Post by Chips on Oct 21, 2008 17:35:52 GMT 9.5
Revealed: Sir Winston Churchill 's WW1 goodbye letter to his wife
By Aidan Mcgurran 21/10/2008
A poignant letter written by Sir Winston Churchill for his wife to open if he died in the First World War trenches is to go on display for the first time.
Churchill, who wrote it to Clementine on July 17, 1915 as he headed to the Western Front, declares his love for her - and begs her not to mourn him too deeply.
It adds: "Do not grieve for me too much. Death is only an incident, & not the most important. Since I met you my darling one I have been happy, & you have taught me how noble a woman's heart can be.
"If there is anywhere else I shall be on the look out for you. Meanwhile look forward, feel free, rejoice in Life, cherish the children, guard my memory. God bless you. Good bye."
Churchill, 40 and a father of three at the time, had enjoyed a spectacular political career, serving as Home Secretary and First Admiralty Lord.
But he had been forced to resign from the government after he was blamed for the disastrous Gallipoli campaign - and chose active service as a Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers.
In his note, Churchill asks Clementine to ensure she gets his political papers - particularly those dealing with his time at the Admiralty. He adds: "There is no hurry: but some day I shd like to truth to be known."
The letter also assures Clementine her financial future is secure. She was to get his savings of about £3,000, the equivalent of about £200,000 today, "to pay my debts & overdraft". She would also get a lump sum of £10,000, plus £300-a-year life insurance.
The letter goes on display at London's Churchill Museum next month in an exhibition about the Post Office's role in the First World War.
By Aidan Mcgurran 21/10/2008
A poignant letter written by Sir Winston Churchill for his wife to open if he died in the First World War trenches is to go on display for the first time.
Churchill, who wrote it to Clementine on July 17, 1915 as he headed to the Western Front, declares his love for her - and begs her not to mourn him too deeply.
It adds: "Do not grieve for me too much. Death is only an incident, & not the most important. Since I met you my darling one I have been happy, & you have taught me how noble a woman's heart can be.
"If there is anywhere else I shall be on the look out for you. Meanwhile look forward, feel free, rejoice in Life, cherish the children, guard my memory. God bless you. Good bye."
Churchill, 40 and a father of three at the time, had enjoyed a spectacular political career, serving as Home Secretary and First Admiralty Lord.
But he had been forced to resign from the government after he was blamed for the disastrous Gallipoli campaign - and chose active service as a Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers.
In his note, Churchill asks Clementine to ensure she gets his political papers - particularly those dealing with his time at the Admiralty. He adds: "There is no hurry: but some day I shd like to truth to be known."
The letter also assures Clementine her financial future is secure. She was to get his savings of about £3,000, the equivalent of about £200,000 today, "to pay my debts & overdraft". She would also get a lump sum of £10,000, plus £300-a-year life insurance.
The letter goes on display at London's Churchill Museum next month in an exhibition about the Post Office's role in the First World War.