In the summer of 1915 Winston Churchill's political ambitions were in tatters following his championing of the catastrophic Gallipoli campaign. Out of government but still anxious to serve his country, he volunteered for the Western Front and he wrote a letter to be opened in the event of his death. Given the chances of surviving the blood-drenched Flanders field , he showed no pessisism; he wrote to his wife: 'You have taught me how noble a woman's heart can be. Do not grieve for me too much... death is only an incident, and not the most important which happens to us in this state of being'.

'Someday I should like the truth to be known' - confident history would vindicate him over Gallipoli, the failed attempt to to gain a sea route to Russia.

Churchill was part of the Asquith Liberal government when he lost his post as First Lord of the Admiralty. Having seen combat in India, the Sudan and the Boer War, he was posted to Flanders as a major in the 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards.

By December 1915 he was lieutenant -colonel commanding the 6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. He gained the respect of his men with his bravery , including dozens of forays across No Man's Land. They never got accustomed to his insatiable desire to 'stir up the Hun'.

His officer's recalled that he never flinched under fire. " It's no use ducking: the bullet has gone a long way past you by now".

His stint in the trenches came to an end when, because of high casualties, his Battalion was merged with another and his orders were to return to Britain and resume work in the Commons.
(ref: A. Levy D.M. - letter on display in The Churchill Museum in the Cabinet War Rooms, London from November 6th 2008.)

'A man who saves a nation is guilty of nothing ' - Napoleon.

Now after reading a biography of Churchill recently I do believe he was unfairly blamed for Gallipoli.

I'm sure he would approve.

Churchill had flaws but he was truly a great man. I was amazed to read in Gilberts book that whenever Churchill spoke in Parliament the place was packed. Even his enemies were captivated by his speeches.

In social issues (late 1890's early 1900's), he was ahead of his time. Churchill had an incredible grasp of intricate problems. He was a great problem solver. Unfortunately he didn't have much time for Australians, particularly in WW2, when he and Curtin disagreed over the us of Australian soldiers in Asia.

I have never seen or heard of Churchill have a go about the Australian Armed Forces, this appears to be another myth that has grown up from no where

That is just what I wished to say - I have never heard that, and would find it hard to believe. The Aussies have never been held anything other than the highest respect as fighting men, in Britain, and their attitudes were legendary.

Churchill - anyone who can uncork 42,000 bottles of wine and win a war is OK by me.

From what history I learned at school, Winnie wanted a plan to save Britain first, if necessary allowing part of Australia to be allowed to fall to the Japanese, this was discussed between him and Roosevelt at the Arcadia Conference.

There is plenty of supporting material on the 'net.

I have never bothered to go into the "nitty gritty" as no doubt there is all manner of self indulgent reporting on both sides along with political back stabbing behind the scenes. But on the surface there does appear to be some truth to the matter.

At no time have I ever read that he denigrated the Aussie troops, the dispute was between he and PM Curtin.

senojekips..........Yes there was a plan if the worse came to to worse for Japanese to take the northern part of Australia and for them to be stopped in the central desert regions. Chips Rafferty made a film about them driving the cattle south to avoid them falling into Japanese hands...........The problem was we did not have the man power to cover all the coast of Australia. This plan was abandoned when America enter the war and sent a large number of troops to Australia and MacArthur decided to fight them in New Guinea. We had started to ship large number of spitfires out to Australia to help in it's protection. The problem was we were trying to do to much on many fronts and we just could not raise the man power at this time.

My uncle Charlie served in North Africa with the Long Range Desert Group, he had nothing but praise for the Aussies, he always said, “Aussies were bloody good fighters, tough as nails.”

A sentiment still held by British service personnel.

Right. My uncles were there too. Desert Rats with the Rifle Brigade. At one stage they were following the Scots troops who were advancing so fast that his guys were taking responsibility for dealin with their dead. I never heard anything but praise for the Aussies.