Feature Article on Winston Churchill. Topic: WAR
& PEOPLE
Written by David Lodge in March,
1997
SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL - A LEGEND IN HIS OWN TIME -- 1874-1965...Pg 4 |
| The year was 1900. The city was
Oldham in northwestern England and a daring, dashing young Churchill was standing for
election to the Parliament as a candidate on the Conservative party ticket. On January 22,
1901, Queen Victoria died after reigning for sixty three years. Her mourning attire, which
she wore almost continually from the death of her devoted husband, Prince Albert, in 1861,
to the day of her very own death, was now being worn by her loving subjects. "The
Queen is dead, long live King Edward VII". A little over three weeks later, I
made my maiden speech on the floor of that hollowed of all places, the cradle of British
democracy, the Houses of Parliament. Brash and bold, I bolted the conservatives to join the Liberal Party in 1904; securing my position with a 1906 election win in the North West Manchester district. That same year saw my first appointment to an upper level position, serving as Under Secretary of State for Colonies. As an Empire enthusiast and proponent, I determined that the Empire would not suffer the fate of Rome. For the next few years, I won some elections and lost some. I also served as President of the Board of Trade, and Home Secretary. It was 1908 and I was in love. My sweetheart, Clementine Hozier said, "Yes, I’ll marry you ‘till death do us part." On September 23, those precious and memorable vows were spoken; thus began a journey in love and partnership that would end only in my death. During the following summer of 1909, society toff’s were asking, "Did you see the announcement in The Times? Winnie and Clementine have a lovely daughter, Diana, born July 11."
With the rumblings of war in Europe, I proudly accepted the grand position of First Lord of the Admiralty. It was 1911 and time to revitalize Britain’s Royal Navy. At that moment, I was far removed from my army graduation as a junior officer, but the skills I learned at the academy held me in good stead. Another joyous moment occurred during 1911, when on May 28 my only son Randolph was born, securing the passage and future of my father’s famous Christian name and surname. [ Back ] [ Next ] [ Up ] [ New Search ] |
