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WWW.MY-SUBS.COM
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I am ex-Detective Inspector Walter Henry Thompson
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and was Winston Churchill's bodyguard
for a period of nearly 18 years.
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In almost any piece of film you'll see
of Britain's great wartime leader,
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this is the man in the background.
Anonymous and secret.
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Until now, his critical role in saving the life of Churchill
from series of attacks has been hidden from the wider public.
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He himself intended that he would never be taken alive,
and he issued direct instructions to me
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I was to have his 45 colt , fully loaded
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He intended to use every bullet but one on the enemy.
The last one he saved for himself.
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After the war, Walter Thompson's censored book
told just part of the story.
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His full memoirs were suppressed
even by Churchill himself.
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Only now can we recount the number of assassination
attempts for Churchill's life, many foiled by Walter.
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This series with unique access to these incredible memoirs
reveals for the first time
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the story of Walter's life with Winston.
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Together they traveled thousands of miles
on precarious journeys to meet Stalin and Roosevelt
and other world leaders.
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Together they rode with Lawrence of Arabia
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dodge German assassins
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Were nearly shot down by enemy aircraft, lone gunmen,
U-Boats and IRA hitmen.
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This is a story of the political upheavals of the 20th century
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Churchill's constant brushes with death
and the role played by an ex post office messenger in preventing an early end to his life.
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With this weapon he was a dead shot
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anyone that came within range of this weapon
would never survive.
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Sub and Sync by Tekkichan
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Before World War I, Britain was not always as peaceful
as is often thought today.
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In January 1911 the streets of London rang with gun fires
as the police and soldiers besieged a gang of anarchists.
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Rare newsreel reveals how a bullet missed
Winston Churchill's head by inches.
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In the crowd was Walter Thompson, he had no idea
how this chance encounter would change his life.
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This first Dangerous Liaisons set a course
for two men of hugely contrasting backgrounds
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to spend almost 18 amazing years together,
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sharing threats some of which resonate
even to this day.
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And which as we reveal later would bring them face to face
with IRA men fighting for Irish Home Rule.
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Neither Walter Thompson nor Winston Churchill needed
to be at Sydney Street in London's East End
on that Monday in January 1911
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but both were there.
Watching as the police besieged a gang of Latvian anarchists.
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These had already killed three policemen
in a botched jewel robbery
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and were now determined to fight it out.
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It was soon apparent that the gang's Mauser automatic
pistols were more than a match for the shotguns
of the Metropolitan Police.
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So the youthful Home Secretary, 35 years old Winston Churchill
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agreed to the deployment of a platoon of Scots Guards.
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He was unable to resist the temptation
to go along himself
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During the morning he arrived.
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Resplendent in top hat and overcoat
with a fine Astrakhan collar.
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It was a great photo opportunity for the ambitious young politician
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and by the evening this film was being shown in a theater
in the center of London.
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Watching from the appreciative crowd which had gathered to enjoy the fun
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Walter could not have even begun to anticipate
how intimately his life and career would
become involved with that of Churchill.
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I ran there and shoulder through to the front of
front of the excited crowd
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Shots rattled from the old house, and rifle fire
clattered back into it from the police and guardsmen
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some concealed on roofs opposite,
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others kneeling on one knee in the open street
like redcoats at the Battle of Waterloo...
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Suddenly we in the streets saw smoke streaming
from the besieged house
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then flames lit the now silent windows.
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All those inside died in the fire.
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Before the billowing smoke filled the street and cloud in
my view, i got my first glimpse of Winston Churchill.
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The man whose safety was to become
the dominating fact of my life.
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But he was in great danger at that moment
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I watched the gate as the man who was later to become
my boss at Scotland Yard were shot at.
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Sir Patrick Quinn was standing behind Winston when
a bullet from the gunman was fired through his hat.
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It was a near miss for Winston who was well to the front.
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That bullet could've killed Churchill in 1911
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that time Walter was powerless to protect him
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But a decade later
the situation would be very different.
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Like most people in the crowd, Walter knew
about the flamboyant politician
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I had heard a grea deal about him, much of which was
inspired by his outspoken manner
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which many people resented and to a degree disliked.
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This resentment I'm afraid, influenced me.
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and without any real reason, i did not like him.
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At this stage in of their lives there could not been a greater
contrast between the backgrounds of Winston and Walter.
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One a member of one of the most influential and aristocratic families in the country,
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the other of a solidly of working-class background.
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Walter Thompson was born in 1890 in Brixton
in South London.
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He was one of 13 children,
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and his father, James Richard Thompson
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was an insurance agent whose family
had lived in South London for many years.
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His mother, Rebecca was of a jewish origin.
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Typical of his class, Walter began working
shortly after he went to school.
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At the age of 8 i took a part-time job
of cleaning windows and brass work in a shop.
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He then had to run the three miles to school
so as not to be late.
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This caused me to fall asleep in school.
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To make up for my educational loss I went to night classes
for French and sorthand
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after i began a full-time work at the age of fourteen.
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Walter's formal education had finished and he went
to work for the post office as a telegraph messenger boy.
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In addition to his night classes like many boys his background
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he joined the Boys brigade and learned such skills as
military drill and life-saving.
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It was all very different from the early life of
Winston Spencer Churchill.
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Born in Blenheim Palace on the 30th November 1874,
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he was a direct descendant of John Churchill
The Duke of Marlborough
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for whom the great palace had been built
and the first cousin of the then Duke.
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His father, Lord Randolph Churchill
was a brilliant orator
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and had enjoyed a brief but spectacular political career
becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer
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before dying at the age of 46 in 1895.
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Winston's father was always a distant figure,
but the boy was devoted to his mother.
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Jenny was an American from the wealthy Jerome family
and reputed to have American Indian blood in her veins.
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One of the great beauties of Victorian society, she was
friend of many of the leading figures in British life,
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including politicians, writers and artists.
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His mother's network of contacts was just one of
of the silver spoons with which Winston was born
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and they frequently helped his career.
