The Book: Churchill’s War Lab
The Movie: “The Imitation Game”
The Anniversary: The Passing of Churchill Fifty Years Ago
Dedicated to my friend & teacher, Graham Bowles, 1940-2014,
who lived through the Battle of Britain & served in the British Royal Navy
Arthur Graham Bowles, 1940-2014
Excuse us for living, but sometimes in our experiences the stars align and the results can be quite rewarding. And so it was recently for me reading a book, seeing a movie, and discovering an anniversary.
The Book: Late fall 2014 I started reading a book I had picked up a while back in 2012. I found it in, of all places, a book shop on the campus of Cambridge University, England. To say I don’t go there very often would be an understatement of grand proportions! We were on a tour of the UK and Cambridge was on the itinerary one rainy day. The book, Churchill’s War Lab, 2010, by Taylor Downing, looked intriguing. The subtitle, Code-Breakers, Boffins and Innovators: The Mavericks Churchill Led to Victory, really peaked my curiosity.
This is the book that started my little adventure. While it is not a definitive book on the life of Winston Churchill, it does make a contribution in explaining Churchill’s War Lab within the context of his life experiences. Churchill’s considerable military career had much to do with his thinking & motivations. And his keen interest in all things military & innovative were responsible for Churchill showing up on or near battle fields during World War II from Africa to France & even Germany. It took the King himself to stop Churchill from showing up on board HMS Belfast, the flagship of the British naval commander, on D-Day itself, June 6, 1944. On June 12 Churchill crossed the Channel in a destroyer to Normandy to witness two British ships’ bombardment of positions about twelve miles inland.
Taylor Downing, the author, is no academic scholar, though his other books focus on historical topics as well. – -No wonder, since he is a renowned British television producer and writer of more the 200 documentaries, including many award-winning historical programs. Therefore, while Churchill’s War Lab is not among the great offerings on the life of Winston Churchill, it is a delightful, straightforward book covering Sir Winston’s life with a dedication to documenting Churchill’s passion for innovation and the science of war. The book’s contribution is as an account of Prime Minister Churchill the war leader. His work and relationships with the military brass of World War II were intense. And it was in those dealings with the military that he promoted the use of maverick scientists and radical scientific ideas to advance the Allies chances for victory.
Churchill’s interest in innovation and warfare went back even prior to World War I when he served as First Lord of the Admiralty. He was a proponent way ahead of his time of naval aviation in addition to promoting a new class of battleships. During World War I he pioneered Naval Intelligence by breaking the German message codes. When the Army rejected the idea of armored vehicles, Churchill used naval funding to develop “land ships” which became better known as “tanks.” But as Prime Minister during World War II, Churchill exercised his greatest influence to bring about innovation: the development and advancement of radar; the development of specialty tanks; introducing bouncing bombs; the construction of two giant harbors, code-named “Mulberry,” thus “Mulberry harbors,” the equivalent of 10 miles of floating roadway built in Britain for D-Day, one for use off Omaha Beach for the Americans and the other off Gold Beach for the British; and the expansion of Bletchley Park, the country-house estate north of London, where the German Enigma codes and machines were broken.
The Movie: It was at the halfway point in the book, Churchill’s War Lab, that my interest peaked with mention of the name, Alan Turing, arriving at Bletchley Park. – -The same Alan Turing, the subject of the new movie, “The Imitation Game,” released in late November 2014. He was the “top-level mathematician and mechanical engineer, he was a fellow of King’s College, Cambridge, and had written a pioneering paper on computable numbers before the war.” The die was cast…I had to see this movie!!! And so I did late December 2014.
Benedict Cumberbatch plays Alan Turing in the movie, “The Imitation Game.” Here he is pictured with his machine nicknamed, “Christopher.”
“The Imitation Game,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, code breaker-in-chief, and Keira Knightley as Joan Clarke, fellow code breaker and Alan’s emotional partner as he lived a “closeted existence.” The movie is based on the biography, Alan Turing: The Enigma, 1983, by Andrew Hodges. It was Alan Turing who led the effort to crack Germany’s Enigma code and machine. Alan Turing was not only a mathematician and engineer, but a “logician, cryptanalyst, and pioneering computer scientist.”
Here is the real Alan Turing, the subject of the film. He is considered the “Father of Theoretical Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence.”
It was there at Bletchley Park that Alan Turing was to develop the means to crack the Nazi Enigma code. At this important juncture both movie and the book I was reading complimented the story telling. Turing was hampered by being vastly understaffed and being dragged down by bureaucratic red tape. Taking advantage of a visit to Bletchley Park by the Prime Minister, Turing and three associates follow-up by writing to Churchill directly over the heads of their superiors appealing for more staff. They requested additional typists and clerks and the “removal of various bottlenecks.” The result, Churchill sent his military chief, General Ismay, the following memo or “minute,” as they were called; “Make sure they have everything they want as extreme priority and report to me that this has been done.” It was stamped with one of Churchill’s famous red “Action This Day” stickers! Within a month the expansion of Bletchley Park had begun, erecting new buildings and recruiting two thousand new staff.
