50 fascinating facts about Sir Winston Churchill [January 30, 2015]

Express ^ | January 30, 2015 | Aaron Brown

[martin_fierro]

51. Churchill’s Feline Menagerie

Sir Winston died at Hyde Park Gate at the age of 90 on 24 January 1965. With his passing, the National Trust took possession of Chartwell[1]16 and the Churchill family asked that a marmalade cat named Jock always have residence at his beloved country home.

“After Sir Winston’s death Jock lived on at Chartwell, where he had the run of the house,” a National Trust spokesman said after the cat died at the age of 13 in January 1975. “He would spread out in front of the fire, just as he did when Sir Winston was alive. The public loved him.”

In accord with the family’s wish, a new marmalade cat, Jock II, replaced the original, and the National Trust has ensured that the tradition continues. The incumbent today is Jock IV.

Like his predecessors, Jock IV is a marmalade with white paws and bib. “He is about five to six years old,” said Caroline Bonnett of the National Trust. “He lives in an apartment at Chartwell with a member of staff, and has his own National Trust Green cat flap [kitty door] which has been approved by our Historic Buildings Inspector. v “He is a very affectionate cat and has trained the Chartwell staff very well. He spends most of his day sleeping on various chairs and beds around his apartment. He tends to be much more active at night, when he gets out and about in the garden.”17

Knowing that a marmalade still lives comfortably at Chartwell would have pleased its famous master.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Great post, thanks. Did you know that Churchill enjoyed bricklaying as a hobby, and was highly skilled at it?

[HartleyMBaldwin]

I should have read through all of the comments before posting.

[driftless2]

the disastrous Gallipoli landings on the Dardanelles - there is some dispute as to how much of the blame to apportion to Churchill

That is correct. I finished reading William Manchester's three volume bio of Churchill a few months ago. Fascinating reading.

In the book, Manchester makes a good argument that if the Allies had followed Churchill's original idea for a naval invasion of ill-defended Istanbul, it would have worked like a charm and possibly knocked Turkey out of the war.

But after an initial, successful naval assault down the straits, the big thinkers in the war department decided to take their time. They then refused to accept Churchill's naval assault on Istanbul and decided on a land invasion at Gallipoli. By the time the dawdling ended, the Turks had rushed reinforcements to Gallipoli. A concerted naval assault still could have won the day, but the Allied dopes in charge wouldn't do that.

In short, Churchill may have conceived the idea, but he was not in charge. It was other Allied big shots who screwed things up by refusing to act quickly and by not doing another naval assault. Yet Churchill got the lion's share of the blame for the ultimate debacle.

[driftless2]

Actually, three volumes.

[Agamemnon]

As one who has chosen to post here without attribution, one wonders whether you routinely make it your practice to lazily plagiarize to make your points.

Not His Finest Hour: The Dark Side of Winston Churchill (The Independent, 10-27-2010)

[Skooz]

It was only two when I read it. :)

[Republic_Venom]

Duh, sorry boss. I feel so ashamed, small, and unworthy. Glad you found me out. I guess I should have been clever and taken the title of the article off my post...that kinda gave it away didn’t it boss. I should have done all the research and then posted like you do.

My new year resolution is to be just like you...my hero!

[Slings and Arrows]

Ping to post #21.

[married21]

Thanks for that. very interesting post.

[Monkey Face]

That was really interesting! Thanks, Slings! *smooch*

‘Face

[dfwgator]

Churchill was a prolific painter and produced almost 600 works of art during his lifetime.

"Churchill! With his cigars, with his brandy. And his ROTTEN painting! Rotten! Hitler, THERE was a painter! He could paint an entire apartment in one afternoon! TWO COATS! "

[MeshugeMikey]

There we GO!

Thank you.

[Mr. Lucky]

When quoting at length from someone else’s work, it is customary to attribute the source.

[Twotone]

Thanks for that ping! I recently listened to Larry Arne’s talks on Churchill for Hillsdale College. Fascinating history! And I always appreciate a person more if I know they love/loved kitties. :-)

[Slings and Arrows]

Awww! My pleasure.

[Slings and Arrows]

You’re very welcome.

[Slings and Arrows]

Agreed.

[dfwgator]

The Gathering Storm. Albert Finney was fantastic as Churchill....

Part I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC1TjAQ9GCo

Part II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7I1X0Com_U

[Churchillspirit]

I look at Winston and feel like I know him.

My hero ...

His grandson is coming to the US this year and I hope to meet him.