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After a conventional upper-class education
at Harrow school, which bored him,
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and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the young Winston
spent little more than three years in the army.
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before the lieu of politics
made him resign his commission.
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But during this brief time he saw action in Cuba,
Northwest Frontier of India, The Sudan and The Boer War.
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He showed himself courageous
even foolhardy under fire
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and a great lover of adventure and danger.
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In 1900 he had won a seat in parliament
as a conservative,
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but in 1904 the bumptious young MP caused a sensation
when he crushed the floor to join the Liberal Party.
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His reward, a year later was to become junior minister,
Undersecretary of State for the colonies.
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For Winston with his family background and contacts
the opportunities must have seemed limitless.
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For Walter, the opportunity to break out from
from his humble beginnings would take a bit longer.
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But once the opportunity came,
the consequences would be far reaching.
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The next time Churchill's life was in mortal danger,
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Walter would be the man responsible
for saving him.
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In 1908, still seven years before Walter Thompson
first met Winston Churchill
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the ambitious young politician gained both
promotion and a wife.
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In April joined the cabinet
as President of The Board of Trade.
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At 33 he was the youngest cabinet minister
for more than a century,
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and obviously, the rising star.
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The weekend of his promotion,
Winston spent at his mother's house
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Clementine Hozier, with her mother as chaperone
was one of the guests.
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Four months later, they were engaged,
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and in September,
as Churchill himself wrote,
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I'm married and lived happily ever after.
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By this time, Walter was working in the
rag trade in East End of London.
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In 1911 he married Kate, whom he met
in the firm's typing pool.
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He was a fit and athletic young man,
would joined a physical culture club
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I was tall and strongly built, and practiced wrestling and jiu-jitsu in spare moments.
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He also played football for his company.
- I was a good soccer player,
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and I was offered a chance to turn
professional for the famous Arsenal football team.
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But my mother a strict Victorian with fixed ideas
of what constituted a worthwhile career
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refused to give her permission.
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Towards the end of 1910, came the event
which was to changed Walter's life forever.
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In my lunch hour I took a stroll along
clerkenwell road where there was a street market.
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by one of the barrows,
i saw two men attacking a lone policeman
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I grabbed of the men, he back healed me
I pushed his arm up his back and held on.
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The policeman was now blowing his wistle,
and that sound drew other constables.
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I helped to get the man along to the police station.
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A few days later, a letter arrived,
asking me to call at the station.
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There, in front of a line of constables,
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an officer presented me with a silver pocket watch.
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"You're just the type of man we want in the force" he said
"Think about it."
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Walter did. And urged on by
a friendly police sergeant he made his decision.
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Without telling my mother,
i applied to join London's Metropolitan Police.
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From about 70 attended the medical examination,
10 of us were chosen.
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After training, i was assigned to
Paddington Green Police Station.
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And for 16 months i walked the beat in Bayswater.
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A good class residential area in which incidently,
Winston Churchill lived.
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Walter may well have seen Winston as he walked the beat
for he was now, one of the country's leading politicians.
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After 18 months at The Home Office,
Winston had moved to the Admiralty, his dream job.
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Walter had to wait untill the end of his 16 months
of probationary period as a Constable, before he too
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was given a crucial opportunity.
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One day a sergeant told me, that Scotland Yard,
the headquarters of The Metropolitan Police
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was asking for men to fill vacancies in the special branch,
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a departement of detectives who dealt with
political subversives.
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The sergeant explained, that though members of the Special
Branch might tackle exciting assignments chasing spies,
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Much of the works were routine work
consisted of attending meetings of anarchists
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and others who had reasons
to dislike the British government.
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After examination and interview,
i was transfered to Scotland Yard.
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There followed 10 weeks of training in shadowing
uspects and observation
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then for two years, i was a a probationer.
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Although these last years before the World War I
are now seen as a golden age,
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they were surprisingly tumultuous.
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In addition to the anarchists and spies mentioned by Walter, Britain had its own protest movement,
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The Suffragettes.
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Determined to gain the vote for women,
and rebuffed by male-dominated Parliament,
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The suffragettes began using shock tactics,
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noisy demonstrations, chaining themselves to public buildings,
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and well-publicized hunger strikes
to prove their seriousness.
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Walter soon got to know
the leaders of the movement well.
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Indeed I have cursed the most heartily ,
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hour upon hour I used to spend loitering
outside the suffragette HQ in King's way
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to report their comings and goings,
and to trail them with a colleague.
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Once you start to trail a person, you have to go on
till the quarry is safely askance for the night.
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So it can be a heartbreakingly and
exciting business at times.
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Just occasionally, there were compensations.
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The funniest memory i have of the suffragettes
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When I was ordered to follow a certain
enterprising young suffragette
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whose activities were then earning her
some celebrity.
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she realized that she was being followed,
and as it began to pour with rain,
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she looked around at me in
an inquiring manner.
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So, sensing her difficulty, I walked
beside her holding my umbrella over her,
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eventually escorting her home.
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I quite enjoyed that excessively moist day.
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But along these routine
and occasionally enjoyable jobs,
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an increasing amount of Walter's time was to be taken up
with tracking down spies.
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for tension was growing rapidly between
the great powers of Europe.
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And many people including Winston hurchill
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were sure that it would only be a matter of time
before some spark lit the unstable tinner
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During the later part of 1913,
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the Special Branch began to take an interest
in the activities of a large number of foreign agents
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who were in touch with
the goverment of Kaiser William.
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Gradually a huge dossier was compiled,
covering all parts of the country
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untill practically every ordinary agent had been
cornered and assessed that his or her value.
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And this led as we intended to the principles
the only ones who really mattered.
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The watching was never relaxed untill
the day war broke out.
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and had the crisis not come then,
might have continued unrelaxed for many years.
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But in the gloriously hot summer of 1914,
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The murder of an obscure austro-hungarian Arch Duke
in an obscure part of the Balkan,
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provided the spark which set Europe ablaze.
