parliamentary Elections, the man who saved Great Britain from Adolf Hitler, lost his Parliamentary seat. Politics is a funny and an unpredictable game.
Noble prize winner

Winston Churchill loved literature, history, art and painting. Among those books he wrote, the first book was The Story of the Malakand Field Force, History of the World War II, and History of the English Speaking People (1956-1958). He received the Noble Prize in 1953.

Churchill was in Parliament for nearly half a century. He was the Leader of the Opposition for six years, Prime Minister for 3 ½ years from October 1951. He resigned at the age of 80.

Silver tongued orator

Without any doubt, Winston Churchill was one of the best speakers, orators the world have witnessed. The effect of his words were electric.

The beauty was that Churchill mobilised the English language and sent it to battle. He deployed his power of oratory in their simplicity, majesty and eloquence. Gladstone, Lloyd George were orators. But, Churchill was in the forefront. Churchill addressed the hearts more than the brain.

On May 19, 1940, in his first broadcast as war Prime Minister - Winston Churchill stated; “I have formed an administration of men and women of every party and of almost every point of view. We have differed and quarreled in the past. Now, one bond, unites as all - to wage war until victory is won, never to surrender ourselves whatever the cost may be.”

Once in the Parliament, Churchill mentioned about his policy:

“It is to wage war by sea, land and air with all our might and with all, our strength that God give us and wage war against the monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the lamentable catalogue of human crime”.

“What is our aim?”

“It is victory, victory at all costs come then, let us go forward together with our united effort,”

In some of his speeches, he motivated the feelings of patriotism and the importance of unity.

“We had to think of the future and not the past. If we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find that we have lost the future.”

Once a Home Guard guarding the beach asked Churchill - “Sir what to do if Germans landed?”

“Hit them on the head with broken bottles. It is all we have bloody got”, Churchill replied.

In one of the Churchill’s powerful speeches, he mentioned, “We shall do our best to be worthy of high honour. We shall fight on unconquerable, until the curse of Hitler is lifted from the brims of mankind. We are sure in the end all will come right.

On June 4, 1940 Churchill made this famous brilliant speech, which is quoted by many.

“We shall not flag or fail. We shall fight in France. We shall fight in the seas and oceans. We shall fight with the growing confidence and growing strength in the Air. We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender.

From some of Churchill’s speeches:

The finest hour - House of Commons - 18/6/1940

“Upon the battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life and the long continuity of our institutions and Europe”.

“The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows he will have to break us in this island or lose the war”.

“If we can stand up to him (Hitler), all Europe may be freed and, the life of the world may move forward into the broad and sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including USA and all that we have known and cared for will sink into the abyss of a New Dark Era, made more sinister and perhaps more prolonged by the lights of perverted science.

Churchill was a Great Motivator. He addressed the nation “The battle of Britain is about two begin. The whole fury and the might, soon be turned on us. Let us therefore embrace ourselves, that if the British Empire and the Commonwealth lasts for thousand yeas, men will say - this is their finest hour.

In July 1899, Winston Churchill contested to enter Parliament. He was unsuccessful. In July 1900, he contested Oldham Seat and was elected. In 1904, he crossed the floor of the House and joined the Liberals, but in 1924, he resigned from the Liberal Party and joined the Conservative Party again.

Winston Churchill married Clementine Hozier, on September 12, 1908. She was a tower of inspiration to him and was the wind behind his sails.

For the great services he rendered to Great Britain, United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II, honoured him with a knighthood.

The historians compare the magnificence of Sir Winston Churchill only with that of the Great Duke of Wellington, hundred years ago.

This great man, who saved Great Britain and its civilization, as well as the commonwealth countries, was laid to rest, at Bladon in Oxfordshire, less than a mile, from where he was born on November 30, 1874. He died on January 24, 1965.

Sir Winston Churchill was one of the greatest men of the 20th century.