The Life and Times of Sir Winston Churchill Quiz

Answer: Oxfordshire

Sir Winston was born at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, on 30 November 1874. He was the elder of two sons.

Answer: Literature

Churchill's literary career began with campaign reports. He wrote The Story of the Malakand Field Force in 1898, and The River War in 1899, which was an account of the campaign in the Sudan and the Battle of Omdurman. In 1900, he published his only novel, Savrola. This was followed six years later with his first major work, the biography of his father, Lord Randolph Churchill.
His other famous biography, the life of his great ancestor, the Duke of Marlborough, was published in four volumes between 1933 and 1938.

Answer: June 6 1944

Churchill was referring of course, to the allied invasion of Europe - D Day

"I have also to announce to the House that during the night and the early hours of this morning the first of the series of landings in force upon the European Continent has taken place. In this case the liberating assault fell upon the coast of France. An immense armada of upwards of 4,000 ships, together with several thousand smaller craft, crossed the Channel. Massed airborne landings have been successfully effected behind the enemy lines, and landings on the beaches are proceeding at various points at the present time. The fire of the shore batteries has been largely quelled. The obstacles that were constructed in the sea have not proved so difficult as was apprehended. The Anglo-American Allies are sustained by about 11,000 first line aircraft, which can be drawn upon as may be needed for the purposes of the battle. I cannot, of course, commit myself to any particular details. Reports are coming in rapid succession. So far the Commanders who are engaged report that everything is proceeding according to plan. And what a plan! This vast operation is undoubtedly the most complicated and difficult that has ever taken place. It involves tides, wind, waves, visibility, both from the air and the sea standpoint, and the combined employment of land, air and sea forces in the highest degree of intimacy and in contact with conditions which could not and cannot be fully foreseen."

Answer: Conservative to Liberal

In 1900, Churchill became Conservative member of parliament for Oldham. But he became disaffected with his party and in 1904 joined the Liberal Party. When the Liberals later won the election, Churchill was appointed under-secretary at the Colonial Office.

Answer: Chancellor of the Exchequer

During World War One, Churchill joined the army, serving for a time on the Western Front. In 1917, he was back in government as Minister of Munitions. From 1919 to 1921 he was Secretary of State for War and Air, and from 1924 to 1929 was Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Answer: First Lord of the Admiralty

When war broke out in 1939, Churchill became First Lord of the Admiralty. In May 1940, Neville Chamberlain resigned as Prime Minister and Churchill took his place. His refusal to surrender to Nazi Germany inspired the country. He worked tirelessly throughout the war, building strong relations with US President Roosevelt while maintaining a sometimes difficult alliance with the Soviet Union.

Answer: Jews

The German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 was the start of the Holocaust as we know it. Messages reaching Churchill through his intelligence services told of the murder, in groups, of thousands of Jews. He made powerful reference to these killings when he broadcast on November 14 1941.

"None has suffered more cruelly than the Jew, the unspeakable evils wrought upon the bodies and spirits of men by Hitler and his vile regime. The Jew bore the brunt of the Nazi's first onslaught upon the citadels of freedom and human dignity. He has borne and continued to bear a burden that might have seen beyond endurance. He has not allowed it to break his spirit; he has never lost the will to resist. Assuredly in the day of victory the Jew's suffering and his part in the struggle will not be forgotten."

Answer: Clementine

Churchill married Clementine Ogilvy Hozier in 1908, after a whirlwind courtship. She was a tall, elegant woman and enjoyed a full social life. She was quite shy but always stood out in company. Her advice on personal matters was usually followed by Churchill, and he often took notice of her political judgements.

Answer: RAF pilots

As possible invasion of Britain was imminent, Churchill made this statement:

"I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour."

There has been much debate amongst historians as to whether it WAS the RAF to whom the nation of Great Britain owed such a debt of gratitude, or perhaps that gratitude should at least equally, go to the Royal and Merchant navy. It is perhaps fair to say, that they too played a key role in preventing Hitler from invading Great Britain.

Answer: Bladon, Oxfordshire

Sir Winston Churchill was laid to rest in the Oxfordshire parish churchyard of Bladon, with only family members present at the private burial.

The church lies just outside the Blenheim estate, where he was born. During the three days lying-in-state, a total of 321,360 people filed past the catafalque. Huge silent crowds lined the route to St Paul's for the funeral.