Dear Fellow Canadian Churchillians:
A Warm Welcome
To new Friends of Winston Churchill – Jim Cameron, Tony Clement, Peter Hamilton, Heather Loughery, William Luke, Todd McCarthy and David Pyper.
Past Events - Annual Dinner, May 9th Ladies Brunch May 10th – Albany Club of Toronto
A full house enjoyed an excellent repast in the
venerable Albany Club, before listening to Charlotte Gray talk on her best-selling book, “Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons: The Lives of Jennie Jerome Churchill and Sara Delano Roosevelt.” Charlotte outlined the major influence that the Mothers had on the lives of their sons. While Jennie was a distant mother in Winston’s formative years, she was a major supporter in his military and parliamentary careers. Charlotte outlined the difference with Sara Roosevelt being a somewhat overprotective parent, but when FDR ventured into politics, she used her wide contacts to assist his endeavours.
The standing ovation accorded Charlotte signified the reaction to a fascinating and informative talk.
Just one hiccup at the Dinner – a breakdown in the wine circulation – this will be remedied at future dinners.
An intimate ‘Ladies Brunch’ was held on May 10th, which enabled Charlotte to extend her talk from the previous evening and respond to questions, one of the most interesting being that of Churchill’s brother Jack’s paternity.
The Roaring Lion returns home!
The recipients of this newsletter are very familiar with Yousuf Karsh’s iconic photo of Churchill, aptly named ‘The Roaring Lion’. In 2022, the original signed photo was taken from its place of prominence, at the Chateau Laurier hotel and replaced with a substitute, supporting a forged Karsh signature.
This world-renowned Churchill picture holds a special place in the hearts of all Canadian
Churchillians. Not only the most famous photo ever taken of the ‘great man’ but taken by Karsh, a fellow Canadian.
In August, with a request for confidentiality, we were contacted by Detective Sergeant Geller, the lead investigator in the theft and asked for a Victim Impact Statement which would be submitted to the court during the trial. This was produced by our Chairman, Randy Barber.
For more insight into the theft and the perseverance of Detective Geller who, in his investigation, was instrumental in solving the mystery, the Paul Walker CBC narration Canada's art heist solved: How police recovered The Roaring Lion on YouTube is excellent.
Finest Hour Magazine
Over recent years, as prices have increased, ICSC has absorbed those costs. To align ourselves to those increases, we have had little choice but to implement a price adjustment to Finest Hour subscriptions. This has resulted in a corresponding increase in the base subscription price which will now start at $100.
We are pleased to announce that ICS Canada will be offering the “Finest Hour” in a digital format. The cost is $40 per subscription.
Both print and digital increases go into effect with for renewals starting with the winter edition of Finest Hour #207.
Tax receipts for both print and digital versions of Finest Hour will be given to those eligible and outlined within the context of the renewal letters.
Note: A subscription is based on 4 issues.
Outreach Program
For the past 10 years, ICS Canada has been awarding bursaries to deserving high students. 2024 recipients were Aamir Ishfak and Imtiaz Ali, both attendees of Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute of Scarborough, Ontario.
Brian Romagnoli
Those of you who attended our May 9th dinner, may have had the opportunity to meet and
chat with well-known Ontario historical muralist, Brian Romagnoli. We were fortunate to sample a preview of his latest project.
It has now evolved into a 4 1/2 feet x 8 1/2 feet historical creation based on Churchill’s 150 years. The theme of this mural is an overview of his 90-year life, plus another 60 years of legacy.
As 70% of the content is based on Churchill’s personal and civilian life, Brian has said, “I think a Churchill military mural could be a future project with that emphasis.”
This mural will be presented at the International Churchill Society conference in London later this month.
We will include an update in the Winter edition of N&V.
Winston Churchill’s Visits to Canada
The Great Man’s Seventh Visit
To Quebec City – Octagon Conference
September 11 to 17, 1944.
Since the Quadrant Conference in Quebec City in August 1943, the Allies had made great
strides in defeating Adolf Hitler and his fellow Nazi criminals.
While the Quadrant Conference was between two leaders, a threesome occurred in November 1943 in Tehran, Iran, with Joseph Stalin now personally involved. The result was the agreement that the cross-channel invasion of France would occur in May 1944.
Operation Overlord, or D-Day, commenced on June 6, 1944, and while losses were substantial, they were less than anticipated.
When Mackenzie King was in London in May 1944, Churchill, anticipating that a further meeting with President Roosevelt would be necessary to plan strategy after D-Day, asked if a second conference could be held in Quebec City, King readily agreed.