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Walter and his coleagues imediately went to work.
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Within twelve hours followed the declaration of war
on 4th of August 1914
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The German espionage system in Great Britain
had been smashed.
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Every special branch men was waiting at The Yard,
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While the crowds were cheering outside the palace,
we were receiving list of names and addresses
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and our instruction regarding
the arrests.
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I know all the arrests I carried out were
peaceful enough,
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and i expected others were the same.
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Counter espionage and security work, were to occupy
most of Walter's time for the next four years.
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At first he was based in London,
largely following up reports of spy.
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The public wanted to help,
but they nearly broke our hearts.
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Ten letters in every thousands
were of the slightest value,
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altough every single case however absurd,
had to be investigated.
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Many nights i've stayed out of bed,
observing some perfectly law-abiding citizen
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whom someone had made
innuendos against in a letter.
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For Winston, the outbreak of war with its opportunities
for excitement and action seemed like a dream come true.
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His enthusiasm knew no bounds,
as Walter was soon to witness.
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For for early in 1950, one of Winston's detective,
were given time off,
214
00:19:27,036 --> 00:19:29,058
and Walter was sent to guard him.
215
00:19:31,004 --> 00:19:33,024
The day was uneventful
216
00:19:33,058 --> 00:19:38,038
ecept for one incident which I afterwards
i realized, was a historic one.
217
00:19:40,016 --> 00:19:44,042
During the afternoon, Winston left
the admiralty buiding trough a side door
218
00:19:44,062 --> 00:19:50,064
I followed as he and a small group of officials, walked
across the vast shale square of Horse Guards Parade.
219
00:19:50,084 --> 00:19:55,006
to a spot made private by
a square of canvas screen.
220
00:19:55,038 --> 00:19:58,062
Inside, small mounds of earth
had been constructed
221
00:19:58,082 --> 00:20:04,032
and a number of toy vehicles fitted with caterpillar
tracks, lay here and there on the ground.
222
00:20:04,092 --> 00:20:10,042
With deep interest, Winston watched
while the toys were sent trundling over the mouths.
223
00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:13,058
He asked for small obstacle to be put in their way,
224
00:20:13,084 --> 00:20:17,088
and he smiled with pleasure
when the little cars easily climbed them.
225
00:20:18,008 --> 00:20:23,008
Excitedly he said, "we can put a gun
on vehicles like that."
226
00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:29,038
In the following months, he demanded
a design for an armored caterpillar tractors
227
00:20:29,066 --> 00:20:33,040
capable of crossing trenches and crushing obstacles.
228
00:20:33,084 --> 00:20:39,058
Because this was considered outside the Admiralty's
province, the experts at first ignored him.
229
00:20:39,094 --> 00:20:44,042
He went ahead and on his own authority
had the first tank built.
230
00:20:45,004 --> 00:20:48,022
Walters account is a slight oversimplification.
231
00:20:48,038 --> 00:20:53,000
But there is no doubt that without Winston's drive and
enthusiasm, the first tanks
232
00:20:53,024 --> 00:20:57,016
named after the water tanks
they were disguised as before being sent overseas,
233
00:20:57,050 --> 00:21:00,066
would never have reached the front
within barely a year.
234
00:21:01,054 --> 00:21:06,014
After the war, a Royal Commission inquiring into
the invention of the tank stated
235
00:21:06,032 --> 00:21:12,058
"It was primarily due to the receptivity, courage and driving
force of The Right Honourable Winston Spencer Churchill
236
00:21:12,084 --> 00:21:19,014
that the general idea of the use of such an instrument
of warfare as the tank was converted into practical shape.
237
00:21:23,050 --> 00:21:27,084
That historic day, when the idea of the tank
was born on The Horse Guard Parade
238
00:21:28,004 --> 00:21:33,030
was the first time Walter and Winston had met
and it might well had been the last.
239
00:21:38,062 --> 00:21:42,052
Within months of his first meeting with
Walter Thompson in 1915
240
00:21:42,078 --> 00:21:46,004
Churchill's political career seems
to have gone into freefall.
241
00:21:46,060 --> 00:21:52,028
The chances of him regaining high office and needing
a bodyguard again must have appeared remote.
242
00:21:54,014 --> 00:21:58,036
For in November, blamed for the failure
of The Gallipoli campaign
243
00:21:58,058 --> 00:22:02,082
he was moved from the admiralty
and sideline to the virtually meaningless post
244
00:22:03,002 --> 00:22:06,026
of Chancellor of The Duchy of Lancaster.
245
00:22:07,044 --> 00:22:11,028
After six months of depressing inertia,
Winston resigned
246
00:22:11,054 --> 00:22:16,050
rejoined the army and went to France
to command a battalion in the trenches.
247
00:22:22,066 --> 00:22:28,086
In July 1917 his old friend and Ally,
David Lloyd George became Prime Minister.
248
00:22:29,038 --> 00:22:34,078
He immediately brought Winston back into
the government as minister of munitions.
249
00:22:35,090 --> 00:22:39,036
Just after Winston's career
had seemed have come to a halt
250
00:22:39,076 --> 00:22:42,094
Walter's too saw a fundamental change.
251
00:22:43,096 --> 00:22:50,044
In February 1916 I received |nan instant order to report for duty to Southampton.
252
00:22:51,002 --> 00:22:56,060
Here I joined six others of my department
who worked in a large baggage shed at the docks.
253
00:22:56,096 --> 00:23:01,080
The shed was fitted with a general office,
a search room and an interrogation room.
254
00:23:02,006 --> 00:23:08,052
And we had to examine 5.000 persons
of all descriptions, each week including diplomats.
255
00:23:09,006 --> 00:23:12,020
Walter was to work in Southampston
untill the end of the war
256
00:23:12,072 --> 00:23:16,010
and it was in the course of this,
that he saw Winston.
257
00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:21,002
It was on the 11th of November 1918
the day the armistice was signed.
