Mad Jack Churchill - Fighting Jack Churchill
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- Опубликовано: 19 июн 2024
- Jack Churchill - aka Fighting Jack Churchill and also Mad Jack Churchill.
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The only soldier to kill an enemy with a longbow in WW2.
With another commando, captured 42 Germans with a sword!
Played his bagpipes going into battle.
Successfully escaped from a POW camp and made it to Allied lines.
Decorated 4 times.
A WW2 maverick and legend.
Plus...
Represented Great Britain at the World Archery Championships,
Runner up in the bagpipe contest at Aldershot Tattoo (not bad for an Englishman!)
Appeared in 3 films including the 1952 classic, Ivanhoe
Rode a motorbike 1,500 miles across Indian in the 1920's.
First person to ever surf the River Severn tidal bore (1955).
And just for good measure, was married to his WW2 sweetheart for 55 years.
Chapters
0:00 Jack Churchill
2:00 Jack Churchill bagpipes
3:56 Jack Churchill sword
5:14 Jack Churchill bow
6:55 Operation Archery
8:29 Salerno Landings
10:09 Captured
11:59 Escapes
13:03 End of WW2
15:21 Jack Churchill Ivanhoe
16:28 The History Chap
#fightingjackchurchill #jackchurchill #ivanhoe
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/ thehistorychap
My name is Chris Green ("The History Chap") and I am on a mission to share the amazing history of Britain so that we can appreciate where we have come from and why we are here.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or RUclips animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree and continue to have a passion for the subject I studied.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
A fabulous tale. Only an Englishman could be such an eccentric and yet also be so effective
Very good point. Thanks for watching.
Someone should make a film about this bloke. Surprised they haven't and no one would believe it, but what a life!
And who would be in the lead role? Hopefully not Mel Gibson :)
@@TheHistoryChap God god, no! He hates this country and everything about it, and his knowledge of history is abysmal! Hard, because you need a young English actor with some serious acting chops who can be aged appropriately. (or, perhaps, an older one who can be de-aged using CGI?) Probably be some new kid on the block we've never heard of who proves himself in the film. It really should be made, though. That is one HELL of a story and thank you SO much for telling it!
Interesting piece. Thank you. I’m of Anglo-South African heritage. When attending a business meeting recently in Italy - on a hill - I noticed a sign and small museum. It related to G.R. Norton VC, MM of the Hampshires (but he was also Anglo-South African). He basically took that hill single-handed. I had never heard of him in South Africa. Other South African British officers worth more attention are Roger Bushell, Pat Pattle and Sailor Malan all of the RAF. All extraordinary stories. Lest we forget!
Many amazing South Africans ,especially in WW2.
Sailor was a total legend.
Writer Rohald Dahl flew in same the batttle over Greece where Pat Pattle was lost. South Africa had/lost many great hero's as well.
Pat Pattle was very probably the highest scoring Allied ace of the Second World War.
My father was at Salerno too. He once mentioned someone walking up and down with explosions and bullets flying all around playing bagpipes in North Africa during fighting with the Germans, can't remember where exactly only he said he wished he'd go and play them somewhere else. The chap was drawing the fire off all the Germans. To everyone's surprise he always survived..
There were some very brave pipers in both World Wars.
Fighting Mad Jack Churchill sounds like the lively character who was at hone in the unconventional warfare of WW2. I can see him in a kilt, wearing his claymore and firing his longbow at the Germans. Any man mad enough to play the bagpipes across the battlefield while under attack from the Germans! A true English man in every eclectic sense of the word, kudos to you, amigo!
You certainly wouldn’t have wanted him as an enemy!
Brilliant. The world needs more Jacks.
Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks so much for watching
He was a friend of my father's and stayed with us in Brisbane. Whilst i was a young boy he corresponded with me by letter. I can remember in one he was very upset that some of the Scottish units were issued with trousers which he consided to be British postman's uniform. He also introduced me to the word sasanach ,a derogatory Scots term for the British. All considering that I later found out he was an Englishman.
Fascinating. Thanks for sharing.
I don’t know how related it is, but while I was living in Townsville, I was talking to a pommie butcher who was managing one of a chain of butcher shops owned by a British lord.
He said, “I hate pommies!!!”
A most informative presentation of the heroic nature of the English soldier and leadership bar none. I believe that there are still others available if the world cries out for them again. Well done Chris.
Great words, Don. Thanks for watching.
The British not "English" soldier
Well said!
If they were Nazis we've had hung them.
