Sir Winston Churchill is regarded as the Greatest Briton to have lived, and he is seen as a
figure of victory of the evil of Nazism.
Churchill oversaw the British involvement of the Second World War following the resignation
of Neville Chamberlain.
He’s seen as one of the 20th centuries most important figures, and he had an incredible
life.
But on the 24th January 1965, he passed away.
A huge state funeral was planned for the man who led Britain to victory against Hitler,
Join us as we look at, ‘the Painful Death of Winston Churchill.’
Remember to support our channel, please make sure to subscribe.
During the darkest hours of World War 2, Prime Minister Winston Churchill inspired the UK
and the rest of the world.
He believed Britain could stand firm against the Nazis no matter how tough it would be.
His famous speech stated, ‘We shall fight on the beaches, We shall fight on the landing
grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills,
we shall never surrender.’
This is classed as his finest hour speech, in which he inspired Britain in the face of
the Battle of Britain which would take place against the Luftwaffe.
Throughout his life, he was known to have suffered with a number of conditions.
It’s believed that in December 1941, shortly after the Pearl Harbour attack, Churchill
whilst at the White House suffered a mild heart attack.
He was there to work on relations with his ally Roosevelt, however he was taken ill.
Two years later he also contracted pneumonia, but he was known for being a man who did not
life the healthiest of lives, eating whatever he wished, smoking cigars and also enjoying
many alcoholic beverages.
Some historians have even claimed he was bipolar, but it’s considered that he did suffer from
depression as he would work incredibly hard sometimes even past midnight, but other days
he could not get out of bed.
In the summer of 1949, he went to the South of France to rest up, however whilst here
it’s believed he could have suffered from a stroke.
He lost sensation in his right arm and right leg, and this was dealt with very discreetly.
It was said at the villa that he had ‘contracted a chill whilst bathing,’ but he did recover
rather quickly and went back to England.
The biggest shock after the Second World War was that his party lost the election, but
on the 24th October 1951 he became the Prime Minister once again.
In June 1953, during a dinner to honour the Italian Prime Minister, Churchill gave a speech
however had to stop as he could not continue with discussions, and he was slumped in his
chair.
It was noticed how he looked weak on his left side, and he then went back to his room.
The following day he conducted a cabinet meeting, and then was taken back to his country home
Chartwell in Kent.
The British public and parliament were informed that he was suffering from exhaustion, however
it was noticed at the dinner that his mouth was drooping and his left side was weak.
This was the second high blood pressure related stroke that he suffered, and it’s believed
this was caused by a blockage of small arteries leading to the brain.
Whilst at Chartwell he was given great care and physical rehabilitation, but during the
times of the Cold War the news blackout meant that Churchill could not be seen as ill.
However one person who was informed was Queen Elizabeth II.
Following this, the Queen who had been on the throne for just a year instructed the
16th Duke of Norfolk as Earl Marshal, who’s role placed him in charge of state funerals
to prepare for Churchill’s death.
She said that the funeral should be ‘on a scale befitting his position in history,’
and a plan named Operation Hope Not was drawn up.
Churchill would live for the next 12 years, and during this time different amendments
were made for his state funeral plan, and the final document called, ‘State Funeral
of the Late Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill,’ was issued to days after his death, and this
contained how the funeral would play out in every minuscule detail.
In his role as Prime Minister, he was nearly 77 when he took office and he was not in good
health then.
But George VI had become concerned about his health, and intended to ask him to stand down,
however the King himself died without making the formal request.
It was believed Churchill would retire after Elizabeth II’s coronation, however he eventually
did so in April 1955.
But on the 24th January 1965, inside his home at 28 Hyde Park Gate London, Churchill passed
away.
Following the Second World War, he had suffered at least 8 strokes, and his final one occurred
on the 15th January 1965.
Following this stroke which was very serious, he was mostly in a coma.
His final words uttered were to his son in law, and Churchill stated, ‘I’m so bored
with it all,’ complaining that he had enough of his life and the pain caused by his stroke.