258
00:23:21,068 --> 00:23:27,056
Early that morning I arrived in London from Southampton,
bringing with me a suspected spy.
259
00:23:27,074 --> 00:23:31,072
I handed the man over at the yard
and went into Whitehall.
260
00:23:32,006 --> 00:23:38,020
A great crowd was gathered there and
as maroons banged 11 a.m. to signal the end of hostilities,
261
00:23:38,050 --> 00:23:40,042
they began to sing.
262
00:23:40,072 --> 00:23:44,038
the people gave way as an open car
pushed its way out the Admiralty
263
00:23:44,058 --> 00:23:47,042
a roar went up "IT'S WINNY!!!"
264
00:23:47,068 --> 00:23:51,048
I was pressed close to the cart art and saw
Churchill's standing up in the back.
265
00:23:51,088 --> 00:23:56,004
Tears streamed down his face
as they frequently did in emotional moments,
266
00:23:56,020 --> 00:24:01,004
The crowd fell silent.
Churchill said "We had won the war
267
00:24:01,028 --> 00:24:04,060
'but now we need your help
to win the peace.
268
00:24:07,058 --> 00:24:13,004
With the hostilities ended, Winston was brought back
into cabinet as Secretary of State for War.
269
00:24:15,024 --> 00:24:20,080
Among his task, was overseeing the demobilization
of the troops who had been fighting in France.
270
00:24:24,012 --> 00:24:28,062
And it was while he was doing this,
he again, ran into Walter.
271
00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:32,018
I was on special duty at Southampton,
272
00:24:32,038 --> 00:24:35,092
the war over, troops were returning home
from the continent of Europe
273
00:24:36,018 --> 00:24:39,038
and being replaced by other men
who had seen no fighting.
274
00:24:39,096 --> 00:24:46,008
A large numbers of these new men living in a camp
near Southampton refused to go overseas.
275
00:24:47,028 --> 00:24:50,062
Winston came in Southampton on a ship from France
276
00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:54,020
and hearing of the men's attitude,
demanded to be taken to the camp.
277
00:24:54,060 --> 00:24:56,072
I told to go with his party.
278
00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:01,006
and on the way he looked at me curiously
a number of times, then said ...
279
00:25:01,032 --> 00:25:04,054
"Ive seen you before.
Where have i met you?
280
00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:10,032
I told him and he immediately recalled the day
he had watched the toy tanks being tested.
281
00:25:12,068 --> 00:25:16,096
When Churchill stood up to talk to them, /Nthe mutinous soldiers booed
282
00:25:17,020 --> 00:25:19,012
but as he spoke they quietened.
283
00:25:19,054 --> 00:25:24,080
He pointed out that they were needed for an essential job,
to act as an Army of Occupation
284
00:25:25,068 --> 00:25:30,044
Most seems satisfied with his explanation,
but a few continued to murmur.
285
00:25:30,082 --> 00:25:33,024
Angry now, Winston let fly
286
00:25:33,052 --> 00:25:36,030
"You will go whether you like it or not!"
he shouted.
287
00:25:36,050 --> 00:25:40,068
And if necessary, at the point of the bayonets
of the men who have been fighting.
288
00:25:41,028 --> 00:25:45,036
There was no further trouble
soon afterwards the troops sailed.
289
00:25:46,012 --> 00:25:49,036
Shortly after this encounter,
Walter return to London
290
00:25:49,052 --> 00:25:53,066
and was assigned to close protection duty,
guarding senior members of the government.
291
00:25:55,046 --> 00:26:01,000
For the coming of peace had not brought and end
to the problems and hostilities which surrounded
the British government.
292
00:26:03,070 --> 00:26:08,018
The most urgent, and potentially the most deadly
was close to home.
293
00:26:10,032 --> 00:26:15,036
Just a few miles away across the sea,
in what was in effect, Britain's oldest colony
294
00:26:15,078 --> 00:26:18,014
Ireland.
295
00:26:20,048 --> 00:26:24,050
Demands of Irish Home Rule
by the largely Roman Catholic majority
296
00:26:24,064 --> 00:26:29,072
had been growing for centuries
with revolts and terrorist outrages occurring regularly.
297
00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:35,000
In 1914 the Protestants of Ulster
had almost begun a civil war
298
00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:40,038
to prevent the passing of Home Rule government
of which Winston was a senior member.
299
00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:50,010
The situation was only saved when both sides
got something more urgent to worry about.
300
00:26:50,052 --> 00:26:53,088
The outbreak of major war in 1940.
301
00:26:56,026 --> 00:27:01,028
Thousands of Irishmen volunteered to fight bravely
and loyally for Britain throughout the conflict
302
00:27:02,032 --> 00:27:05,012
But the extreme nationalist party
Sinn F�in
303
00:27:05,034 --> 00:27:09,030
won most of the Irish seats
in the first election after the war.
304
00:27:16,054 --> 00:27:22,062
Rather than take up these seats at Westminster
Sinn F�in set up its own assembly, The D�il �ireann.
305
00:27:22,088 --> 00:27:29,052
and it's military wing, the IRA or Irish Republican Army
began attacks on the Irish police.
306
00:27:30,082 --> 00:27:35,022
The troubles escalated with the British army
drawn in to restore peace.
307
00:27:35,052 --> 00:27:39,002
soon there was a full-scale
guerrilla war against British rule
308
00:27:39,018 --> 00:27:42,046
with atrocities being committed
on both sides.
309
00:27:44,088 --> 00:27:49,084
As Minister of War Winston was inevitably
a prime target for the IRA.
310
00:27:52,048 --> 00:27:57,084
And it's hatred of him was greatly increased
when he authorized the recruitment of
an anti guerrilla force
311
00:27:58,008 --> 00:28:02,058
the Black and Tans
from unemployed former soldiers.
312
00:28:04,076 --> 00:28:09,056
The Black and Tans met terror with terror
atrocity with atrocity
313
00:28:10,006 --> 00:28:13,048
nevertheless the situation rapidly
spiraled out of control.
