Birth Anniversary Nov. 30:

Sir Winston Churchill will be remembered as long as the western civilisation survives

BY PREMASARA Epasinghe

SIR WINSTON Churchill (1874-1965) was one of the greatest statesmen in the world. His personal courage; Magic words and his faith in victory, inspired the Britishers to turn their Darkest Hour into the Finest Hour of their history.

Churchill seems to be the John Bull very strong and tough looking man symbolising the indomitable courage of the British people. He was a heroic Prime Minister, who stood alone against Adolph Hitler's, Nazi Germany.

He was also a Historian, War-Reporter, Biographer and a silver- tongued Orator, who possessed a matchless command of the English Language. In 1953, he won the prestigious Nobel Prize for Litrature. He was a very witty politician. He was popularly known as the Man of the 20th Century.

Winston Churchill, was born on November 30, 1874 at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, England. His beloved father, Randolph Churchill (Henry Spencer-1849-1895), was an English conservative politician, Chancellor of the Exchequer and the leader of the House of Commons in 1886.

Blue blooded, Randolph Churchill and his wife, pretty, charming Jennie Jerome of New York City, the daughter of a financial speculator and horse racing enthusiast did not permanently live in the Blenheim Palace. Once, when the couple came to the Palace for a dance, she gave birth to Winston.

Winston Churchill, in later years, wrote about his mother. "My mother possessed limitless riches and power. She was like a fairy princess, so beautiful and radiant. I kept her at a distance. She was like an Evening star."

During the late 19th century, the blue blooded upper class lived a very busy, luxurious, happy-go-lucky social life. Their main interests were dancing, fox hunting and horse riding. Therefore, they entrusted their children to be looked after by Nurses or Nannies.

This was the social order of the day adopted by the rich class. Sweet little Winston's Nanny was Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Everest. She was his confidante. When Winston Churchill became a renowned world figure he did not hang his mother's photograph, but displayed Mrs. Everests picture in his office room.

As a schoolboy, he was a mischievous child. On many occasions he was cained for mischief making. He hated learning Latin and Mathematics. He was a stubborn little fellow. His parents removed him from the prestigious boarding school, St. Georges College.

Lord Randolph Churchill was an old boy of Eton. But, he preferred to send his son, Winston to Harrow, because Winston was not upto the mark in Latin and Greek. At Harrow, Winston remained at the very bottom of the class. His parents were worried.

They got down a private tutor to teach him Latin and Greek. Winston loved to learn and master English language and Liteature. He was never interested in Learning Latin and Greek. "I think it is stupid to learn these dead languages", he said.

Winston Churchill never liked team games like cricket and soccer. He preferred swimming, fencing and riding. Once he became the fencing Champion for English private schools during his career at Harrow.

From his school days, he had an ambition to join the army. He sat for the entrance examination to enter Sandhurst Military Academy, twice and failed. At the third attempt, he just scraped through with the lowest possible pass mark.

At Sandhurst, he excelled as a brilliant officer cadet and was placed eighth, out of a hundred and fifty. After graduation at Sandhurst, he had a double blow in his personal life. Winston Churchill lost his father and his nanny Ann Everest.

After graduation from Sandhurst, he joined the fourth Hussars - a cavalry unit. In 1895 he went to Cuba, where rebels were fighting for freedom from Spanish rule.

He worked for a newspaper as a reporter and proceeded to India. Next, he travelled to Egypt and Sudan. He was a prolific writer and wrote two books titled The Story Of Malakand Field Force and River War.

Later, Churchill entered politics although; he was unsuccessful in his first attempt to enter the House of Commons in his second attempt he became a Member of Parliament in 1901. On September 12, 1908 he married Clemertine Hozier.

Winston Churchill was appointed as the first lord of Admiralty in 1911. In 1915, he resigned from the military and in 1940, became the Prime Minister of Great Britain and was the Prime Minister during the war.

In 1951 and in 1955, Winston Churchill held the prestigious Prime Minister's Post in Great Britain. His greatest rival was Adolf Hitler.

Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) German Nazi dictator was born in Austria. Fuhrer (Leader) of Nazi party from 1921, author of Mein Kamp/ My Struggle (1925-1927). As Chancellor of Germany from 1933 and head of State from 1934, he created a dictatorship by playing party and continually creating new officers.

In foreign affairs he re-occupied the Rhineland and formed an alliance with the Italian Fascist Mussolini in 1936, annexed Austria in 1938 and occupied the Sudentenland under the Munich Agreement. The rest of Czechoslovakia was annexed in March 1936.

The Hitler - Stalin Pact was followed in September by invasion of Poland and the declaration of war by Britain and France.

