49 It was like, CRL NC 11/2/5
50 There is no pleasure, NC Diary Letters, vol. 4, 533
51 To a very large, Feiling, 442
52 I have received, Dilks, ‘The Twilight War and the Fall of France: Chamberlain and Churchill in 1940’, Royal Historical Society, Vol. 28, 1978, 61–86
53 Winston has behaved, NC Diary Letters, vol. 4, 543
54 I shall never, Rhodes James, Cazalet, 278
55 He is now, King, 56
56 the officers and soldiers, Maisky diary, 4/6/1940
57 If I am personally, NC Diary Letters, vol. 4, 547
58 having held an, Donner, 245
59 Must not the final, ibid., 246
60 you saved the life, Dutton, 121
61 having trouble with, NC Diary Letters, vol. 4, 554
62 Did he say, Thompson, 94
63 The fact is Winston, PA LG/g/241/1, 19/6/40
64 Sit there, CRL NC 11/2/1a, Anne Chamberlain diary, 7/11/1940
65 very steady and brave, EH to WSC, 7/11/1940
66 Approaching dissolution … we parted, BI EH diary 7/11/1940
67 Never before … servants, Telegraph, 15/11/1940
68 the chief hymn, BOD MSS Eng hist d.360, Crookshank diary
69 acquired the chief, Churchill, Gathering Storm, 528
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A private historian who is a novelist is also a fool if he does not step with special care into a territory which professional historians have mulled over now for more than seventy-five years. I am grateful to Noel Malcolm for strengthening a conviction that the writing of history need not be the domain solely of academics and specialists. We might not in each and every instance use the same methods, and we may ask different questions, yet all of us, novelists included, aim towards the same end: a faithful and plausible narrative reassembled from the material available.
To Andy Harries, I owe my initial research into the Norway Debate. I am indebted to him and to Kerry Gill-Pryde for sowing the idea that Churchill’s sudden arrival in No. 10 merited closer analysis.
I am grateful to the Warden and Fellows of All Souls College, Oxford, for giving me a Visiting Fellowship in 2016, which, aside from a sizeable metal key to the matchless Codrington Library, provided a daily reminder of several of the players in this dramatic story – not least through the intense gaze of their portraits: Leo Amery, John Simon, Geoffrey Dawson, Quintin Hogg, and Edward Halifax, who regarded All Souls as ‘a second home’, and, being six foot five, installed in the Warden’s Lodgings (according to Keith Thomas, who overlapped with him), an extra-long bath so that he might turn off the taps with his toes.
In the House of Commons, I am grateful to Robin Fell, former Doorkeeper and acting Deputy Serjeant at Arms for making real the division procedure; and to Lord Lisvane, former Chief Clerk, for the benefit of his constitutional expertise, and for showing me the Chamber and the voting Lobbies, and to Louise Clarke for letting me hold the sandglass used for measuring the six minutes before the vote of 8 May 1940.
For access to collections at the Bodleian, I am grateful (as I have been for twenty-five years) to Colin Harris of the Special Collections Department, and to Michael Hughes.
For permission to quote from the Neville Chamberlain papers, I would like to thank the Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham, and Martin Killeen.
For permission to quote from the Churchill papers at the Churchill Archives Centre in Cambridge, I am grateful to Churchill College and Emma Soames, and to Allen Packwood for his advice and guidance.
For permission to quote from Lord Halifax’s papers at the Borthwick Institute in York, I would like to thank the Earl of Halifax and Colin Webb.
For permission to quote from Baba Metcalfe’s diaries and letters, I would like to thank Julian Metcalfe.
For access to and permission to quote from Charles Peake’s diary, I would like to thank Michael Peake.
For access to and permission to quote from the Salisbury Papers, I would like to thank Robert Salisbury and Robin Harcourt Williams; also Shana Fleming, and Sarah Whale at the Archives and Historic Collections Department at Hatfield House.
For access to and permission to quote from Peter Fleming’s diaries, letters and papers, I would like to thank Kate Grimond, and Kate Arnold-Foster at the University of Reading’s Special Collections.
For permission to quote from the Parliamentary Archives, I would like to thank Mari Takayanagi and Annie Pinder.
For access to and permission to quote from the Clement Davies Papers in the National Library of Wales Archives, I would like to thank Martin Robson Riley and Christopher Clement-Davies.
For permission to quote from his taped interview with Valerie Cole, I would like to thank Martyn Downer.
