Churchill and WWI

[Van]

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.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

It was Mrs Beaton.

 

[rsr]

Have you read "Dreadnaught"? It's an account of Churchill's collaboration with John Fisher, First Sea Lord, to re-create the Royal Navy (which ended with the disaster at Gallipoli).

 

[Van]

Have you read "Dreadnaught"? It's an account of Churchill's collaboration with John Fisher, First Sea Lord, to re-create the Royal Navy (which ended with the disaster at Gallipoli).

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.

 

[rsr]

My account says nothing about blame. It is a fact that Fisher took the fall for the fiasco and Churchill was soon thereafter forced out of the Admiralty.

It is true that Churchill was not responsible for the disastrous Gallipoli campaign, but it also is true that the attempt to run the Dardanelles and destroy the onshore batteries was an ill-considered move with (in hindsight) little chance of success given the superior firepower of the Krupp cannon the British and French navies faced.

 

[Van]

My account says nothing about blame. It is a fact that Fisher took the fall for the fiasco and Churchill was soon thereafter forced out of the Admiralty.

It is true that Churchill was not responsible for the disastrous Gallipoli campaign, but it also is true that the attempt to run the Dardanelles and destroy the onshore batteries was an ill-considered move with (in hindsight) little chance of success given the superior firepower of the Krupp cannon the British and French navies faced.

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.

 

[Van]

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)

 

[Van]

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