Captain Randolph Churchill

Correspondence between the Prime Minister and his son, recorded in the Churchill Papers, while the Captain was attached to the North Irish Horse.

Letter from Randolph Churchill (North Irish Horse, BNAF) to WSC, praising his broadcast of 21 March on post-war planning "technically the best speech I have ever heard...You spoke a good deal faster than usual - which was good - and your voice sounded young, eager and vigorous", also commenting on the political situation in North Africa, which had improved since Giraud had been persuaded to take a more liberal line. 24 Mar [1943]

Letter from WSC to General Sir Harold Alexander, asking him to forward letter to Randolph Churchill, serving with the North Irish Horse in North Africa [2 carbon copies]. 16 Apr 1943

Letter from WSC to Randolph Churchill; advising him to keep clear of Pierre Flandin, criticising Flandin's spiritless view of France, showing how hard it would be to set them up again as a Great Power; praising RSC's decision to join the North Irish Horse, and asking him for an account of the fighting he had seen; advising him against taking part in domestic politics while serving in the Army, commenting that he had suffered himself in World War I, when he came home on leave and criticised the Admiralty; also on the friendly nature of the House of Commons, which accepted his "guidance" on all matters of the war "practically without demur", commenting that the "slimy" Richard Stokes continued to criticise the Churchill Tanks, but that they were beginning to show their worth; also thanking RSC for his praise of WSC's broadcast speech on post-war planning [21 March] commenting that he had been most reluctant to be drawn into the area of domestic and post-war politics, stating that the speech had a steadying effect on the Labour Party, and that he felt that there was little possibility of Labour ministers leaving the Government, or of an alliance between the Labour Party and the Communists; also giving family news, particularly of "Baby Winston", who was developing more personality, which was taking the form of "naughtiness", but that his mother [Pamela Churchill] was taking infinite pains with him and "extreme patience makes him yield his point of view" [2 carbon copies]. 16 Apr 1943

Letter from Randolph Churchill (North Irish Horse, BNAF) to WSC, on House of Commons debate on RSC taking part in domestic politics while a serving officer, criticising the War Office for not briefing WSC properly, commenting that it looked like sabotage, stressing the need to emphasise that he was a separate individual, and that WSC had no responsibility for his actions. c 1943

Letter from Randolph Churchill (North Irish Horse, BNAF) to WSC, regretting that his regiment would not be taking part on the next battle, commenting that the Churchill tanks were proving a great success, also noting the arrival of Mike Wardale in North Africa, with a Naval 20 barrelled 2 inch rocket, asking WSC to tell Prof. F A Lindemann that despite having few targets he had already shot down a FW 120. c 1943

During his time with the Regiment, the P.M's son joined the crew of Bangor as its commander. Here is an extract from my narrative:

"About a week later, Sgt Burns gave up command of Bangor, to Captain Randolph S. Churchill son of the Prime Minister. For the two days he was with us, while blending in well with crew activities, the Captain steadfastly, albeit graciously, declined to share Compo Box fare with us. However, when asked what it was like to grow up having such a famous man for a father, he was kind enough to tell us several stories of his boyhood years".

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