Churchill and WWI

In the book, the Last Lion, Winston's efforts before and during WWI are presented. Prior to the war, circa 1911, he was made "First Lord of the Admiralty." He set about modernizing the British Navy, going from 13.5 inch main guns to longer range 15 inch guns. He turned away from coal powered ships, and set about building oil fired ships. And he went for building faster ships. When challenged, he explains why. He said it was because of Mrs. Bright's* recipe for Hares Soup. He said the first thing listed was "First you catch the Hare..."

*I do not remember the actual name Winston used, so I made up the one I used above.

 

Nope, but your encapsulation differs from the account provided in the Last Lion which said the government paper looking into Gallipoli completely absolved Winston of any flawed contribution.

 

Many disagree, including me.

It is not that WSC had eyes that could see farther than everyone else, but had the curiosity and humility to learn from others, such that he stood on their shoulders; but also that he learned from his experience, such that he lifted himself even higher by the means of being self-taught, such that he could see farther.

 

In a bureaucracy it is hard for visionaries to protect the organization from its management. In WWI Churchill's subordinates, colleagues and boss all betrayed him. (Fisher, K of K, and the PM)

 

Today we seem to need hypersonic weapons to catch the hypersonic hare...