Winston Churchill Museum

Winston Churchill Musem

We continued our World War II theme today, visiting the Winston Churchill museum at Westminster College in Fulton, MO. Winston was raised in a noble, but poor family. His father had been in politics rising to Chancellor of the Excelsior. Winston barely made it through military school. His grades weren’t high enough for the infantry, but he did join the cavalry. Winston served in India as well as participating in the last charge of the British Calvary in Sudan. During his military career, he also served as a war correspondent. This would start him on a writing career, which ended up being his livelihood. He wrote numerous articles and books throughout his life. Winston began his political career at an early age. He would serve on and off for fifty years, handling many minister posts including being Chancellor of the Excelsior. He was out of office in the 1930’s and spent much of that time warning about the rise of Germany. He became prime minister just months before the beginning of World War II. This was his finest hour – he was known for keeping up the courage of the British people. His first speech talked of: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat".  Another during the Battle of Britain declared, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few". And after the allied victory in North Africa: "This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." 
Why is this museum at Westminster College? This is where he gave his “iron curtain” speech about the control of Eastern Europe by the USSR. The museum is actually in the basement of Church of St. Mary, Aldermanbury, designed by Christopher Wren, but destroyed during World War II blitz. It has been reconstructed here, stone by stone.

Church of St. Mary Aldermanbury