Churchill the Leader

Introduction

Gentlemen; before dawn of 1st September, 1939 clouds of bombers and fighters flew eastward into the skies over Poland, raining death and destruction on helpless towns and villages, on airfields, railroads, bridges and factories. Mighty gray clad armies poured across the frontiers into the doomed country. The greatest of wars was on, a war which was, in the end, to evolve the whole world in one vast blaze of fire. This was the beginning of world war two. German Nazi's, prepared and consolidated, moved across towards Great Britain. The might of Germans by this time was very much evident to the world. And the great empire of 19th century was at the lowest of its morale. Impending defeat of this Great War was knocking at the doorsteps. During these dark hours one man stood for the glory of the British nation, and the man was British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. His reply to German aggression was.

"We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and the oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender"

Winston Churchill; Gentlemen is the topic of my research and to present it I shall follow the sequence flashed in front of you.

GM, at the end of my research presentation, I shall be available to answer your questions.

Biography

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was born on 30 November, 1874, at Blenheim Palace in a bureaucratic family. The young Churchill seemed quite capable, loved to read books, had a strong memory and intellect, but his parents gave him very little discipline and his affluent lifestyle spoiled him. As Churchill progressed through school, it was apparent to teachers that he possessed innate intelligence, was a prolific reader, had an excellent memory. The problem was lack of discipline and interest in school.

Churchill was a high energy spirit and an active boy, but he was physically small and lacked stamina for intense sports. Churchill in spite of being physically smaller kept up with other boys his age. This made him realize that with resolve and determination, he could achieve anything

The decision of Royal Military College originated from his father‘s observance of his son constantly playing with his large collection of toy soldiers, and the enjoyment it provided. Churchill had to work very hard for passing the entrance exams. Despite his poor academic record Churchill excelled in military subjects that interested him, like military tactics and fortification.

Churchill developed these internalized ideas of following his father into politics at a very early age; however, he realized that he would need to establish himself in order to improve his chances of winning elections. His high-energy personality would not permit him to proceed slowly. Churchill saw how his father fell ill at such a young age in the prime of his life and wanted to make the most of becoming a politician before anything similar happened to him.

After joining the military service in 1895, Churchill‘s imaginative creativity was essential for him to find opportunities and then use his energy and persistence to make them a reality. Although his military experiences may have propelled him into politics, it was evident by the decisions Churchill made early in his military career that he had a plan and dream to become a politician.

His service both as a soldier and a journalist, with his dispatches from India and South Africa attracted wide attention. On service leave in 1895, he saw his first military action in Cuba as a reporter. He served in India and in 1898 fought at Omdurman in Sudan . Having resigned his commission, he was hired (1899) by a newspaper to cover the South African War. His accounts of capture, imprisonment by the Boers and escape raised him to the forefront of national news. Fame as a military hero helped him win election to the House of Commons in 1900. His vivid and inspiring speeches helped him quickly rose to prominence and served in several cabinet posts, including first lord of the Admiralty (1911 – 15), though in World War one and during the following decade he acquired a reputation for erratic judgment. When world war two broke out, he was appointed to his old post as head of the Admiralty. After Prime Minister Chamberlain resigned, due to Allies forced retreat from Norway, Churchill headed a coalition government as prime minister (1940 – 45). He committed himself and the nation to an all-out war until victory was achieved. His great eloquence, energy, and indomitable fortitude made him an inspiration to his countrymen, especially in the Battle of Britain. Though he was the architect of victory, his government was defeated in the 1945 elections. He led the Conservative Party back into power in 1951 and remained prime minister till 1955, when his health forced him to retire from politics.

Apart from being a soldier and a politician, Churchill was also interested in writing. His literary career began with campaign reports: The Story of the Malakand Field Force (1898) which brought him fame as a writer and was appreciated by the then prime minister of Britain himself. His literary carrier continued with books like The River War (1899), the biography of his father, followed by numerous editions and volumes of books and autobiographies. For his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values Winston was awarded The Nobel Prize in Literature 1953, followed by award of Knight of the Garter becoming Sir Winston Churchill and honorary citizenship of the United States In 1963.

As a whole his life was preparation for the great times and the time was world war two. He led the nation with a will to maintain Britain as a great power and a great democracy.

Leadership Attributes and Campaigns

Gentlemen; a great leader is the one who has the ability to lead men during crises. The attributes of Churchill's leadership can be known from his military campaigns. Churchill's first encounter of a military conflict was of a war correspondent, where he voluntarily opted to see the forefront of conflict against the Cuban rebels by Spanish Empire. However, later in 1897 when fighting broke out on the Northwest Frontier, he immediately set out to join the war front. His request for joining the front was turned down but he managed to join Malakand Field Force as a war correspondent. Opportunity struck him when he accidently got involved in fighting after losing the adjutant of his section; he immediately took command of the men and fought with them for a few hours. When the operation finally came to an end he was praised for his courage and resolution. This incident not only gave him fame but also his first and well renowned book "The Malakand Field Force".

In 1899, Churchill retired from Army and was invited to fight Elections from Conservative seat which he lost. However, just six months after his defeat in election, Churchill's name was ringing throughout England. He was a national hero.

The scene of his triumph was the South African War. The war was brought about by the imperialists because of Gold and diamond mines discovery near Johannesburg in South Africa. The Dutch were determined not to allow the British settlers to gain political control of their affairs. This was the fundamental issue underlying the events of 1899.

In those days Churchill was not so much concerned with the rights and wrongs of an issue as with getting himself to the front. Due to his earlier war dispatches he was hired by the Morning Post to travel to South Africa as their special correspondent.

Churchill was attached with a cavalry section which was on board an armored train for support mission. The train driver ran into a shell that had been placed on the track. Several trucks were derailed, and the engine trapped. With the armored train under fierce fire, Churchill took charge of the situation, freed the train but was captured by the Boers and was taken a prisoner of war, from which he escaped. This incident brought him to limelight, and he was considered a war hero. It was this reputation which helped him win the next election as a conservative candidate. His initiative in Malakand conflict and Boer war were the manifestations of his leadership attributes.

Churchill's political life took a sharp turn when he was appointed the Lord of Admiralty in 1911. As lord of Admiralty, his immense enthusiasm was reflected in re-structuring of British Navy. His foresightedness to German Naval expansion made it possible for him to bring British Navy at power with the big rival. Although he did all this with intense opposition of parliament, It was this resolve which made it possible for British fleet to be ready against the German forces in World War One.

"So far as the Navy is concerned we cannot fight while the enemy remains in port. ... If they do not come out and fight they will be dug out like rats from a hole".

This statement by Churchill was the beginning of an end. He lost his supreme control over parliament and the Prime Minister, the reason was loss of Dardanelles. Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli was a joint British and French operation mounted to capture the Ottoman capital and secure a sea route to Russia. The attempt failed, with heavy casualties on