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With Winston Churchill at the Front: Winston on the Western Front 1916
Following his resignation from the Government after the disastrous Gallipoli campaign, Winston Churchill's political career stalled. Never one to give in, Churchill was determined to continue fighting the enemy. He was already a Major in the Territorial Reserve and he was offered promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and with it command of a battalion on the Western Front.
On 5 January 1916, Churchill took up his new post with the 6th (Service) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. The battalion s adjutant was Captain Andrew Dewar Gibb who formed a close relationship with Churchill that lasted far beyond their few weeks together in the war. Dewar Gibb subsequently wrote an account of his and Churchill's time together in the trenches. Packed with amusing anecdotes and fascinating detail, Gibb's story shows an entirely different side to Churchill s character from the forceful public figure normally presented to the world. Churchill proved to be a caring and compassionate commander and utterly fearless. Despised on his arrival, by the time he departed he was adored by his men.
Supplemented with many of Churchill's letters, the observations of other officers and additional narrative this is the most unusual and absorbing account of this part of Churchill's life that has ever been told."
On 5 January 1916, Churchill took up his new post with the 6th (Service) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. The battalion s adjutant was Captain Andrew Dewar Gibb who formed a close relationship with Churchill that lasted far beyond their few weeks together in the war. Dewar Gibb subsequently wrote an account of his and Churchill's time together in the trenches. Packed with amusing anecdotes and fascinating detail, Gibb's story shows an entirely different side to Churchill s character from the forceful public figure normally presented to the world. Churchill proved to be a caring and compassionate commander and utterly fearless. Despised on his arrival, by the time he departed he was adored by his men.
Supplemented with many of Churchill's letters, the observations of other officers and additional narrative this is the most unusual and absorbing account of this part of Churchill's life that has ever been told."
- GenresWorld War IHistory
256 pages, Hardcover
Published May 24, 2016
About the author
Andrew Dewar Gibb
15 books1 followerAndrew Dewar Gibb was a Scottish advocate, barrister, professor and politician. He taught law at Edinburgh and Cambridge, and was Regius Professor of Law at the University of Glasgow from 1934 to 1958. He was the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 1936 to 1940.
Born in Paisley, Gibb was educated at Trinity College, Glenalmond, and the University of Glasgow, where he graduated with an MA in 1910 and an LLB in 1913.
Gibb became an advocate in 1914. During World War I he served in France with the 6th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, achieving the rank of major. He was adjutant to Winston Churchill during the short period in 1916 when Churchill was the battalion's commanding officer. Gibb became a member of the English bar in 1917 and practiced as a barrister in England. In 1929 he was appointed as lecturer in English law at the University of Edinburgh, and from 1931 to 1934 he was lecturer in Scots law at the University of Cambridge.
Gibb was politically active throughout his adult life. He began his political career in the 1920s as a supporter of the Unionist Party, and stood unsuccessfully as a Unionist parliamentary candidate for Hamilton in 1924, and for Greenock in 1929. He came to the view that Scotland had been ill served by the union of 1707. His book Scotland in Eclipse (1930) linked the economic depression with a wider cultural malaise in Scotland. In particular, he believed that Scotland's status as a partner in the imperial mission had been compromised by her lowly status in the United Kingdom. While he moved towards a Scottish nationalist position, he also retained a right-wing world view, and imperial questions remained prominent in his writings.
Gibb's involvement in Scottish nationalism came initially as a member of the Scottish Party, which had been founded as a counterbalance to the left-wing National Party of Scotland. In 1934, he became a founder member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), and was the second leader of the SNP, serving from 1936 until 1940, when he resigned from the position due to what he regarded as the party's rapid lurch to the left.
Born in Paisley, Gibb was educated at Trinity College, Glenalmond, and the University of Glasgow, where he graduated with an MA in 1910 and an LLB in 1913.
Gibb became an advocate in 1914. During World War I he served in France with the 6th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, achieving the rank of major. He was adjutant to Winston Churchill during the short period in 1916 when Churchill was the battalion's commanding officer. Gibb became a member of the English bar in 1917 and practiced as a barrister in England. In 1929 he was appointed as lecturer in English law at the University of Edinburgh, and from 1931 to 1934 he was lecturer in Scots law at the University of Cambridge.
Gibb was politically active throughout his adult life. He began his political career in the 1920s as a supporter of the Unionist Party, and stood unsuccessfully as a Unionist parliamentary candidate for Hamilton in 1924, and for Greenock in 1929. He came to the view that Scotland had been ill served by the union of 1707. His book Scotland in Eclipse (1930) linked the economic depression with a wider cultural malaise in Scotland. In particular, he believed that Scotland's status as a partner in the imperial mission had been compromised by her lowly status in the United Kingdom. While he moved towards a Scottish nationalist position, he also retained a right-wing world view, and imperial questions remained prominent in his writings.
