CHURCHILL, Winston S. Autograph letter signed ("your loving brother, W.") to Maj. John Churchill, London, 12 June 1915. 3½ pages, 8vo, Duchy of Lancaster stationery, with original autograph envelope signed ("Winston S. Churchill"), with wax seal .
CHURCHILL, Winston S. Autograph letter signed ("your loving brother, W.") to Maj. John Churchill, London, 12 June 1915. 3½ pages, 8vo, Duchy of Lancaster stationery, with original autograph envelope signed ("Winston S. Churchill"), with wax seal . "POOR NAVAL DIVISION. ALAS, THE SLAUGHTER HAS BEEN CRUEL" Churchill deals with the financial, political and human cost of the disastrous Dardanelles campaign, as he gives up his post--and residence--at the Admiralty in the midst of the campaign. "We are all three leaving Admiralty House next week for 21 Arlington St.," referring to himself, Clementine, and Jack's wife Gwendolyn ("Goonie"). After July "we shall probably move into Cromwell Road & live there together till you come home." It will be necessary to watch his personal expenses, he points out, as "this sinecure" as Duchy of Lancaster, brought in only £4,360. The resignation in May of First Admiral John Fisher in protest over Churchill's Gallipoli venture, caused a crisis for the government. Churchill's demotion was the price extracted from Asquith by the Tories for joining a new wartime coalition. In a surprisingly optimistic vein Churchill says, "The political situation is favourable to me. The Prime Minister much concerned to look after me: the new men good & vy friendly: the public sympathetic. It has been resolved to carry D'lles [Dardanelles] through coute que coute [i.e., cost what it may]. Churchill acknowledges those frightful human costs when he adds, "Poor Naval Division. Alas, the slaughter has been cruel. All are gone whom I knew. It makes me wish to be with you. But for the present my duty is here where I can influence the course of events." In six more months of fighting the British were unable to break out of their beach head. The Royal Naval Division--Rupert Brooke's outfit--was one of two British divisions to land on the peninsula, and their heavy losses at Bulair and Helles were part of the approximately 205,000 total British and Commonwealth casualties in the campaign, including 43,000 killed. Upon the British evacuation in December-January, Churchill resigned from the government and obtained a commission for the Western Front. LETTERS OF CHURCHILL DISCUSSING THIS PIVOTAL EVENT IN HIS CAREER ARE RARE.
CHURCHILL, Winston S. Autograph letter signed ("your loving brother, W.") to Maj. John Churchill, London, 12 June 1915. 3½ pages, 8vo, Duchy of Lancaster stationery, with original autograph envelope signed ("Winston S. Churchill"), with wax seal .
CHURCHILL, Winston S. Autograph letter signed ("your loving brother, W.") to Maj. John Churchill, London, 12 June 1915. 3½ pages, 8vo, Duchy of Lancaster stationery, with original autograph envelope signed ("Winston S. Churchill"), with wax seal . "POOR NAVAL DIVISION. ALAS, THE SLAUGHTER HAS BEEN CRUEL" Churchill deals with the financial, political and human cost of the disastrous Dardanelles campaign, as he gives up his post--and residence--at the Admiralty in the midst of the campaign. "We are all three leaving Admiralty House next week for 21 Arlington St.," referring to himself, Clementine, and Jack's wife Gwendolyn ("Goonie"). After July "we shall probably move into Cromwell Road & live there together till you come home." It will be necessary to watch his personal expenses, he points out, as "this sinecure" as Duchy of Lancaster, brought in only £4,360. The resignation in May of First Admiral John Fisher in protest over Churchill's Gallipoli venture, caused a crisis for the government. Churchill's demotion was the price extracted from Asquith by the Tories for joining a new wartime coalition. In a surprisingly optimistic vein Churchill says, "The political situation is favourable to me. The Prime Minister much concerned to look after me: the new men good & vy friendly: the public sympathetic. It has been resolved to carry D'lles [Dardanelles] through coute que coute [i.e., cost what it may]. Churchill acknowledges those frightful human costs when he adds, "Poor Naval Division. Alas, the slaughter has been cruel. All are gone whom I knew. It makes me wish to be with you. But for the present my duty is here where I can influence the course of events." In six more months of fighting the British were unable to break out of their beach head. The Royal Naval Division--Rupert Brooke's outfit--was one of two British divisions to land on the peninsula, and their heavy losses at Bulair and Helles were part of the approximately 205,000 total British and Commonwealth casualties in the campaign, including 43,000 killed. Upon the British evacuation in December-January, Churchill resigned from the government and obtained a commission for the Western Front. LETTERS OF CHURCHILL DISCUSSING THIS PIVOTAL EVENT IN HIS CAREER ARE RARE.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