For securing a copy of Harold Nicolson’s article in the Montreal Standard, I would like to thank Janis Johnson and Andrew Miller at the Canadian Senate in Ottawa.
For access to Neville Chamberlain’s bird collection, I would like to thank Hein van Grouw and Robert Prys-Jones at the Natural History Museum, Tring.
For assistance in tracking down survivors of ‘Maurice Force’ and for taking me to Krogs Farm, and for permission to use his photographs, I would like to thank Paul Kiddell.
I am indebted to Anne de Courcy for putting at my disposal her archives, including her transcriptions of Irene Ravensdale’s diaries and related material.
For permission to quote from the Harry Crookshank papers at the Bodleian, I would like to thank Elizabeth Crookshank.
For permission to quote from the John Simon papers at the Bodleian, I would like to thank John Simon.
For permission to quote from the Arthur Greenwood papers at the Bodleian, I would like to thank Susie Greenwood.
For permission to quote from Lord Woolton’s papers at the Bodleian, I would like to thank the Earl of Woolton.
For permission to quote from the Walter Monckton papers at Balliol College, I would like to thank Walter Monckton’s Trustees and Balliol College, Oxford.
For permission to quote from the Mary Soames papers at the Churchill Archives Centre, I would like to thank Emma Soames and Curtis Brown Group Ltd.
For permission to quote from the Leo Amery papers at the Churchill Archives Centre I would like to thank Churchill College, Cambridge.
For permission to quote from the Valentine Lawford papers at the Churchill Archives Centre, I would like to thank Charles Tilbury.
For permission to quote from the John Colville papers at the Churchill Archives Centre, I would like to thank Rupert Colville.
For permission to quote from Giles Romilly’s diaries, letters and papers, I would like to thank Edmund and Lizzie Romilly and Mary Marshall.
For permission to quote from Martin Lindsay’s letters and books, I would like to thank Jacynth Fitzalan Howard, Clare Lindsay, Nicoletta Lindsay.
For permission to quote from Irene Ravensdale’s papers, I would like to thank Nicholas Mosley.
For permission to quote from Frank Lodge’s unpublished diary, I would like to thank Elaine and Rosemary Lodge.
For permission to quote from Geoffrey Shakespeare’s papers, I would like to thank James and Tom Shakespeare.
For permission to quote from Henry Morris-Jones’s diary, I would like to thank the Flintshire Records Office.
For permission to quote from Nancy Dugdale’s letters, I would like to thank James Crathorne.
For permission to quote from Ivan Maisky’s diary and for access to unpublished entries, I would like to thank Gabriel Gorodetsky and Yale University Press.
For permission to quote from Evelyn Waugh’s Put Out More Flags and Men at Arms, and from his diaries, I would like to thank Alexander Waugh.
I would like to express my gratitude to the following:
Clarissa Avon, Justin and Jane Byam Shaw, Frances Campbell-Preston, Arthur Chamberlain, Francis and Mary Chamberlain, Gay Charteris, Christopher Clement-Davies, Jonathan and Zara Colchester, James Crathorne, Julie Croc
ker, David Dilks, Martyn Downer, Davina Eastwood, David Faber, Tom Fowler, Gabriel Gorodetsky, Simon Green, Kate Grimond, Duff Hart-Davis, John Hatt, John Hegarty, Patrick Higgins, Diana Holderness, Jacynth Fitzalan Howard, Julian Jackson, François Kersaudy, Herry Lawford, Elaine Lodge, Angela Maclean, Christopher MacLehose, Daisy McNally, Mary Marshall, Julian Metcalfe, Gaye Morgan, Jane Moyle, John Julius Norwich, Avner Offer, Allen Packwood, Julian Paget, Michael Peake, Mary Pearson, Henry Porter, Nicholas and Verity Ravensdale, Graham Rhys-Jones, Andrew Roberts, David Robson, Nicholas Rodger, Edmund and Lizzie Romilly, Dan Rootham, Holly Ross, Arthur Rucker, James Shakespeare, Claire Simpson, Nick Smart, Emma Soames, Keith Thomas, Richard Thorpe, Charles Tilbury, Rick Trainor, Hugo Vickers, John Vickers, Gwendolen Webster, Meredith Whitford, Philip Ziegler, Richard Zimler.
