April 7, 2015

Finest Hour 123, Summer 2004

Page 23


Q: “I have interviewed numerous veterans and one of them says he remembers seeing Churchill in a small craft flashing the V for victory sign as the invasion fleet made to the Channel. I would like to use this anecdote in my reporting and was hoping that you might be able to verify it.”

A: The story is true, but it did not occur on D-Day. According to the late Sir Fitzroy Maclean, WSC’s representative to Tito (Churchill Proceedings 1987, posted on our website) it was at the Bay of Naples in August 1944: “The first thing we saw…was a great fleet of ships of every size and shape, steaming majestically towards the open sea. It was the first phase, as I suddenly realized, of the Allied invasion of the south of France. This complicated my task. Clearly, trying to find Mr. Churchill in the midst of this mighty armada was like looking for a needle in the proverbial haystack….As we watched, one of the troop ships slackened speed, as if to avoid something. Simultaneously there was a burst of excited cheering from the troops on board, and a small, bright blue object shot across their bow. I recognized it as an Admiral’s barge. And there, standing by the coxswain, wearing a boiler suit and a broad-brimmed Panama hat, smoking a cigar and giving the V-sign, was the object of my search. As we watched, he swerved out and round and disappeared behind the next ship in the convoy. Clearly there was nothing for me but to give chase! I put this to the captain of the MTB and he didn’t like the idea at all. ‘It’s all very well,’ he said, ‘for the Prime Minister to go swerving in and out of convoy. If we do it we’ll get into bad trouble.’ I said I would take full responsibility….”

Q: I live at the Isle of Grain, a small village near Rochester, Kent, and am endeavouring to write its 20th century history. In 1912 a small flying station was established and I have read that Winston Churchill had flying lessons at this very station; however, I know not when, nor any other details. Can you assist? —Veronica Cordier

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A: Allen Packwood, Director of the Churchill Archives Centre, duly located the relevant document. To identify some of those mentioned, Ivor Churchill Guest was Winston’s cousin; James Masterton-Smith was WSC’s Private Secretary; Charles Samson was an aviator; Walter Runciman was President of the Board of Agriculture; and the “chickens” were the Churchill children, Diana and Randolph…

WSC to Clementine Churchill Clementine Spencer-Churchill Papers, CSCT 2/6/13

Sheerness
23.10.[19]13
Darling,
We have had a v[er]y jolly day in the air. First we all went over to Eastchurch where we found dozens of aeroplanes, & everyone flew – Ivor, Masterton, Sir Ian, Grigg, Halifax, Greenly & me. I let the military and naval officers fly across the river with me to our other air station in the isle of grain – a delightful trip on wh[ich] I was conducted by the redoubtable Samson. Here we found another large flock of sea planes in the highest state of activity.

Just as we arrived & landed, the Astra-Torres airship wh[ich] I had sent for from Farnborough, arrived, & the general & I went in her for a beautiful cruise at about 1000 feet all round Chatham & the Medway. She is a v[er]y satisfactory vessel, and so easy to manage that they let me steer her for a whole hour myself. Then after luncheon more sea planes, & I have finished the day by inspecting Sheerness dockyard. It has been as good as one of those old days in the S. african war, & I have lived entirely in the moment, with no care for all these tiresome party politics & searching newspapers, & awkward by-elections, & sulky orangemen, & obnoxious Cecils & little smugs like Runciman.

For good luck before I started I put your locket on. It has been lying in my desk since it got bent – & as usual worked like a charm. All the birds are coming to dinner tonight. You may imagine how pleased the others were to have the chance of losing their aetherial virginities!

It is satisfactory to find such signs of progress in every branch of the Naval air service. In another year – if I am spared ministerially – there will be g[rea]t development. When I have pumped in another million the whole thing will be alive & on the wing.

The Mr Short who makes the biplanes – has got a deformed head 4 times as big as any other head you have ever seen in the world – outside pantomime. He is a good man, but terrible to look at. He is married & his children are developing the same disease. Ivor has left me – much pleased with his flight.

How are the chickens! The world will be a v[er]y interesting place for them when they are grown up. Good night my darling fondest love from your devoted husband.

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