And so Turing’s machine, nicknamed, “Christopher,” was built. The march to determine each day’s German Enigma setting had begun. – -But not without an intriguing difficulty to first overcome! (Spoiler!) Once up and running, Alan Turing realized that they could not report every decoded message, To do so would tip off the Germans that Enigma had been broken and the Germans would remodel it. Thus, Turing and his team were left to “play God” with people’s lives. Likewise, Churchill received the daily reports of these “Wizards” from “Ultra,” the secret headquarters, and determined who would and would not receive benefit of vital strategic information. – -Altogether, a story and a good bit of acting that are the stuff of Academy Awards!
The Anniversary: Some factual information would be nice and helpful at this point. Winston Churchill was British Prime Minister serving twice, from 1940 to 1945 and from 1951 to 1955. He was born way back on November 30, 1874 and died January 24, 1965 at the age of 90.
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, 1874-1965
I hadn’t reflected on this until a history professor friend of mine (the wife of Graham Bowles in the above dedication, Professor Suzanne Geissler Bowles and enthusiast of all things British and Royal!) posted on Facebook this past January 30, 2015, “The Order of Service for the Funeral of The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill…January 30, 1965.” Following that she added a link to the website of St. Paul’s Cathedral. There on the St. Paul’s website were the reflections of St. Paul’s Collections Manager, Simon Carter, of the funeral events of fifty years ago. Here is a small excerpt of his words: “The plans included provision for an extraordinary procession through London, a ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral, dispatch from the Tower of London by river launch, a military fly past, construction cranes lining the Thames [flying flags I presume!], and a train from Waterloo Station to Churchill’s burial place at Bladon in Oxfordshire; arrangements requiring the kind of military precision that would have pleased Churchill himself no-end.”
“Excuse us for living” must admit an enriching experience with book, movie, and ending with the 50th anniversary. –Now I can’t wait for the Academy Awards in a few weeks!
Comments: Please!
Sources: Churchill’s War Lab, 2010, by Taylor Downing
Wikipedia, Winston Churchill, “The Imitation Game”
Facebook, January 30, 2015
Excuse Us for Living 
Greetings Phil
Very interesting column-
I saw the ” imitation game” last week- finally!!!
I have to say it was by far the best movie I have seen so far!
The acting was superb-
Cheers!
Marg
By: Marg krass on February 5, 2015
at 5:58 pm
Marg, Many thanks as always….You are my #1 commenter by the stats I get!!!! Yes, GREAT MOVIE!!!! I hope it gets some Oscars!!! Hope you’re doing well! Geri is doing GRAND!!!! Phil
By: philipfontana on February 5, 2015
at 6:09 pm
soooo goor to hear that Geri is doing well…tell her Marg say “hey”
Also, I wanted to tell you that I saw “The Theory of Everything” Stephen Hawkings story-very well done and the actor was brilliant…
Face-Timed today with you-know-who lol,,,,,,
By: marg on February 5, 2015
at 7:37 pm
Marg, Thanks! I’ll tell Geri!!! Yes, as with the Alan Turing movie & the Enigma code, I knew the Stephen Hawkings story & acting would be outstanding as well. We haven’t seen it yet. And face time with James!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks again, Marg!!! Phil
By: philipfontana on February 5, 2015
at 10:32 pm
Wow! A well researched and informative post! Very interesting reviews – of the book and the movie! I haven’t seen the Imitation Game but now I am thinking to watch it on Sunday 🙂 I will take a look at the book, Phil. It sounds an interesting historical book, many thanks for awesome reviews!
And I am glad to hear your wife is doing well!! Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
By: Indah Susanti on February 6, 2015
at 4:15 pm
Indah, Great comments as always! My correction on MY COMMENT to your latest post,,,,,I should have said frogfish & not frog!!! YES, see the movie! And the book is good in that it also covers Churchill’s life & WWII & does not get too heavy…only 350 pages! Thanks, wife Geri continues to make great progress!!! Phil
By: philipfontana on February 6, 2015
at 5:10 pm
Good to hear that Phil! wishing her speedy recovery 🙂
By: Indah Susanti on February 8, 2015
at 10:53 am
Gosh darn it!
By: matildathemoonraker on February 8, 2015
at 10:59 pm
Gosh darn it, as in – in I just finished pouring out my heart about the magnitude and caliber of many men from this era and then I magically deleted it!
Hrmph.
At any rate, Phil, very interesting! These are the kinds of things I love sitting and listening to, and wondering if any of our current generation will have characters who (even if by sinergistic effect on each other) are capable of leaving such a mark on the world…history? I hope it’s one of the “good” guys.