Gibb's involvement in Scottish nationalism came initially as a member of the Scottish Party, which had been founded as a counterbalance to the left-wing National Party of Scotland. In 1934, he became a founder member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), and was the second leader of the SNP, serving from 1936 until 1940, when he resigned from the position due to what he regarded as the party's rapid lurch to the left.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 7, 2025
This was a very fascinating read of Winston Churchill the soldier. When he was hung out to dry after the disastrous Gallipoli campaign, he left politics and got his commission back to the army. He wanted to lead a brigade, but the powers that be only gave him a battalion, the 6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.
He lead these men by example, and though he never went over the top with them, the men came to greatly admire the man for who he was. Churchill had great courage and did not hide in a dugout, but he went on nightly patrols to the German wire with his men and shared the hardships of trench life with the rank and file. Alas he realized that he could help these soldiers more by being in parliament than on the front line, and so went back to politics where he became one of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20th century during the Second World War, who could rely on his experiences as a soldier and be the hard man the world needed in its hour of peril.
The book gives good background about his service in the army in the late 1800's and his exploits as a journalist during the Boer War, and his early years as a politicians. The basis of the book is taken from his adjutant, Captain Dewar Gibb's 1924 book with the same name, which is intriguing as it is written in the style of the time. Highly recommended book.
He lead these men by example, and though he never went over the top with them, the men came to greatly admire the man for who he was. Churchill had great courage and did not hide in a dugout, but he went on nightly patrols to the German wire with his men and shared the hardships of trench life with the rank and file. Alas he realized that he could help these soldiers more by being in parliament than on the front line, and so went back to politics where he became one of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20th century during the Second World War, who could rely on his experiences as a soldier and be the hard man the world needed in its hour of peril.
The book gives good background about his service in the army in the late 1800's and his exploits as a journalist during the Boer War, and his early years as a politicians. The basis of the book is taken from his adjutant, Captain Dewar Gibb's 1924 book with the same name, which is intriguing as it is written in the style of the time. Highly recommended book.
July 17, 2016
With Winston Churchill at the Front - a fascinating and absorbing account
This is an excellent reproduction of the original 1924 text with some handy explanations and putting things in to context. This book has always been an excellent addition to the Winston Churchill canon of literature, but in most books about him his time on the front rates a few paragraphs.
This book illuminates a much forgotten part of Churchill’s personal history, when after the shambles of the Gallipoli campaign, his political career stalled. Even though out of government he still wanted to fight the Central Powers, and was a major in the territorials, was offered a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and command of a battalion on the Western Front.
In January 1916 he took up command of the 6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, and he formed a close relationship with his adjutant Captain Dewar Gibb, which we learn went on far beyond the trenches. Captain Dewar originally wrote under the pseudonym of Captain X, but over the subsequent years we now know who he is and was.
Something that Dewar shows that Churchill rather than being the bombastic person we know he could be was a caring and compassionate, military leader who was utterly fearless in the face of the enemy. Something that does come across in this book is how much he was respected and adored by all those that served under him.
Gibb’s story is packed with historical detail and some wonderful anecdotes which are absolutely fascinating. Now that story has been supplemented with Churchill’s own letters, and observations of other soldiers, with additional narrative. Those who read this book will be completely absorbed by this account and it yet another view on Churchill that we do not often see.
Once again this is a fascinating and absorbing account of a much forgotten period in Churchill’s life, once a soldier always a soldier.
This is an excellent reproduction of the original 1924 text with some handy explanations and putting things in to context. This book has always been an excellent addition to the Winston Churchill canon of literature, but in most books about him his time on the front rates a few paragraphs.
This book illuminates a much forgotten part of Churchill’s personal history, when after the shambles of the Gallipoli campaign, his political career stalled. Even though out of government he still wanted to fight the Central Powers, and was a major in the territorials, was offered a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and command of a battalion on the Western Front.
In January 1916 he took up command of the 6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, and he formed a close relationship with his adjutant Captain Dewar Gibb, which we learn went on far beyond the trenches. Captain Dewar originally wrote under the pseudonym of Captain X, but over the subsequent years we now know who he is and was.
Something that Dewar shows that Churchill rather than being the bombastic person we know he could be was a caring and compassionate, military leader who was utterly fearless in the face of the enemy. Something that does come across in this book is how much he was respected and adored by all those that served under him.
Gibb’s story is packed with historical detail and some wonderful anecdotes which are absolutely fascinating. Now that story has been supplemented with Churchill’s own letters, and observations of other soldiers, with additional narrative. Those who read this book will be completely absorbed by this account and it yet another view on Churchill that we do not often see.
Once again this is a fascinating and absorbing account of a much forgotten period in Churchill’s life, once a soldier always a soldier.
February 14, 2020
Absolutely fascinating! If you are even remotely interested in Churchill then this book is for you. I found it to be a really interesting new light on the great man. I had known that he had served in the trenches for a few months, but knew little about it. This book is a real eye opener. Buy it today.
December 20, 2020
Easily 4 stars
A very good read with many insightful observations. As many other books, the author rambles way too much at the end not knowing the book is long over.
A very good read with many insightful observations. As many other books, the author rambles way too much at the end not knowing the book is long over.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews