Churchill and uniforms
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 140
Likes: 1
From: La Ciotat
Churchill had quite a few options when it came to what uniforms he was entitled to wear.
His first regiment was the 4th Hussars. On the North-West Frontier, however, he was attached to the 31st Punjab Infantry and in the Sudan to the 21st Lancers. In South Africa there were the Lancashire Hussars, and, after his escape from captivity, the South African Light Horse. In pre-1914 years he was in the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars (a yeomanry regiment), rising to the rank of Major and regularly attending, even when a senior minister, their summer camps. In France after his resignation from the Government in November 1915 he was attached to the 2nd Grenadier Guards before commanding a battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers. In the Second World War he frequently chose to wear the uniform of an RAF air commodore and he appeared at Yalta as a colonel of Hussars. For naval occasions he usually wore the outfit of an Elder Brother of Trinity House.
I’m pretty sure that he was never a member of the RYS, so the uniform above is almost certainly that of Trinity House. In those days, too, ministers had their court uniforms and Privy Councillors theirs (complete with sword!). He would also have had a uniform as the First Lord of the Admiralty, although whether he could continue wearing it after leaving that office I don’t know.
His first regiment was the 4th Hussars. On the North-West Frontier, however, he was attached to the 31st Punjab Infantry and in the Sudan to the 21st Lancers. In South Africa there were the Lancashire Hussars, and, after his escape from captivity, the South African Light Horse. In pre-1914 years he was in the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars (a yeomanry regiment), rising to the rank of Major and regularly attending, even when a senior minister, their summer camps. In France after his resignation from the Government in November 1915 he was attached to the 2nd Grenadier Guards before commanding a battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers. In the Second World War he frequently chose to wear the uniform of an RAF air commodore and he appeared at Yalta as a colonel of Hussars. For naval occasions he usually wore the outfit of an Elder Brother of Trinity House.
I’m pretty sure that he was never a member of the RYS, so the uniform above is almost certainly that of Trinity House. In those days, too, ministers had their court uniforms and Privy Councillors theirs (complete with sword!). He would also have had a uniform as the First Lord of the Admiralty, although whether he could continue wearing it after leaving that office I don’t know.
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,876
Likes: 3
From: Canada
I believe I've read that he was a competant pilot, and had 198 flights. He was finally persuaded to give up due to currency problems and the risk factor. This wasn't his first instructor who'd died. He was learning in seaplanes also I believe - good on 'im.
Joined: May 2008
Aviation Qualifications: Military
Posts: 525
Likes: 41
From: Bishops Stortford, UK
Churchill - A Different Angle
Thanks to 'Options for Change,' RAF Germany ceased to exist as an independent RAF command on 31 March 1993, and the HQ reduced considerably in size as it became a Group HQ (2 Gp) within RAF Strike Command. This decision reduced the RAF officer population at JHQ Rheindahlen considerably and, as the RAF Officers' Mess building was the largest of the messes on the garrison, it was decided that it should become a joint RAF/Army mess. But how was it to be known? In the spirit of 'jointery,' the name 'Churchill Mess' was agreed upon. So far, so good - but with such a name, there would clearly have to be a picture of the great man near the entrance ..... but how attired? With a degree of urgency, the RAF cadre set about acquiring a suitable picture of him in RAF uniform, and was able to present that to the Mess - I think at the first Dining-In night - and in such circumstances that the picture had to be given pride of place!
And so it remained .... for just 3 years. HQ 2 Gp was wound-up on 31 March 1996, further reducing the RAF population, and the premises were taken-over by the NATO ARRC HQ, in effect becoming an Army mess. At that point, most of us left ..... and, I guess, so too did Churchill in RAF uniform. (And I'm happy to relate that the last Churchill Mess function was my retirement dinner.)
And so it remained .... for just 3 years. HQ 2 Gp was wound-up on 31 March 1996, further reducing the RAF population, and the premises were taken-over by the NATO ARRC HQ, in effect becoming an Army mess. At that point, most of us left ..... and, I guess, so too did Churchill in RAF uniform. (And I'm happy to relate that the last Churchill Mess function was my retirement dinner.)