In Norway: Per and Wenche Fahsing, Geirr Haarr, William Hakvaag, Martin Hargensen, Kjell Olav Huage, Kristian Helgesen, Gunnar Hojem, Paul Kiddell, Ivar Kraglund, Ted Kristiansen, Trond Kristiansen, Storm Levensen, Hjørdis Mikalsen, Ulf Eirik Torgersen, Ivan Vanya, Torlaug Werstad.
I would like to thank Jack Deverell, David Dilks, Geirr Haarr, Paul Kiddell, Robert Lisvane and Nicholas Rodger for reading early drafts and for their comments; my editor Liz Foley for her steady encouragement; Rachel Cugnoni for her faith; Mikaela Pedlow for her limitless patience; my agents, the late Gillon Aitken and Clare Alexander; and Lesley Thorne and the staff at Aitken Alexander.
I have made every effort to trace copyright holders. I greatly regret any omissions. These will be rectified in future editions.
APPENDIX
MARTIN LINDSAY’S MEMORANDUM TO CLEMENT ATTLEE
Private & Confidential
May I use a private friendship to bring a public matter to your notice in the hope that it may be of some service to the country?
I have just returned from the Southern front in Norway after serving in a very humble position on the Staff. Now that all those who will ever get back have got over, I think that the facts as observed by myself and my comrades should be brought to the notice of responsible persons so that those responsible are not able to cover up their misdeeds next week in Parliament. The facts as regards the front itself come from eye witnesses, some of whom have seen this letter and state that, in their opinion, it does not fully disclose the extent of the disorganisation and incompetence exhibited.
Within a week of the German invasion of Norway a convoy containing about 40,000 men was assembled on the Clyde in ships all over 10,000 tons and some over 30,000 tons. The ports in Norway available to us were very small, and these ships were quite useless. Even at this stage there were numerous cases of persons and units being sent on the wrong boats. In many cases it was necessary to telephone the War Office to find out where to go as the local staff were entirely ignorant.
The troops at the front consisted of three battalions of regulars and two of semi-trained territorials. The only artillery were one or two guns run by the Royal Marines. A ship containing artillery and A.A. guns was torpedoed in the second convoy. The enemy was fully equipped in every respect. The front lines of communication and base undefended by any anti-aircraft guns except pom-poms were subjected [handwritten] to continuous [handwritten] bombing from dawn to dusk. Only a very few wounded were got back as the enemy regularly machine-gunned the stretcher bearers, the one road, and of course the civilians. No building except the station was standing within four miles of the base The only aircraft we ever had were 15 Goliaths 1929 model which are slower than the German bombers; of these only three were in action the last five days. It has been stated that Hurricanes and Spitfires could not be used owing to their landing speed. The Wing-Commander in charge states that this is not the case. One squadron would have changed the campaign.
So far as I have been able to ascertain, not a single unit arrived properly equipped. Vital parts left behind or on wrong boats, no [handwritten] transport, no medical equipment and very little food. Senior Staff Officers asking junior Officers what they should do next. Absolute chaos reigned at the base and in the lines of communication. Considering these impossible conditions the behaviour of the troops was admirable; but a very high percentage of shock cases exist, due to unremitting bombing with nobody replying.
The operation order stated specifically that the object of the force was the capture of Oslo; this order I have seen and copies exist. The P.M. statement as to the limited objectives was untrue, as also was his statement that the evacuation was effected without loss. The first night of the evacuation I myself saw two men killed. The embarkation was done under continuous bombing raids. There was one A.A. gun firing only.
It is no exaggeration to say that the force was not an army but a rabble, and given the facts as set out above very few troops would not have bolted. It speaks volumes for the rank and file and their immediate leaders that this was not the case.
In the whole story of muddle and incompetence which has resulted in one of the most complete disasters in our military history, the efficiency of the Navy stands out. To them, those of us who got back owe our lives. With them only was one immediately conscious that every officer and man knew his job and did it in keeping with the highest traditions of that great service.
If the lessons of this disaster are not learned, and the people responsible weeded out the prospects of our winning this war are slender. I may add that the German Army showed itself an efficient and formidable force. I am aware that for an officer to write as I have written is against the regulations, but I consider that the truth should be made known [handwritten] in the public interest and not buried. I may add that the German High Command Communique[s] of the last few days have been strictly accurate.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The most satisfying overviews of this period are Paul Addison’s The Road to 1945, Lynne Olson’s Troublesome Young Men, Graham Stewart’s Burying Caesar, and Laurence Thompson’s 1940.