314
00:28:13,084 --> 00:28:18,026
And by the end of 1920,
British rule had more or less collapsed.
315
00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:26,092
Walter had been closely involved
in these momentous events
316
00:28:27,024 --> 00:28:33,040
for in February 1920 he had been appointed the personal
bodyguard of Prime Minister David Lloyd George.
317
00:28:35,096 --> 00:28:39,028
At first he admired the Welsh wizard enormously,
318
00:28:39,060 --> 00:28:43,082
particularly for his courage
in the face of IRA threats.
319
00:28:45,058 --> 00:28:49,072
But Walter soon found a contrast
between the Prime Minister's happy family life,
320
00:28:49,098 --> 00:28:53,068
and his obsessive pursuit of mistresses
difficult to accept.
321
00:28:54,052 --> 00:28:59,048
After a few months, disgusted,
was withdrawn at my own request.
322
00:29:03,082 --> 00:29:08,012
Before he left Walter had particularly dislike
one aspect of the job.
323
00:29:08,058 --> 00:29:12,074
One which would return to haunt him
almost exactly 20 years later.
324
00:29:16,094 --> 00:29:20,028
The Irish were making threats against
the Prime Minister's life
325
00:29:20,060 --> 00:29:23,064
and there was only too much reason
too much reason to take these seriously.
326
00:29:24,034 --> 00:29:27,098
Never did I have a more
disagreeable or nerve-wracking duty
327
00:29:28,016 --> 00:29:33,040
than keeping watch and ward, for lurking assassins
during the hours of darkness at Chequers.
328
00:29:34,072 --> 00:29:39,052
The patrol of the grounds which are large
and full of dense shrubberies bushes and trees
329
00:29:40,006 --> 00:29:45,098
provided some eerie moments for another officer and i
who had to carry out the patrol from dusk to dawn
330
00:29:46,022 --> 00:29:47,098
eight hours each.
331
00:29:49,092 --> 00:29:53,030
Every twig i trod on made me think
I was surrounded
332
00:29:53,074 --> 00:29:58,068
the wings sighed and stirred the bushes
and the moon made dark moving shadows.
333
00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:03,090
In such a garden, one could be stalked
and murdered with the greatest of ease.
334
00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:07,076
Several times each hour,
I seemed to stumble on an intruder
335
00:30:08,016 --> 00:30:10,010
only to find him a shadow.
336
00:30:10,030 --> 00:30:14,096
Time and again i could have sworn that someone
was crouching behind me but found nothing
337
00:30:15,056 --> 00:30:19,032
No one was more relieved than I
when dawn broke.
338
00:30:20,096 --> 00:30:26,010
So Walter was happy to get back to normal security duties
but this was to be short-lived.
339
00:30:27,016 --> 00:30:32,010
Having arrived at Scotland Yard
early one morning at the beginning of 1921
340
00:30:32,038 --> 00:30:34,082
I was called into my chief's office.
341
00:30:35,022 --> 00:30:40,088
"Thompson" he said, "Go to Sussex square Paddington
and take over the protection of Mr. Churchill."
342
00:30:41,078 --> 00:30:46,064
For a moment I just looked at him, I hesitated
then I said "Must I sir?"
343
00:30:47,034 --> 00:30:51,066
"Yes." he said firmly.
"Go and see how you get on for a couple of weeks."
344
00:30:52,024 --> 00:30:54,096
I went feeling I went feeling none too happy at the prospect
345
00:30:55,014 --> 00:30:57,076
but thinking that it might only be for two weeks.
346
00:30:59,034 --> 00:31:02,082
Walter found his new charge brusque
and unapproachable
347
00:31:03,018 --> 00:31:04,088
The hours were incredibly long,
348
00:31:05,008 --> 00:31:08,090
since Churchill often stayed at the House of Commons
until the early hours of the morning
349
00:31:09,072 --> 00:31:12,004
I longed for the two weeks to end,
350
00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:16,016
when they did I marched into
my chief's office at Scotland Yard and said
351
00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:20,010
"I'd like very much to be relieved
of this protection duty, Sir."
352
00:31:20,034 --> 00:31:23,036
I tried to make it sound more like
a demand than a request
353
00:31:23,084 --> 00:31:28,048
The chief looked up, and he was smiling.
"You don't want it then Thompson." he said.
354
00:31:28,098 --> 00:31:32,048
"No, Sir.
His smile grew a bit sadistic.
355
00:31:32,092 --> 00:31:35,070
"Whether you like it or not,
it's yours." he said.
356
00:31:36,018 --> 00:31:39,058
"Winston has asked for you to be with him,
permanently."
357
00:31:40,004 --> 00:31:45,032
Walter was deeply depressed by this development
but appreciated that he had an important job to do
358
00:31:45,086 --> 00:31:49,092
No one seriously believed Churchill's life
was in danger from suffragettes
359
00:31:50,014 --> 00:31:52,032
no matter how much they despised him.
360
00:31:52,054 --> 00:31:57,002
The Irish Republicans however,
were gunmen who seemed to mean bussiness
361
00:31:58,030 --> 00:32:03,042
And there was every reasons to believe that Churchill
who was hated for his support of the Black and Tans
362
00:32:03,064 --> 00:32:06,042
was high on the IRA's murder list.
363
00:32:09,036 --> 00:32:11,092
This suspicion soon proved true
364
00:32:12,098 --> 00:32:15,094
the IRA were already planning
to murder him.
365
00:32:22,008 --> 00:32:27,038
From the day early in 1921, that Walter Thompson
became Winston Churchill's personal bodyguard
366
00:32:27,086 --> 00:32:31,028
he had no doubt, that the IRA
was out to get his man.
367
00:32:33,002 --> 00:32:37,074
He was also left in no doubt that Winston
meant to play an active role in protecting himself
368
00:32:38,032 --> 00:32:44,028
and that his love of danger might well prove almost
as big a threat to his security as any direct action.