Churchill was in ill health when he boarded the Queen Mary in Scotland on September 5 for the journey to Halifax. He was obliged to take malaria pills, which upset his constitution, and he was in a bad temper for the whole voyage. However, as Malcolm MacDonald, the British High Commissioner, wrote to Lord Halifax: “Then he set foot on Canadian earth and was given a wild sing song reception from Canadian crowds. All the harm that the sulphur drugs had done disappeared, and all the good that they had done remained. He was at once in his most friendly and glorious form and remained so throughout the Conference.”
MacDonald’s comments were confirmed by the Globe and Mail, which reported that Churchill led the crowd in singing “Land of Hope and Glory,” “The Maple Leaf Forever,” “O Canada,” and “God Save the King.”
On September 11 King was in Quebec City railway station to welcome President and Mrs. Roosevelt. He was shocked by Roosevelt’s sickly appearance, evidence of the heart problems that would result in his death in just seven months time. Almost at the same time Winston and Clementine Churchill also arrived. The President drove to the Citadel with the governor general, and King accompanied Churchill.
King wrote in his diary that Churchill told him that the military authorities thought that the war would be over in 1944; he disagreed. He also told King that he had visited Canadian troops in Normandy and that they were fighting exceedingly well. He went on to state that it was wonderful what Canada was doing in the war and spoke particularly of the latest financial assistance given to Britain.
King noted in his diary that he brought up another matter with Churchill. He asked if it had been decided which of the Allies – the Russians or one of the Western powers – would enter Berlin first. Initially there was a lack of response; but eventually Churchill stated that they had to get to Vienna before the Russians.
The Octagon Conference convened on September 13. Compared to the Quebec Conference of the previous year, this conference boasted almost unanimous agreement. The only matter which did involve a disagreement, was Churchill’s desire for the Royal Navy to be heavily involved in the fighting against Japan. This offer elicited a blunt refusal by the American navy chief, Admiral Ernest King, not the most tactful of men.
As at the Quadrant Conference, King was not included in the formal talks – but he was there for the photograph sessions.
The following day Churchill addressed the Canadian war committee. Malcolm MacDonald, who was present, wrote to the colonial minister, Lord Cranborne, of the meeting – “Between you and me, his attitude with the Canadians is far better than it was up to eighteen months ago…This makes them feel that he regards them as real comrades. They used to admire him enormously, but from a distance, and with a certain sense that they were naughty children whom the master saw occasionally, with no particular pleasure. They now admire him at least as much as they ever did, not only as a great but forbidding leader, but also as a friend and good companion. At the end of the meeting, he made a very sincere and moving speech to Mr. Mackenzie King, and his colleagues, about Canada’s war effort and the position of greatly enhanced importance, which the Dominion has in world affairs. Mackenzie King replied with some equally sincere and moving words about Canada’s admiration and affection for Winston. It was a good show.”
As he did in 1943 Churchill went with King to visit the Quebec government, although the premier was now Maurice Duplessis, who was to continue in office, in an autocratic manner, for the next fifteen years.
At a luncheon with Churchill and Roosevelt King took the opportunity of giving his opinion on the world organization after the war. The structure of what would be called the United Nations, was being debated at the time at Dumbarton Oaks, in Washington D.C., by representatives of the United States, Britain, the Soviet Union, and China. As he had stated in the past, King agreed with the four great powers being the main authority at the outset, but only for the transactional period, and then the smaller nations would have to be given a say.
Both Churchill and Roosevelt agreed, with Churchill stating that the problem was Stalin who wanted to veto anything to do with disputes in which she was involved.
As the conference was winding down Churchill gave King a gift of a model of the Mulberry harbours – King was deeply touched.
The Churchill’s were to leave on September 17, and King dined with them that evening. King recorded in his diary – “When Mrs. Churchill came into the room, she said, ‘This is our last night here. It is a very special occasion, and we must have some little celebration. Mr. King will you join us in a glass of champagne?’ I said, All right, Mrs. Churchill, if you say so, I will but it is also because you ask and because of the occasion”.
King’s diary recorded the end of the dinner. “Finally, when he was about to arise, I lifted my glass, looked across at him and said God bless, guide and guard you. His eyes filled with tears, he rose and when he came across to my side of the table, he put my arm in his and spoke about the years we have had together; how faithful a friend I had been; of the little dance we had together at Chequers. I told him if spared we would yet have another in the days of Victory.
The Octagon Conference was a great success. The war was winding down and the days of Hitler and Nazism were numbered!
(The next issue will include details of Churchill’s 8th visit; to Ottawa; January 11 to 15, 1952).
We welcome your suggestions/comments - please e-mail, Terry Reardon, Editor at reardont@rogers.com .