The public had been informed of his stroke, and they were anxious of his health.
But shortly after eight in the morning of Sunday the 24th of January, he died surrounded
by some of his family and also his doctor.
The Queen and Prime Minister were informed of his passing, and the BBC told the news
at 9am.
The prime minister stated, ‘Sir Winston will be mourned all over the world by all
who owe so much to him.
He is now at peace after a life in which he created history, and which will be remembered
as long as history is read.’
Tributes also came from the US President who said, ‘When there was darkness in the world
and hope was low in the hearts of man, a generous providence gave us Winston Churchill.
As long as men tell of that time of terrible danger, and of the men who won the victory,
the name Churchill will live.
He is history’s child, and what he said and what he did will never die.’
It was said in Parliament that Churchill’s body was to lie in state in Westminster Hall,
and that the funeral service would take place in St Paul’s Cathedral.
The royal funeral directors were then given the job of embalming Churchill’s body for
the funeral.
He was embalmed in the same room that he passed away in, and then his body was dressed in
his silk pyjamas and dressing gown and then he was placed back into bed.
He was then left in bed until 9pm on Tuesday evening before his remains were taken to Westminster
Hall to lie in state for the public to view.
He was taken there and was placed on a raised platform, before different watches took turn
guarding his remains.
This remained until the 30th January, and Westminster hall was kept open for 23 hours
a day, and over 300,000 people came to pay their respects.
Churchill’s funeral service began on the 30th January with Big Ben chiming at 9:45am.
The clock was then silenced for the day, and 90 cannon salutes were shot at Hyde Park,
one for each of Churchill’s years.
His coffin was placed on a gun carriage and then draped with the Union Flag, and the order
of the garter placed above a black cushion.
The coffin was carriages by a party of 8 guards from the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, and
his son and grandson followed the coffin, along with male members of the Churchill family
and his private secretary.
Lady Churchill and his daughters followed in the Queen’s town coach, and the march
continued throughout London.
It passed through Trafalgar Square and the strand, before making it’s arrival at St
Paul’s Cathedral.
There was a huge military presence, and in the service at St Paul’s 3500 people were
there.
The Queen was present, which broke protocol as she did not normally attend funerals for
commoners, but she also broke royal ettiquette by not arriving last too.
There were 12 Paul bearers, including Clement Attlee the former prime minister who was in
his 80s and was frail, but he insisted on doing the job, however he did stumble and
the coffin nearly dropped, but it was saved.
A huge number of foreign dignitaries were there, including war time leader Charles de
Gaulle and former allied army general supreme commander Dwight Eisenhower.
Following the ceremony, an elaborate and huge procession of Churchill’s coffin to its
final place of rest occurred.
The coffin was carried to the Tower of London, where the royal artillery fired a 19 gun salute,
before the coffin was taken on board the havengore, a passenger ship.
The royal marine band played a musical salute, before Electric Lightning fighter jets flew
above as the boat sailed down the River Thames.
As it passed, over 35 dockers lowered their crane jibs, saluting Churchill in a spectacular
sight.
It was not part of the plan, but was a remarkable personal tribute.
From the ship, the coffin was picked up at Festival Pier and was transported to Waterloo
station.
His coffin was then transferred to St Martin’s Churchyard in Oxfordshire, and was interred
there.
The funeral of Winston Churchill was regarded by the family as a triumph, but it was befitting
of the man who is seen still as a national treasure.
Churchill was the icon who was seen as the strength and bullish figure behind the victorious
allied efforts against Nazism in the Second World War.
To many during the conflict in the lowest times in Britain with London being bombed
heavily in the Blitz, Churchill was seen as a iconic symbol of defiance, British spirit
and that good will prevail over evil.
He was 90 when he passed away, and his life was filled with intrigue, politics, and incredible
moments.
Once again thanks for watching
To support our channel please make sure to subscribe.
Thanks again for watching.