369
00:32:46,004 --> 00:32:51,076
I informed him that i would take turn and turn about
with my junior officer in sleeping at his house.
370
00:32:52,048 --> 00:32:55,000
He was very pleased when i told him of my decision
371
00:32:55,028 --> 00:32:58,004
and then suggested that I went
all over the house with him.
372
00:32:59,018 --> 00:33:02,088
After showing me the rest of the house
Winston took me to his bedroom
373
00:33:03,052 --> 00:33:05,068
where I noticed that anyone
entering the room
374
00:33:05,086 --> 00:33:09,074
would first of all see in front of them,
what appeared to be a high black chair
375
00:33:10,046 --> 00:33:13,070
Winston drew my attention to this
and pointed to his bed
376
00:33:13,094 --> 00:33:17,036
the position of which gave him
full view of anyone entering the room.
377
00:33:18,014 --> 00:33:20,066
He then showed me the chair with the high back
378
00:33:21,012 --> 00:33:24,052
the seat of which had a colt 45,
automatic, fully loaded
379
00:33:24,098 --> 00:33:27,060
"I want you to look after that for me, Thompson,
380
00:33:27,088 --> 00:33:32,046
'and see hat it is always in good shape.
no one else will be allowed to touch it.
381
00:33:33,032 --> 00:33:37,006
He then lifted up some tapestry,
which covered the back of the high-back chair
382
00:33:37,006 --> 00:33:40,020
showing underneath a thick piece of plating
383
00:33:40,054 --> 00:33:42,068
which the tapestry had been made to cover.
384
00:33:43,002 --> 00:33:46,010
the piece of steel was fixed
to the back of the chair.
385
00:33:46,052 --> 00:33:52,036
"Now Thompson, you guard me from below and if
they come up here I shall receive them behind the steel plate.
386
00:33:52,084 --> 00:33:55,088
'No one will have a walkover
ith us both on the lookout.
387
00:33:56,042 --> 00:34:01,076
I did not know at that time that Winston was a dead shot
with the colt as well as with a rifle
388
00:34:03,016 --> 00:34:07,000
These were his favourite weapons,
the Malaga rifle,
389
00:34:08,092 --> 00:34:11,058
38 Webley Scott,
390
00:34:12,018 --> 00:34:15,080
and the 45 Colt automatic.
These is really his favourite weapon.
391
00:34:16,014 --> 00:34:18,006
And with this weapon he was a dead shot
392
00:34:18,062 --> 00:34:21,068
I remember the latter part of the war,
he fired at a target
393
00:34:22,010 --> 00:34:24,050
and it was only one bullet
was not in the bullseye.
394
00:34:24,096 --> 00:34:28,070
Anyone that came within range
of this weapon would never survive.
395
00:34:29,086 --> 00:34:34,098
When the troubles began, Winston was a firm believer
that the IRA must be militarily defeated
396
00:34:35,016 --> 00:34:37,028
before there could be any thought
of a peace settlement.
397
00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:41,074
But by early 1921, he had realized that
this would never be achieved
398
00:34:41,096 --> 00:34:44,028
without virtually laying waste to the country.
399
00:34:50,026 --> 00:34:54,006
So in June, when the Prime Minister
put out peace feelers to Sinn F�in
400
00:34:54,038 --> 00:34:57,048
Churchill loyally supported
his friend and leader.
401
00:34:59,094 --> 00:35:03,094
Throughout this critical period,
Walter was on tenterhooks.
402
00:35:04,070 --> 00:35:09,048
My hand was never far from my revolver which
I kept in my right hand jacket pocket.
403
00:35:12,084 --> 00:35:16,026
In contrast,
Winston seemed serenely imperturbable
404
00:35:16,086 --> 00:35:21,052
and his willingness to expose himself to danger
must have kept Walter permanently anxious.
405
00:35:24,008 --> 00:35:27,082
He rarely made any remark to me about
the peril in which he stood
406
00:35:28,010 --> 00:35:30,052
but one conversation
i do remember.
407
00:35:31,024 --> 00:35:35,038
He had decided to walk across from the Colonial Office
to The House of Commons
408
00:35:35,096 --> 00:35:39,050
and as my colleague was away at lunch,
i was alone on duty with it.
409
00:35:39,086 --> 00:35:45,004
I remarked on this fact. Turning to me,
Winston said with a wry smile
410
00:35:45,052 --> 00:35:48,084
"You can look into my back, Thompson,
I'll attempt to he front."
411
00:35:51,074 --> 00:35:55,082
In October, the Sinn F�in delegation
arrived to dicuss Home Rule
412
00:35:56,014 --> 00:36:00,062
and this included Michael Collins, the brilliant
guerilla leader of the IRA
413
00:36:00,098 --> 00:36:04,012
on whose head the British had placed
a substantial reward.
414
00:36:08,016 --> 00:36:14,080
Like many Britons, Walter found it hard to see
his leaders negotiating with a man who was seen
as a bloodthirsty terrorist
415
00:36:18,024 --> 00:36:22,058
I had seen Michael Collins
coming down the steps of number 10 Downing Street
416
00:36:22,070 --> 00:36:26,038
some days before Winston had
decided on this dramatic stroke
417
00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:32,042
It was strange to think that this Stern Irishman
was indeed the gunman
418
00:36:32,072 --> 00:36:36,056
for whom at that moment, every soldier and policeman
in Ireland were looking.
419
00:36:37,034 --> 00:36:41,068
As colonial secretary, Winston
was to be one of the four British negotiators
420
00:36:42,024 --> 00:36:46,006
but as Walter observed
from his wingside seat, he inevitably
421
00:36:46,032 --> 00:36:49,006
played an active role behind the scene as well.
422
00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:52,030
Winston's first intervention
was typically direct.
423
00:36:54,096 --> 00:36:58,084
Winston had decided
that the leaders of the two islands must meet
424
00:36:59,004 --> 00:37:02,016
and so he invited each of them to pay a secret visit
425
00:37:02,040 --> 00:37:05,062
to inreview him personally
at the Colonial office.