Sir Winston Churchill was a silver tongued orator. His brilliant speeches motivated the British to fight against Adolf Hitler, the Nazi leader of Germany. He was a National Hero who saved not only Britain, but the entire Commonwealth.

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

- Winston Churchill

(June 4, 1940)

A good speech is like a girl's frock. It should be short, to arouse interest. But long enough to cover the subject. A good speech is like a pencil. It has to have a point. Churchill developed his speeches clearly, slowly and in simple language. His deliverance was fantastic. He never opened his mouth until his brain was in gear.

To attract his audience, he added colour to his speeches by adding humour. Speeches are like a Ballet or Opera. The speaker should win the audience and attract them. Therefore, the first few minutes of a speech is most important. On June 18, 1940, Churchill in a brilliant piece of oratory stated.

"The very survival of Western civilization hung in balance. Britain therefore, would stand alone, if necessary against Hitler's tyranny.

If Britain failed the world would be plunged into a new dark age. Let us therefore, brace ourselves to our duties, with pride and so bear ourselves that British empire and its commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will say this was their 'finest hour.'

"I have nothing to offer but blood, toil and sweat."

On May 10, 1940 King George VI appointed Winston Churchill as the Prime Minister. Obviously he was the choice of all parties. Bombs rained the London sky. Fires raged. Thousands of Londoners were killed. For Churchill it was a time of trial.

Cigar clenched tightly between his teeth, he was seen everywhere defending Britain. Even from his body language he used to raise his hand in very famous V for victory. It was the sign and symbol of British defence against Hitler Nazi power.

Winston Churchill was a fine diplomat and a war strategist. As the fighting progressed against Hitler Churchill, who worked hardest to make the uneasy wartime alliance of Britain, Russia and United States succeed, repeatedly travelled to Washington and Moscow. He organised meetings of Allied leaders at Casablanca, Quebec, Tehran, Yalta and Potsdom.

On June 6, 1944 the Allied Forces marched on to the beaches of France. Winston Churchill called his enemy Adolf Hitler as the Man of Evil. On April 30, 1945 Hitler committed suicide. A few days later Germany surrendered. In August 1945, when Japan surrendered, the World War II ended.

Churchill was given a rousing welcome by the House of Commons. Witty ever smiling Churchill in his inimitable style raised his powerful voice Advance Britannia - Long live the cause of freedom. God save the King.

Churchill was seventy one years at that time. The irony was that his party Conservatives lost the General Election and Labour Party and Clement Atlee was voted to power.

In 1951, before his seventy seventh birthday, he once again became the Prime Minister of Great Britain. When he lost his Parliamentary seat, a BBC reporter inquired what happened to him.

During the height of the election campaign, he underwent an appendicitis operation. In lighter vein Churchill quipped. "I lost my seat as well as my appendix".

Once a reporter asked him whether he feared death when at that time he was in his late eighties. "Young man I am prepared to meet my maker. Whether the maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter," stated Churchill.

In a midst of a Debate of famous British lady Member of Parliament Mrs. Spencer criticized Winston Churchill. She said "If you were my husband I would give you arsonic with your morning coffee."

Churchill retorted in fine style "If you were my wife, I would gladly drink it."

In 1955 he resigned from Premiership, and lived a quiet life, devoting his time to writing, painting and playing with his grandchildren. Honours poured on him. He was granted honorary citizenship by USA. Queen Elizabeth presented a Knighthood to this British Leader, and he become known globally as Sir Winston.

On his Eightieth Birthday, he was honoured by Parliament. All members stood in silence. Sir Winston Churchill was in tears listening to the song 'Land of hope and glory'. The band was in attendance.

Sir Winston Churchill was undoubtedly a great statesman and a great leader and a National Hero who served Britain in the 20th Century. He will be ever remembered as a leader who motivated the Britishers against Hitler. He defied Hitler and successfully guided the grand alliance of Allied Nations to victory in World War II. Churchill's words, brave leadership stood firm against the tyranny of Hitler.

On January 24, 1965, Sir Winston Churchill died. He was given a state funeral and his body was taken to the Parliament's Westminster Hall.

Later, the body was taken to St. Paul's Cathedral, draped with the National Flag of the Great Empire. He was laid to rest in the small Churchyard of St. Martin, in Oxfordshire, near his birthplace Blenheim Palace. He was born 131 years ago on November 30, 1874 and passed away on January 15, 1865.

Immortality is no easy achievement in any sphere. Shakespeare once wrote- Some are born great, some achieve greatness - some have greatness thrust upon them. Sir Winston Churchill will be remembered as long as the Western civilization survives.