Churchill was a magnificent wartime leader for Britain and the Commonwealth "He mobilized the English language and sent it into battle" -but in truth he was pretty much a deadass failure as a strategist and tactician.

He considered himselof a military expert when in truth he was a rank amateur -having actually served with his regiment after Sandhurst for about a year and then gadding about the world as a war correspondent. Similarly he "commanded" a battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers in the trenches in an inactive area for a few months -but was largely absent -politicking in England.

Others have mentioned his military disasters -and they are right. Fortunately he had Alexander, Montgomery, Harris, Tedder and Alanbrooke and a host of other competent soldiers, sailors and airmen advising him and (usually) stopping him from doing something absolutely stupid most of the time.

Nonetheless he single-handedly inspired the free world to stand up to Hitler at a time when he alone had the guts to do so. For this alone he deserves immortality.

His military shortcomings can be forgiven in the light of his leadership successes.

Jock Williams Yogi 13