chris basey Posted 30 December , 2003 Share Posted 30 December , 2003 Having recently gone (some way towards) digital tv I have been enjoying the ukhistory programmes on both WW1 and WW2. Today's episodes on 7th Armoured Division and the Polish Forces I found especially interesting and informative. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that one of our members wrote and directed the programmes - Charles Messenger! In both we had glimpses of Winston Churchill wearing RAF and Army uniforms. It has always fascinated me how he was able 'to get away with' wearing these various uniforms and the ranks that he assumed. Does anyone know just how many different uniforms he used over the war period and what protocol would govern their use by a civilian? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Maier Posted 30 December , 2003 Share Posted 30 December , 2003 Some of Churchill’s uniforms are on display at Chartwell, his old home near Westerham in Kent. So too, is the infamous siren suit, a hideous and outsize velveteen romper affair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somme1916 Posted 30 December , 2003 Share Posted 30 December , 2003 Churchill did serve in the Army both before and during WW1. I believe he even served as a Battalion Commander in the Ypres area after he was deposed as Lord of the Admiralty. I guess that is how he ended up wearing an Army uniform but I’m stymied over the RAF bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munce Posted 30 December , 2003 Share Posted 30 December , 2003 Similar I suppose is the King wearing a beard with his Army uniform, which of course was forbidden under King's Regulations. I imagine exceptions could be made to the normal rules in certain cases! (Although strictly speaking, laws don't apply to the monarch unless they specifically say so, so I guess HM was under no obligation to obey his own regulations. Still not the best example to set!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger Posted 30 December , 2003 Share Posted 30 December , 2003 Similar I suppose is the King wearing a beard with his Army uniform, which of course was forbidden under King's Regulations. Unless he made himself a regimental Pioneer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Furnell Posted 30 December , 2003 Share Posted 30 December , 2003 One of Churchills"Jump Suits",is on show at Longleat House,along with a fine collection of WW1 and WW2 artefacts. I believe it contains some items,that came from Hitlers Bunker. I love animals,but this was the best part of Longleat Safari park that i saw. From what i have read,Mr Churchill liked a punch up,even as a reporter during the Boer war. He was a Lieut. Colonel with the Scots,i think i read the other day,but had a French Helmet when he turned up to take over command! Ever the team worker,that one. I personally think,that this bloke could have got away with blue murder,such was his love of his country. Regards. Simon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Saunders Posted 30 December , 2003 Share Posted 30 December , 2003 I seem to recall reading somewhere that Churchill was made an honoury Air Commodore, which is how he got to where the RAF Uniform, including wings although he was not a qualified RAF pilot. Best wishes Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will O'Brien Posted 31 December , 2003 Share Posted 31 December , 2003 He was a Lieut. Colonel with the Scots,i think i read the other day,but had a French Helmet when he turned up to take over command! Simon..........He was CO of the 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, officially appointed on the 4th January 1916 & served with them until 3rd May the same year. He went to France initially as a Major in the Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars in November 1915 & trained with the Grenadier Guards (including some front line service) prior to joining the Royal Scots Fusiliers. I believe the French helmet was given to him during a visit to a French Unit & he preferred it to the British counterpart as he thought it better designed & that it gave the wearer more protection. 'Churchill A Life' By Martin Gilbert gives quite a good insight into this part of Churchill's career.....even to the point that he went to France with the expectation of gaining a Brigade or even Divisional command. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank_East Posted 31 December , 2003 Share Posted 31 December , 2003 One of Churchills"Jump Suits",is on show at Longleat House,along with a fine collection of WW1 and WW2 artefacts. I believe it contains some items,that came from Hitlers Bunker. I love animals,but this was the best part of Longleat Safari park that i saw. From what i have read,Mr Churchill liked a punch up,even as a reporter during the Boer war. He was a Lieut. Colonel with the Scots,i think i read the other day,but had a French Helmet when he turned up to take over command! Ever the team worker,that one. I personally think,that this bloke could have got away with blue murder,such was his love of his country. Regards. Simon. WSC also liked his share of the hard stuff but found himself at a disadvantage when socialising with Stalin during the "Big Three" conferences held post 1941. While Winston was knocking back the vodka,Stalin apparently was secretly drinking vodka and water and obviously lasting the pace.WSC apparently was the sooner to show the influence of alcohol but Stalin maintained the ice cool sinister character that he was. WSC,yes a true patriot and certainly the man to lead us during the dark days of 1940 and 1941 when we stood alone.Some strange ideas emerged from the great man but it is hard to accept that as late as 1941 that there were internal dark forces who saw Great Britain's salvation achieved by his removal from office. It is a pity that his peacetime domestic policies did not seem appropriate for all. I think his retort to Lady Astor was one of the best "one liners" this past century.Can anyone forget this putdown?. Regards Frank East Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somme1916 Posted 31 December , 2003 Share Posted 31 December , 2003 Churchill did serve in the Army both before and during WW1. I believe he even served as a Battalion Commander in the Ypres area after he was deposed as Lord of the Admiralty. I guess that is how he ended up wearing an Army uniform but I’m stymied over the RAF bit. For those interested, I checked last night and Churchill did serve as a Battalion Commander in the 9th Scottish Division. While he was in the Div they were stationed along the BE & FR border area south of Ypres. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now