Of contemporary diarists, Ivan Maisky – thanks to Gabriel Gorodetsky’s rehabilitative editing – deserves to take his place alongside Chips Channon, John Colville and Harold Nicolson.
The Norway Campaign: Geirr Haarr is the indisputable Norwegian authority. No one has covered the French involvement with more elegance than François Kersaudy. For the British perspective, there are good recent accounts by Christopher Bell, John Benson, Anthony Dix and Graham Rhys-Jones.
Neville Chamberlain: Robert Self’s four volumes of diaries and letters are a monument of scholarship. Alongside Self’s one-volume life of Chamberlain, the first part of David Dilks’s as yet unfinished biography stands out. David Dutton and Nick Smart have also written invaluable studies. A rewarding account of Chamberlain’s time on Andros is Claire Simpson’s Neville’s Island.
Lord Halifax: Andrew Roberts’s life remains the most complete and insightful. Also recommended is Anne de Courcy’s portrait of Baba Metcalfe in The Viceroy’s Daughters.
Churchill: A recent review in the TLS began: ‘There are more than fifty books whose main title begins “Churchill and …”’ Of the legion of experts on the life and times of WSC, I would like to pay tribute to David Dilks, William Manchester and David Reynolds. No scholar, though, is likely to eclipse the achievement of Martin Gilbert. The Churchill War Papers: At the Admiralty is indispensable.
BOOKS
Jack Adams, The Doomed Expedition: The Norwegian Campaign of 1940, Leo Cooper, 1989
Paul Addison, The Road to 1945, Cape, 1975
Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke, War Diaries 1939–1945, ed. Alex Danchev and Daniel Todman, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2001
Margery Allingham, The Oaken Heart, Michael Joseph, 1941
C. F. Amery, Notes on Forestry, Trübner & Co., 1875
Julian Amery, Approach March: A Venture in Autobiography, Hutchinson, 1973
Leo Amery, The Times History of the War in South Africa, 1899–1902, vol. 2, Samson Low, 1901
—My Political Life, 3 vols, Hutchinson, 1953–55
—The Leo Amery Diaries, vol. 1, 1896–1929,
ed. John Barnes and David Nicholson, Hutchinson, 1980
—The Empire at Bay: The Leo Amery diaries vol. 2, 1929–1945, ed. John Barnes and David Nicholson, Hutchinson, 1988
Cecil Aspinall-Oglander, Roger Keyes: Being the biography of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Keyes of Zeebrugge and Dover, Hogarth, 1951
Joan Bright Astley, The Inner Circle: A view of war at the top, Hutchinson, 1971
W. H. Auden and Christopher Isherwood, Journey to a War, Octagon, 1972
Edward Baldwin and Philip Williamson, Baldwin Papers: A conservative statesman, 1908–1947, CUP, 2004
Simon Ball, The Guardsmen: Harold Macmillan, three friends, and the world they made, HarperCollins, 2004
Vernon Bartlett, And Now, Tomorrow, Chatto & Windus, 1960
—I Know What I Liked, Chatto & Windus, 1974
Paul Baudouin, The Private Diaries of Paul Baudouin, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1948
Beverley Baxter, Men, Martyrs and Mountebanks, Hutchinson, 1940
Francis Beckett, Clem Attlee, Richard Cohen, 1997
Ralph F. De Bedts, Ambassador Joseph Kennedy 1938–40: An anatomy of appeasement, Peter Lang, 1985
Patrick Beesly, Very Special Admiral: The life of Admiral J.H. Godfrey, Hamish Hamilton, 1980
Christopher M. Bell, Churchill and Sea Power, OUP, 2012
John Benson, Saturday Night Soldiers: The 4th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment in World War II, Boston, 2002
Isaiah Berlin, Mr Churchill in 1940, John Murray, 1964
Robert Bernays, Diaries and Letters of Robert Bernays 1932–39, ed. Nick Smart, E. Mellen Press, 1996
John Bew, Citizen Clem, Riverrun, 2016
Earl of Birkenhead, Halifax, Hamish Hamilton, 1965
Robert Blake and Wm. Roger Louis ed., Churchill: A major new assessment of his life in peace and war, Norton, 1993
Michael Bloch, Duchess of Windsor, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1996
—Closet Queens, Little Brown, 2015
Six Minutes in May Page 55