426
00:37:06,074 --> 00:37:12,032
I was instructed to make arrangements for both men
to enter the colonial office at exactly the same time,
427
00:37:12,052 --> 00:37:14,054
but by separate entrances.
428
00:37:15,054 --> 00:37:20,050
At appointed hour, the two leaders arrived.
One was admitted by the main entrance,
429
00:37:20,080 --> 00:37:25,040
the other was letting to the Colonial office
through a door leading to the Foreign office yard.
430
00:37:25,086 --> 00:37:31,078
Sir James Craig was shown into an empty room by
a permanent official acting under instructions from Winston.
431
00:37:32,048 --> 00:37:37,022
Moments later, Michael Collins was ushered
into the same room by Winston himself
432
00:37:37,084 --> 00:37:42,050
who having let him in, step back
and locked the door on the two opponents.
433
00:37:44,018 --> 00:37:49,020
Never before had north and South Ireland,
as personified by the dower Ulstermen
434
00:37:49,040 --> 00:37:53,038
the debonair lad from Cork stood face to face alone.
435
00:37:54,094 --> 00:38:00,076
Certainly the pair did not emerge arm in arm
when their little tete-a-tete concluded half an hour later.
436
00:38:01,040 --> 00:38:05,014
But certainly after fortnight,
Michael Collins and Arthur Griffiths
437
00:38:05,034 --> 00:38:08,020
were meeting the comittee
of the British cabinet in London.
438
00:38:10,068 --> 00:38:15,026
Walter may have slightly over exaggerated
Winston's role in getting the talks going
439
00:38:15,064 --> 00:38:22,080
but there can be no doubt, that the personal relationship
he established with Michael Collins played a considerable
part in achieving a settle
440
00:38:26,018 --> 00:38:31,006
But one of the meetings the question did arise regarding the price on Collins' head.
441
00:38:31,066 --> 00:38:33,084
Collins felt very bitter about it
442
00:38:34,012 --> 00:38:38,002
and reproached Winston saying that
he had been hunted day and night like some animal
443
00:38:38,052 --> 00:38:40,082
with a price of five thousands pounds on his head
444
00:38:41,024 --> 00:38:44,076
and this sum was to be paid whether
he was captured dead or alive.
445
00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:51,054
This gave Winston the opportunity for which no doubt
he had been waiting during Collins outburst
446
00:38:52,064 --> 00:38:54,010
"What are you grumbling about?
447
00:38:54,048 --> 00:38:57,016
'five thousand pounds was a good price to pay."
448
00:38:58,024 --> 00:39:02,012
He then took down from the wall,
a framed notice and showed Collins
449
00:39:02,084 --> 00:39:06,046
This was a notice which the Boers
had put out during the South African wars
450
00:39:06,056 --> 00:39:10,018
offering 25 ponds for Winston, dead or alive.
451
00:39:10,092 --> 00:39:12,082
"You are fortunate," said Winston
452
00:39:13,034 --> 00:39:15,080
'they only offered 25 pound for me."
453
00:39:16,032 --> 00:39:19,036
Collins undoubtedly saw the funny side
of the two prices
454
00:39:19,066 --> 00:39:22,076
and from an outburst of anger,
laughter resulted.
455
00:39:23,008 --> 00:39:27,020
And in the end, a treaty of peace
was signed between the parties.
456
00:39:29,020 --> 00:39:32,078
Peace may have been signed,
but it did not bring peace in Ireland
457
00:39:33,040 --> 00:39:37,028
almost predictably, �amon de Valera,
the president of Sinn F�in
458
00:39:37,062 --> 00:39:40,010
rejected the terms negotiated by Collins
459
00:39:40,026 --> 00:39:42,048
and civil war broke put in the south.
460
00:39:44,090 --> 00:39:48,030
Before it ended, in victory for de Valera,
461
00:39:48,078 --> 00:39:52,012
Michael Collins is dead
gunned down in an ambush
462
00:39:54,028 --> 00:39:58,004
and the civil war could easily
have spilt over into britain to claim Winston
463
00:39:58,050 --> 00:40:04,018
For in June 1922 came an event which showed
that British leaders were still very much at risk.
464
00:40:07,020 --> 00:40:11,050
One afternoon I was watching
the Thames traffic passed the House of Commons
465
00:40:12,004 --> 00:40:15,002
I was then in a small room
and could see out from the window
466
00:40:16,038 --> 00:40:19,026
Here we used to wait for the various ministers
we were guarding
467
00:40:19,056 --> 00:40:24,004
Waiting is a most boring job
even though you eventually get used to it.
468
00:40:24,072 --> 00:40:28,088
I went out for a stroll and near the exit door
I passed a creed machine
469
00:40:29,036 --> 00:40:32,086
which was ticking over.
Normally I did not pay much attention to it
470
00:40:33,018 --> 00:40:36,064
but for some reason i decided to have a look
and saw tapped-out
471
00:40:36,084 --> 00:40:40,004
flash, Sir Henry Wilson was shot.
472
00:40:40,058 --> 00:40:43,032
breathlessly i watched the Creed
tapping out history.
473
00:40:43,078 --> 00:40:46,086
Dead today outside his home
in Eaton square.
474
00:40:47,074 --> 00:40:53,070
It had come. Sinn F�in had made good their threat
to use the weapon of assassination on English soil
475
00:40:55,046 --> 00:41:00,052
The IRA had caught up with the Ulsterman
who'd comanded the British Army in Ireland in 1940
476
00:41:00,052 --> 00:41:04,094
and then go on to become chief
of the Imperial General Staff during the Troubles
477
00:41:07,008 --> 00:41:10,008
It was a killing which would have been all the more shocking for Walter
478
00:41:10,052 --> 00:41:13,096
for he would have to know Sir Henry
while he was guarding Lloyd George
479
00:41:16,078 --> 00:41:20,050
He accompanied the Prime Minister on at least
two conferences abroad
480
00:41:20,094 --> 00:41:22,094
the first time he had ever been overseas
481
00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:27,036
and as can be seen from this film of a trip to Berlin
to meet the French General Staff
482
00:41:27,088 --> 00:41:32,056
Sir Henry Wilson was with Lloyd George
with Walter in close attendance
483
00:41:38,068 --> 00:41:42,028
For Walter, it was all getting too close for comfort
484
00:41:43,078 --> 00:41:46,090
and it seemed all too likely that the IRA next target
485
00:41:47,014 --> 00:41:50,006
would be the man he was now responsible for guarding.
