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Details
CHURCHILL, Sir Winston Spencer (1874-1965). Autograph letter signed ('Winston') to Pamela Plowden, Chieveley, Natal, 10 February 1900.
4 pages, 203 x 128mm. Envelope. Provenance: Pamela, Countess of Lytton; and by descent.
A bitter letter from the Boer War. General Sir Redvers Buller's forces in Natal, with which Churchill is serving, are 'again in retreat ... We stood still and watched while one poor wretched brigade was pounded and hammered ... I cannot begin to criticise – for I should never stop'; however no better replacement for Buller could be found, and 'faute de mieux we must back him for all he is worth – which at this moment is very little'. Churchill's worst fear is that 'Ladysmith will probably fall and all our brave friends be led of[f] to captivity and shame'; but another 'desperate effort' will be made: ' I pray to God that I may have no thoughts for myself when the time comes – but for you my darling always'. Whatever happens in the Natal campaign will not affect the outcome of the war: 'The Republics are wearing thin'. The letter opens with Churchill's sympathy at news that Pamela's little half-brother is seriously ill ('There is a great deal of misery in the world').
Sir Redvers Buller's propensity for retreats (which had earned him the nickname 'Reverse Buller') was much on display in his attempts to relieve the besieged town of Ladysmith in early 1900. Churchill had himself witnessed the shambolic defeats at Spion Kop (24 January) and Vaal Krantz (5-7 February) – the latter is presumably the one referred to in the letter. Buller's forces made the decisive breakthrough four days after this letter, and Ladysmith was relieved by the end of the month. Churchill here writes from Chieveley, close to the spot where he had been captured by the Boers on 15 November 1899, escaping on 10 December – the escapade that had made his name.
4 pages, 203 x 128mm. Envelope. Provenance: Pamela, Countess of Lytton; and by descent.
A bitter letter from the Boer War. General Sir Redvers Buller's forces in Natal, with which Churchill is serving, are 'again in retreat ... We stood still and watched while one poor wretched brigade was pounded and hammered ... I cannot begin to criticise – for I should never stop'; however no better replacement for Buller could be found, and 'faute de mieux we must back him for all he is worth – which at this moment is very little'. Churchill's worst fear is that 'Ladysmith will probably fall and all our brave friends be led of[f] to captivity and shame'; but another 'desperate effort' will be made: ' I pray to God that I may have no thoughts for myself when the time comes – but for you my darling always'. Whatever happens in the Natal campaign will not affect the outcome of the war: 'The Republics are wearing thin'. The letter opens with Churchill's sympathy at news that Pamela's little half-brother is seriously ill ('There is a great deal of misery in the world').
Sir Redvers Buller's propensity for retreats (which had earned him the nickname 'Reverse Buller') was much on display in his attempts to relieve the besieged town of Ladysmith in early 1900. Churchill had himself witnessed the shambolic defeats at Spion Kop (24 January) and Vaal Krantz (5-7 February) – the latter is presumably the one referred to in the letter. Buller's forces made the decisive breakthrough four days after this letter, and Ladysmith was relieved by the end of the month. Churchill here writes from Chieveley, close to the spot where he had been captured by the Boers on 15 November 1899, escaping on 10 December – the escapade that had made his name.
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