August 16, 2013

Finest Hour 118, Spring 2003

Page 48

BY ELIZABETH C. SNELL, ILLUSTRATION BY BOB CHAMBERS FOR THE HALIFAX HERALD


On 14 September 1943, after attending the first Quebec Conference and visiting President Roosevelt at Hyde Park, Winston, Clementine and Mary Churchill arrived in Halifax to return to England aboard the battle cruiser Renown. Chambers’s illustration, from the Halifax Herald, did not appear until a week later, because the visit was top secret until the party had safely returned to Downing Street.

Renown was already well known to Nova Scotians, having been first to arrive in Halifax in 1919 when the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) had visited Canada. She made so many transatlantic voyages during World War II that she was nicknamed “the Taxi” (see FH 3, “Glimpses from the ‘Taxi'”). Her sister ship, Repulse, was also a familiar site in the ice-free port before she was lost in Far Eastern waters shortly after Japan attacked American and British territories in the Pacific.

2024 International Churchill Conference

Join us for the 41st International Churchill Conference. London | October 2024
More

While in Halifax, Churchill decided to show his wife and daughter the spectacular view from atop 300-foot Citadel Hill, a favorite venue for locals and tourists. Nobody expected him. The Herald reported that a car drove to the top of the hill and, there emerged “a young subaltern of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, a portly man smoking a cigar wearing a Trinity House uniform and a yachting cap; and a distinguished woman in civilian clothes.”

Since the visit to the “East Coast Port” (so designated for security reasons) was cloaked in official secrecy, there were not many people about. But a soldier sitting on the hill with his girl had the surprise of his life when he recognized Prime Minister Churchill. He sprang to his feet to salute. His surprise was even greater when Churchill strode around giving the V-sign, as other soldiers who had heard the news began to gather.

Prior to departure Churchill told provincial dignitaries, “I appreciate very much the great effort Nova Scotia and Halifax are making.” During the return voyage it was reported that “savage German submarine activity was resumed, apparently in the hope of trapping the party.” Nazi wolf packs stalked the steamship lanes. A British frigate and two U.S. Liberty ships were sunk as well as the Canadian destroyer St. Croix (formerly USS McCook), which was blown up with one survivor out of a crew of 147. But Renown brought the Churchills safely home. 

A tribute, join us

#thinkchurchill

Subscribe

WANT MORE?

Get the Churchill Bulletin delivered to your inbox once a month.