Without Victory there is no Survival

The Story of Winston Churchill: Part One

When I think about Winston Churchill, recently voted the greatest man in British history, I wonder what he would do in this situation? Would he agree with Tony Blair, England's Prime Minister, that Suddam Hussein poses a major threat to world peace? Would he want the UN weapons inspectors to be given more time? The great statesman, hero of Australian Prime Minister John Howard, has been quoted by both sides endlessly in this debate. His words have been cleverly used to promote arguments for and against war with Iraq, but in the end what he would have thought remains a matter for conjecture.

We do know, however, that Churchill warned about Hitler's regime as early as 1933 when he 'spoke about"the tumultuous insurgency of ferocity and war spiirit, the pitiless ill-treatment of minorities" in Germany. This was soon after the First World War when Europe had a great desire to maintain peace, just as it has now.

Sir Winston Churchill is primarily famous for his magnificent leadership of Great Britain during the Second World War which he described as 'his finest hour'. The lone voice in the wilderness, he understood that Hitler had a desire to dominate the world, but his warnings fell on deaf ears even in the Cabinet until 1940 when he became Prime Minister. Even that was only made possible because Halifax refused, arguing that being a peer would make his premiership difficult. This was very lucky because Halifax was in favour of peace negotiations with Hitler.

Born in the appropriately grand setting of Blenheim Palace in 1874, Churchill was the son of Lord Randolf Churchill, a Conservative politician and Jennie, nee Jerome, a stunning American socialite. After meeting the beautiful Jennie, Lord Randolph became engaged to her in three days. Half American, he admired the initiative and vigour of the American people.

A brilliant writer, Churchill began his early career as a soldier and war correspondent after attending Sandhurst which he enjoyed. He joined the Cuban revolt against Spain where he took up his famous cigars and learned to appreciate the Spanish siesta. He also joined the military campaign on the North-Western frontier of India. His book about this was well received and earned him the equivalent of two years pay in royalties. He also wrote a book about the war in Sudan to reconquer the Mahdi, in which he bitterly criticised Kitchener.

Churchill praised the Dervish as very brave and was disgusted by the inhumane treatment of the Dervish prisoners and the desecration of the Mahdi's tomb, both permitted by Lord Kitchener.

However the book which meant most to him was the one he wrote to vindicate his father's memory. Highly praised he had received a huge advance. Lord Randolph had died early from syphilis, a common cause of death in those days, and an extremely nasty one. A brilliant man, he had become Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the Conservatives in The House of Commons at 37, but he had fallen out with the government when he wanted to reduce spending on the navy. The early stages of syphilis made him difficult to get on with, and volatile which affected his speeches in the Commons.

War correspondent for the Morning Post in the Boer War, Churchill became a hero after he was captured and escaped.