In a similar vein ... Churchill himself, it is said, was once standing at the urinals in the House of Commons when the Labour Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, walked in. Churchill turned his back on him. “Feeling stand-offish today, Winston?” asked Attlee. “No,” Churchill replied, “scared. Every time you see something big, you want to nationalise it.”
Without wishing to trivialise matters, I’ve just been googling to find some kind of verification of a story I once heard about Churchill’s response to being told that his flies were undone. To my astonishment, this has thrown up no fewer than four separate anecdotes. In fact, I am beginning to wonder whether the forum needs a separate “Churchill’s flies” thread in order to do full justice to the subject. Anyway, (whether true or not) here they are: On being told by an MP that his flies were open: "It is of no account. After all, dead birds do not fall from their nests." When told by a man in the street that his fly was half open, he said "or perhaps it is half closed", and then continued walking down the street. Once, when Churchill was sleeping on a train, a woman came in and noticed his flies were open. She said "Mr, your penis is sticking out!". Churchill awoke, and answered: "Madam, don't flatter yourself. It is merely hanging out." A young backbencher noticed that Churchill's flies were undone in the House one day. Not wanting the PM to be embarrassed, he sidled up and whispered: "Mr. Churchill. The Guardroom door is open." The great man replied: "Ah, but is the sentry standing to attention or merely lolling over a couple of sandbags?"
Geoff That's down on my little list of places to visit Ron Been a while since I last visited, but the owner of the collection is usually there (I hope he still is). He would no doubt be delighted to meet one of Churchill's many dining partners and is himself a big admirer of the great man. Weekends have more exhibits open (but are much busier).
As Winstons life drew to a close he was talking to the Duke of Norfolk who was to arrange his funeral, he asked is Ike coming he was told yes, will De Gaulle be coming yes was the reply, after a short pause Winston said I will leave from Waterloo station
Speaking of funerals, this, from "Loopy"-The autobiography of George Kennard who was my last OC in the 4th QOH: When Churchill was buried at Bladon the coffin was borne, by his request, by bearers from his own Regiment (The 4th QOH) Surrounded by his family, the quiet tranquility of these last rites was suddenly and distinctly broken by a loud tinkle. What the world does not know is that Sir Winston lies there now with Staff Sgt.Webb's Long Service & Good Conduct medal close to his heart. It had fallen off the Staff Sgt's tunic as the coffin was finally lowered into the grave.
There are some excellent newsreel snippets of Churchill speaking here Churchill at Harvard, 1943 This one starts off with Roosevelt speaking about the Italian surrender, followed by Churchill at Harvard. A further eight newsreel reports are linked in the left column.
Ron Thanks for that quote about the medals, I recall that a member of the pall bearing squad actually became lanlord of a pub in the village of Bladon
Churchill died this date, 1965. (I see his father's listed as dying on the same day in 1895.) State Funeral carried out a week later. BBC - Archive - Remembering Winston Churchill - The State Funeral of Sir Winston Churchill | Part 1 THE ROYAL AIR FORCE 1950 - 1967. © Crown copyright. IWM (RAF-T 5117)IWM Non Commercial Licence The State Funeral of Sir Winston Churchill KG. The coffin, bourne on a gun carriage pulled by a detachment from the Royal Navy, escorted by officers of the RAF moves up Whitehall, London and passes the Cenotaph heading towards Trafalgar Square. Crowds line the street to pay their respects. The State Funeral of Winston Churchill. The coffin, carried on a gun carriage pulled by a detachment from the Royal Navy, passes the Cenotaph heading towards Trafalgar Square, 30 January 1965. THE ROYAL AIR FORCE 1950 - 1967. © Crown copyright. IWM (RAF-T 5127)IWM Non Commercial Licence The state funeral of Sir Winston Churchill KG. The coffin is draped with the Union Flag and carries the insignia of a Knight of the Garter. It is being carried up the west steps of St Paul's Cathedral by eight Grenadier Guardsmen pallbearers. Members of the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry which line the steps as part of the Guard of Honour. THE ROYAL AIR FORCE 1950 - 1967. © Crown copyright. IWM (RAF-T 5119)IWM Non Commercial Licence he state funeral of Sir Winston Churchill KG. The coffin, bourne on a gun carriage is pulled by a detachment from the Royal Navy and escorted by members of the RAF and guards regiments, with arms reversed. The cortege moves up Whitehall, London and passes the entrance to Downing Street heading towards Trafalgar Square. Crowds line the street to pay their respects. The coffin is draped with the Union Flag and carries the insignia of a Knight of the Garter.
A few pics of his grave & other related WSC pics on this thread. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/ww2-museums-events-places-see/44761-few-winston-churchill-related-photos-blenheim-palace.html
A few that I took in Westerham, Kent 2009. Also took some of the tomb about 20 years ago, but nothing like as good as those already shown.
A selection from War Radio. Some long. Churchill radio broadcast 1944. The War (full length - 48 minutes -cup of tea time!) http://ia700704.us.archive.org/12/items/WartimeRadio1944/1944-03-26BbcWinstonChurchill-OnAlliedVictories.ogg 1943: http://ia700707.us.archive.org/27/items/WartimeRadio1943/1943-03-21BbcWinstonChurchill-NationalAddress.ogg 1942: http://ia700704.us.archive.org/7/items/WartimeRadio1942/1942-02-15BbcWinstonChurchill-ReviewsAtlanticCharterSummit.ogg 1941: http://ia700704.us.archive.org/16/items/WartimeRadio1941/1941-12-08BbcWinstonChurchill-WarWithJapan.ogg 1940: http://ia700706.us.archive.org/13/items/WartimeRadio1940/400618bbcChurchillsFinestHourSpeech.ogg 1939: http://ia700707.us.archive.org/29/items/WartimeRadio1939/01-10-1939WinstonChurchill-TheFirstMonthOfTheWar.ogg
RIP Sir Martin Gilbert Official biographer of Winston Churchill One of Britain's leading historians, he passed away on February 3rd 2015. Ron
*Bump* I posted this nearly 10 years ago and started reading through it again. Was good to read many of our members thoughts, many are still with us. Cheers Geoff
