Chartwell branch#9

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THE NEWSJuly 2011 Issue No: 9

A REGULAR NEWSLETTER

GIVING INFORMATION AND

UPDATES TO THOSE INTERESTED

IN ALL THINGS ‘CHURCHILL’

(PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DISTRIBUTE THIS TO

ANYONE YOU THINK MAY BE INTERESTED.)

This is the last issue before the summer break

(do I hear sighs of relief). You may however receive the occasional email to advise of any exciting developments.As you will see below details of the forthcoming International Conference, to be held in London, are given for those Branch members who are not members of The Churchill Centre (UK).The theme of the conference is ‘The Special Relationship’ so this copy of ‘The News’ has a transatlantic feel.

Those of us who volunteer at Chartwell will almost

certainly see an influx of international members visiting and I would like to offer our services whilst they are visiting - if you are interested please let me know.

In this issue:29th June meetingLondon International ConferenceThe Royal Naval DivisionThe Atlantic CharterWinston Churchill Memorial Trust

Celia Lee - following her

successful talk ‘White Roses and Lilac Orchids’.The evening was extra special as our President, Randolph and his wife Catherine were able to join us.For more information and pictures see page 2. Sincere thanks to all the ‘team’ for their help with refreshments and setting up.

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A GREAT EVENING,

With our best attendance thus far, Celia Lee treated us to a most interesting and enlightening talk to celebrate the life of Jennie - Lady Randolph Churchill. The date was important as it was on 29th June 1921 that Jennie succumbed to a fatal haemorrhage.Celia gave details of Jennie’s extensive charitable works and her contribution during both the Boer War and First World War, which seem to have been disregarded by most other commentators.

After her ta lk Celia answered a v a r i e t y o f questions clearing u p m a n y misconceptions of Jennie’s life.It was a fitting t r i b u t e t o a remarkable Lady.

Pictures courtesy of

Grace Filby

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THE ROYAL NAVALDIVISION

As with so many of the ideas and initiatives in the Great Man’s life, the establishment of The Royal Naval Division brought criticism initially, only for the project to be justified in the fullness of time.The origins of the force go back before the outbreak of t h e G r e a t Wa r a t t h e instigation of the ‘Committee of Imperial Defence’, as a force of Royal Marines to be under the control of The Admiralty.I t was or ig ina l ly ca l l ed ‘Advance Base Force’ and its r o l e w a s t h e s e i z u r e , fortification or protection of any temporary naval bases.When war broke out the division was formed and the official communique only added fuel to the critics fire, it stated: “After providing for all present and foreseeable future needs of the fleet there remained available are large number of men”.This implied a sort of ‘rag bag’ of recruits left over from the manpower required to service the fleet of the Royal Navy without proper forethought.The battalions were named after famous Admirals to attempt to keep the link with the Royal Navy.

Amongst the volunteers for the Division were notables such as Rupert Brooke, A M Asquith and A P Herbert. Brooke sadly died in April 1915 whilst en route to Gallipoli, Asquith became a Brigadier gaining medals for bravery on the Western Front and A P Herbert became an M P a n d s a t i r i c a l a n d humorous writer.The division served with distinction in the Gallipoli landingsAfter the evacuation of

Gallipoli, the RND moved to

France where it participated in

the final phase of the Battle of The Somme. Just

prior to the fighting on the Ancre, the division

received a new commanding officer Major

General Cameron Shute. He had an intense

dislike for the unconventional "nautical"

traditions of the division and made numerous

unpopular attempts to stamp them out. Following

a particularly critical inspection of the trenches by

General Shute, Sub-Lieutenant A.P. Herbert

penned the following verse:

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The General inspecting the trenches

Exclaimed with a horrified shout

'I refuse to command a division

Which leaves its excreta about.'

But nobody took any notice

No one was prepared to refute,

That the presence of sh.. was congenial

Compared to the presence of Shute.

And certain responsible critics

Made haste to reply to his words

Observing that his staff advisors

Consisted entirely of turds.

For sh.. may be shot at odd corners

And paper supplied there to suit,

But a sh.. would be shot without mourners

If somebody shot that sh.. Shute.

A P Herbert - Royal Navy Division.

28th International Conference - LondonOctober 26th-28th - 2011

Churchill’s ‘Special Relationship’: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

The 28th International Churchill Conference Conference will be held at the

Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel in London. The conference will commemorate

the 70th Anniversary of the signing of The Atlantic Charter and the beginning of

the Special Relationship.

Full details of the programme of events can be found at

www.winstonchurchill.org.

Volunteers are required to help at the event - if you would like to be involved

contact Bridget Warrington

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Fax: 01223 336135

Tel: 01223 336135

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THE ATLANTIC CHARTER

14th August 1941

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THE NEWS! PAGE6

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AT OUR MEETING ON 29TH JUNE OUR PRESIDENT GAVE DETAILS OF THE WINSTON CHURCHILL MEMORIAL TRUST

Applications now being accepted

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