486
00:41:50,066 --> 00:41:54,070
The man who had been instrumental
in negotiating an unpopular treaty.
487
00:41:56,074 --> 00:42:00,098
For added protection Winston was given
an armor-plated rolls-royce for his journeys
488
00:42:01,042 --> 00:42:03,076
Walter rode beside the chauffeur.
489
00:42:07,096 --> 00:42:11,022
To make the would-be assassins task more difficult
490
00:42:11,060 --> 00:42:14,042
I tried to varied our very route to the House of Commons
491
00:42:14,062 --> 00:42:16,072
choosing a different one each day.
492
00:42:17,038 --> 00:42:20,038
But as so often, his charge was not helpful.
493
00:42:21,038 --> 00:42:26,042
He insisted on going through Hyde Park
and the park covered half the distance
494
00:42:28,004 --> 00:42:31,062
Winston lived at Sussex Square,
just north the Victoria gate
495
00:42:32,022 --> 00:42:35,016
One of the few which allowed motor traffic
into the park.
496
00:42:37,008 --> 00:42:39,058
His room at the Colonial Office was in Whitehall
497
00:42:40,000 --> 00:42:43,076
which the obvious exit was by Apsley House at Hyde Park corner.
498
00:42:49,010 --> 00:42:50,086
To get from one gate to the other
499
00:42:51,042 --> 00:42:54,076
there were at that times
only two obvious routes.
500
00:42:56,052 --> 00:42:59,046
The first is to take a sharp left on entering the park
501
00:43:00,014 --> 00:43:03,050
go along the north carriageway
to the Cumberland gate at Marble Arch
502
00:43:03,094 --> 00:43:08,016
and then down one of the roads
parallel to Park Lane to Hyde Park Corner.
503
00:43:15,014 --> 00:43:17,088
The other was to go straight down to the serpentine lake
504
00:43:18,006 --> 00:43:21,088
and along its north side to Apsley House
and Hyde Park Gate.
505
00:43:26,036 --> 00:43:30,034
Along both routes, there was lots of
covers from trees and bushes
506
00:43:38,016 --> 00:43:43,042
and traffic had to slow as it entered the park
and stop for other traffic before it left
507
00:43:47,052 --> 00:43:51,042
Walter was well aware that the park
was an ideal place for an ambush
508
00:43:52,028 --> 00:43:54,034
and so with the IRA.
509
00:43:57,038 --> 00:43:59,082
One morning when we were driving through Hyde Park
510
00:44:00,012 --> 00:44:03,060
I noticed two men who were
standing back from the pavement
511
00:44:03,084 --> 00:44:08,034
suddenly give a signal to someone
standing among the trees some little distance ahead
512
00:44:09,060 --> 00:44:14,072
taking my revolver from my pocket, i saw that
Winston had also noticed the men and the signal
513
00:44:15,024 --> 00:44:19,000
morever he had evidently read the same significance into the gesture
514
00:44:20,008 --> 00:44:23,046
Perfectly calm he suggested that the car should be stopped.
515
00:44:24,004 --> 00:44:27,076
"If they want trouble, they can have it."
Churchill murmured with a smile.
516
00:44:29,058 --> 00:44:33,034
But it was not any part of my duty
to pander to the adventurous wim
517
00:44:33,048 --> 00:44:35,076
for a hand-to-hand scrap in Hyde Park.
518
00:44:36,050 --> 00:44:40,094
I leant over to the chauffeur
"Step on it drive like the devil!!" i smacked
519
00:44:42,052 --> 00:44:46,004
Walter pushed Churchill down in the back
and shielded him with his body
520
00:44:46,078 --> 00:44:50,026
he held him there roughly until they were
out of range of the would be assassin
521
00:44:50,050 --> 00:44:52,028
struggling with an angry Churchill
522
00:44:53,014 --> 00:44:54,052
Once he was allowed to sit up
523
00:44:54,098 --> 00:44:58,058
Churchill bellowed at Walter
"don't ever do that again!"
524
00:44:59,036 --> 00:45:01,060
It took guts to stand up to Churchill
525
00:45:02,008 --> 00:45:04,018
and a lesser man might have let him have his way
526
00:45:04,050 --> 00:45:09,018
and leap out of the car for a possibly fatal shootout
with an unknown number of gunmen.
527
00:45:11,058 --> 00:45:15,086
It was also guts which Walter was to need
many more times in the future.
528
00:45:16,076 --> 00:45:21,074
Sometimes he would have to protect Winston
as much from his own impetuousity and love of danger
529
00:45:22,002 --> 00:45:23,074
as from any sprecific threat.
530
00:45:25,040 --> 00:45:28,070
And sometimes it would be violently hostile crowds
531
00:45:28,088 --> 00:45:31,006
and the possibility of a lurking fanatic
532
00:45:31,020 --> 00:45:34,032
which would give Walter his nightmares as Churchill'a bodyguard.
533
00:45:35,052 --> 00:45:38,058
For on the first occasion that the two men went abroad together
534
00:45:38,090 --> 00:45:42,034
it was to the seething political cauldron
of the Middle East.
535
00:45:47,012 --> 00:45:52,012
There Walter was confronted with a completely
alien and potentially lethal environment
536
00:45:54,020 --> 00:45:59,076
and rescued from disaster by none other
the Lawrence of Arabia
57776
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