FH115 Final.qxd - Winston Churchill

125-100-75-50 YEARS AGO
that all should share her joyous faith in it,
made her the centre of a devoted circle.”
125 Years Ago:
Summer 1877 • Age 2
“Radiant, Translucent, Intense”
Lord Randolph’s summer routine in
Dublin was described in his biography,
written years later by Winston:
“Often on a summer’s afternoon he
would repair to Howth, where the east
coast cliffs rise up into bold headlands
which would not be unworthy of the
Atlantic waves. Here in good company he
would make the ‘periplus’ as he called it—
or, in other words, sail round ‘Ireland’s
Eye’...catch lobsters, and cook and eat
them on the rocks of the island. In the
evenings he played half-crown whist in
Trinity College or at the University Club
or dined and argued with...his friends.
Before long he had been in Donegal, in
Connemara, and all over the place—‘Hail
fellow, well met’ with everybody except
the aristocrats and the old Tories.”
Meanwhile, Churchill’s mother was
making her own impression. Edgar Vincent,
an international banker in Turkey
and former Ambassador to Berlin, wrote
in his memoirs his impression of Lady
Randolph:
“I have the clearest recollection of
seeing her for the first time. It was at the
Viceregal Lodge at Dublin. The Viceroy
was on the dais at the farther end of the
room...but eyes were not turned on him
or on his consort, but on a dark, lithe figure,
standing somewhat apart and appearing
to be of another texture to those
around her, radiant, translucent, intense, a
diamond star in her hair, her favourite
ornament—its lustre dimmed by the
Michael McMenamin
Winston’s mother.
flashing glory of her eyes. More of the
panther than of the woman in her look,
but with a cultivated intelligence
unknown to the jungle. Her courage not
less great than that of her husband—fit
mother for descendants of the great Duke.
With all these attributes of brilliancy, such
kindliness and high spirits that she was
universally popular. Her desire to please,
her delight in life, and the genuine wish
100 Years Ago:
Summer 1902 • Age 27
“Elsewhere Regarded
as a Crime...”
The outbreak of four arsons at the
Royal Military College, Sandhurst,
was the occasion for Churchill once more
publicly to criticize the government. An
inside job was suspected. When a fifth fire
broke out on 25 June in “C” Company,
the Army’s Commander-In-Chief, Lord
Roberts, ordered that all cadets in “C”
Company would be sent home without
taking their examinations and all servants
would be dismissed unless (a) they had an
alibi and could prove they were not present
when the fire was set, or (b) those
who set the fire confessed. No one came
forward, twenty-nine cadets were sent
home and three servants dismissed when
they could not furnish alibis.
To The Times on 7 July 1902,
Churchill wrote: “I will not take occasion
here to comment upon this travesty of
justice further than to point out three cardinal
principles of equity which it violates—that
suspicion is not evidence; that
accused persons should be heard in their
own defence; and that it is for the accuser
to prove his charge, not for the defendant
to prove his innocence. But it is necessary
to observe the effects. Twenty-nine cadets
have been rusticated, and will, in consequence,
forfeit six months’ seniority, a
matter of vast importance to a soldier....
“Mr. Brodrick has stated in the
House of Commons that he approves and
that Lord Roberts approves of these proceedings.
I therefore invite them to answer
three questions: What is the charge
against these twenty-nine cadets What is
the evidence in support of it When and
before whom has it been proved These
are short, plain questions, which not only
involve the interests of innocent and
deserving people, but also raise various
ancient and valuable principles; and, if fair
play is still honoured in the British Army,
they ought to be answered.”
When Rev. Frederick Westcott, the
FINEST HOUR 115 / 26