By: matildathemoonraker on February 8, 2015
at 11:04 pm
Somebody who’s ideals are truthfully intent on preserving life, hope, humanity, freedom…
By: matildathemoonraker on February 8, 2015
at 11:05 pm
M, Just read your latest post & gave you a long reply….Sorry! You had me going with your well written commentary as always!!! Thanks for the comments on my post! TRUE what you say about the fine people going back to WWII !!! Churchill, FDR, Eisenhower…..They were giants in character, ability, & dedication!!! Today….Not a hope…When everything is polled before a leader acts…..Nobody is genuine & if they are or close, they get lost in their sophisticated staff around them You said it: Idealism!!!!!! It died with JFK & RFK!!!!!!!!!!! Phil
By: philipfontana on February 8, 2015
at 11:16 pm
My own assessment of Churchill is a bit less stellar. He will remain a giant in history esp for his leadership in saving civilization from that monster in Germany. But he was an imperialist and colonialist and white supremacist with his British Empire this and British Empire that…
By: Carl D'Agostino on March 9, 2015
at 7:07 am
Carl, Your assessment of Churchill is spot on! He saved the continent & more & was the first voice to oppose the Soviets while they were coming about in 1917-1918. But Churchill was a strong part of what was already on-going in his time, imperialism & colonialism, as you say. Britain was the architect of many of the problems of today like Iraq! Hope life in NC is good to you & hope Dad is doing OK!!! Phil
By: philipfontana on March 9, 2015
at 12:08 pm
Yep, France and England really created a post WW I mess in that region and people don’t understand that the resentment linger and still festering. Turks smeared Brits at Gallipoli so broke up Ottoman Empire to get even.
By: Carl D'Agostino on March 16, 2015
at 9:01 pm
Carl, Great to hear from someone who knows history. Just as JFK had Arthur Schlesinger at his elbow, we need an historian at the Cabinet table. If you don’t know the past, you cannot properly deal with the present. And what you said about Gallipoli is tied to Churchill. As First Lord of the Admiralty, Churchill was forever blamed for the Allied defeat in the Dardanelles. Whenever he rose to speak in the House of Commons, the opposition shouted, “Remember the Dardanelles!”
May life in NC be good! Try that freshwater fishing this spring….maybe your Dad can go along & hold a fishing pole. PHIL
By: philipfontana on March 17, 2015
at 11:15 am
Brilliant, Brilliant Brilliant!!! I DO REALLY need to start debating others in their blogs and you were 3rd I got to and THIS! WOW….Blew my mind away. Totally spot on with everything Churchill. Conservative (Thatcher, lol) but he did help win a War and save us all from speaking German, although I think the USA/UK would have Nuked Germany. The race to the Raising to place a flag over the Reichstag is a story I loved. To think IT ALL started when Hitler burn the Reichstag to the ground on 27th February 1933 to blame the opposite and this, as you know led to his popularity an the NAZI party getting the people behind them, only to be shocked later at the end of the War..
I love this content Philip buddy…
I promise, I will be back to read. I LOVE debate, intilect, and just good chat.. lol
Shaun
By: ShaunyNews on March 27, 2015
at 1:56 am
Shaun!!! Thanks so much for looking at this! I am not well-read on Churchill but I guess I did OK here. You are so right that Hitler was so Machiavellian in burning the Reichstag to take over! And right again how Churchill saved us all! But very interesting observation by you that the new nuclear bomb at that time would have saved us all in the end! GOOD POINT!!! You’re a good man personally & in intellect, Shaun!!! My thanks hearing from you!!! Phil
By: philipfontana on March 27, 2015
at 11:19 am
Good men surround themselves with other good men Philip. Often we make friends and lose friends. But people that can debate stay friends, you are one of these people. You are a good man!
By: ShaunyNews on March 29, 2015
at 5:35 pm
Shaun! It is the best part of this blog experience to meet up with the few exceptional people like you!!! I like your words! So let’s surround one-another & know that we can call on one-another anytime! Phil
By: philipfontana on March 29, 2015
at 5:55 pm
I haven’t seen the movie The Imitation Game yet, but it is definitely on our movie list! I didn’t read the whole post in case you revealed something from the movie so I’ll have to come back and complete once we have seen the movie! 🙂
By: Girl Gone Expat on June 2, 2015
at 10:13 pm
Girl Gone Expat, Thank you for all your interest & activity re my “excuse Us…” You will really enjoy the movie for it’s content & portrayal! No, nothing revealed from the movie unless you know nothing historically/biographically about Alan Turing. Many thanks here! Phil
By: philipfontana on June 3, 2015
at 11:25 am
Now there’s someone I know about. 😀
By: Kev on June 11, 2015
at 3:01 pm
Kev, You’re a Churchill man!!!!!!!!!!! How did I do???????? Phil
By: philipfontana on June 11, 2015
at 3:14 pm
Bloody great! 😀
By: Kev on June 11, 2015
at 4:29 pm
Kev, THANKS, KEV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Phil
By: philipfontana on June 11, 2015
at 6:17 pm
Reblogged this on 'Ace British History News' and commented:
Nice post Philip 😀
By: Ace Worldwide News Group on August 8, 2015
at 7:25 am
“Ace,” Your singling out this post is so appropriate for “Ace British History News.” The three parts of this post with Churchill, the movie, & the Anniversary are a powerful combination that even surprised me. And the dedication to a deceased friend from the Royal Navy just put it over the top!!! Thanks, Ace!!!!!!!!!! Phil
By: philipfontana on August 8, 2015
at 10:56 am
Thanks.
By: Ace Worldwide News Group on August 8, 2015
at 1:17 pm