Jack Churchill... inspired leader, or madman?

2020-05-27T14:22:13-04:00

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made May 27 at 2020 2:24 PM

2020-05-27T14:24:21-04:00

Definitely an interesting man...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Churchill

Jack_Churchill

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made May 27 at 2020 2:26 PM

2020-05-27T14:26:27-04:00

He was quite the character!

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made May 27 at 2020 2:38 PM

2020-05-27T14:38:37-04:00

My personal view is that "Mad" Jack was no madman... but maybe the kind of officer that only comes along every once in a while, and has a role to play for that time, and that time only. The famous picture above, contrary to popular misconception, was not at Normandy... but a training exercise. That said, on at least one occasion, Churchill did indeed carry a Scottish sword into battle. The man himself claimed he did not kill a German solider with a longbow... the weapon having been crushed by a truck earlier. Still, the man's story from start to finish reads like a "Boys' Own" tale of adventure.

Some will say that the "best" leaders are those who put others in the foreground; I can't disagree with that. However, perhaps there are times in history where what people really need to see from a combat leader is a touch of the dramatic welded to actual combat proficiency. Armistead at Gettysburg, Patton in North Africa... men followed them, that's all I know for certain. I think such men can become "murdering officers"... the sort who get men killed "on purpose", vs. "killing officers"... the sort who get men killed by "mistake". Custer certainly rings this bell. Yet, it's hard not to admire someone like "Mad" Jack.

As a counterpoint, actor David Niven (who incidentally also served as a combat officer during WWII) once reportedly told a group of men he was leading, "Don't worry lads...you only have to do this once; I on the other hand will have to repeat this scene with Erol Flynn at least fifty times before we get it right!" Niven was also once reported to have commented, when asked about his wartime experiences, "I will, however, tell you just one thing about the war, my first story and my last. I was asked by some American friends to search out the grave of their son near Bastogne.
I found it where they told me I would, but it was among 27,000 others, and I told myself that here, Niven, were 27,000 reasons why you should keep your mouth shut after the war."

I think for most of us, Niven's words ring more true.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 27 at 2020 2:54 PM

2020-05-27T14:54:13-04:00

Thank you for the great WWII history share.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2020 2:07 AM

2020-05-28T02:07:46-04:00

Most popular generals are a combination of both. Example GEN Patton, GEN Mattis