My Grandfather was a Yugoslav Partisan. He commanded 30 soldiers and Mad Jack and his men fought the Nazi's along side with my Grandfather and his soldiers. He was in the 8th Shock corps, 26th Dalmatian Division, 1st Proletarian Brigade.
Thanks for sharing.
Professor Green is the history teacher that keeps on giving true stories of history and please continue to keep them coming as quickly as possible. What an interesting character! I've waited a long time for someone to do a story about "Fighting Jack" and as usual you didn't disappoint. Bravo. Hollywood could do this as a film, but they probably would botch it.
Even if they didn't botch it, no one would believe it.
Thanks for your very kind words. Rather like you, I'm sure Hollywood would botch it up.
That's true too.
He’s a professor?
Film yes - but please not Hollywood...needs to be a british production, directed by Guy Richie or Christopher Nolan.
Good grief, this man was in a league of his own. Our country has a habit of bringing characters like him into the world and thank God for it. Taking into account our history and conflicts, we will always need men/heroes like this. Fantastic 🙏👍
Glad you enjoyed.
That was inspiring. I thought i knew about Mad Jack, but not in this detail with alot of story i didn't know & his story told with such passion that its memorable. An indefatigable Maverick with a flair for the theatrics. Very inspiring. Stories like these were my bread & butter growing up, had a great influence on me. In these present times, this was a nice morale booster.
Thanks for watching and I am glad that you enjoyed it.
Jack Churchill deserves a movie made about him! A great video about one of history's true eccentrics!
It would be a great movie
What an incredible man and a glorious life. Wouldn’t it have been amazing to meet him and hear him tell his story. RIP Jack.
Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.
An eccentric and unconventional man indeed!
A brave man who knew no bounds or limitations!
Yet another British maverick
Now this is a MAN! We need his like more than ever. I hope more of his like still exits. What a film this would make!
Yes, it would make a great film. Thanks for commenting.
Holy cow! If you made this guys life story up for a movie people would never believe it! Thanks for what you do friend.
My pleasure.
Thank you for introducing this man to myself not to mention others equally astonished by a life so differently lived and so rarely braved in any age.
Glad you enjoyed it. If you enjoy my work, please sign up to my free weekly History newsletter at www.thehistorychap.com
Quiet a few pipers in my family including Murdo , my great grandfather, ran away from home, swam across the Caledonian canal to join up, fought in Sudan, and the Boer war, then re enlisted during WW1 , and lost his life on the Somme aged 54. I have his obituary. I think two of his sons were pipers, as was one of my grandfathers. He served in the Scots Guards, and Royal Scots. He also found time to teach the Royal family Scottish dancing.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one, well done, I don’t think we produce many like Churchill any more.
Thanks for watching my video & for sharing your very interesting family story.
Excellent Jack Churchill was quite a man. Thank you
Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the video Chris. I really enjoyed your story about Fighting Jack Churchill.
And yes your right they certainly don't make people like Jack anymore!
Have a pleasant evening Chris!
Mickey, thanks for those great words. Wishing you a great weekend.
what a great story,what a great man , it's a pity they don't make them like that anymore. love your videos, I wish you would have been my history teacher many years ago , brilliant please don't stop.
Linda, thank you for those kind words. I promise I won't stop - I'm loving it too much!
Isn't that the truth, the greatest generation
Wonderful story. It speaks to the character of the man to speak respectfully of enemy soldiers calling them "marvelous". Were I ever in war I should wish to be led by just such a man. Great video Chris! Let's hope that more such men are yet to come.
David, what lovely words, thanks for posting.
Thank you for running this biography of "Mad Jack" Churchill. I wrote a masters thesis on the British Commandos, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this great, maverick British soldier. I'm glad he is being remembered.
Glad you enjoyed.
Another great story Thank You. Jack Churchill was present with a dozen British soldiers and an armoued Halftrack, during the Hadassah Medical Convoy Massacre, Palestine, 13 April 1948 on Mount Scopus. He offer to help escort the medical staff but the Jews refused as they were expecting help from the local Jewish forces. The road convoy moved down the hill before help arrived and 79 evacuees were killed by Arabs who destroyed the convoy. However Churchill and his soldiers helped evacuate 700 medical staff and patients from the Hadassah Hospital, Hebrew University Campus, known as the "American Compound" to the city of Jerusalem without further loss of life.
Many thanks for sharing.
What a man, and what a life! Thank you for this delightful video biography!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching
Sir you remind me of my seventh-grade history teacher, I am from a rural Indiana, I started a lifetime of enjoyment for learning about history .. after spending a year at Ball State on a wrestling scholarship I joined the Navy when the hostage crisis started, I saw action for 11 years traveled the world, even lived in Scotland for three years. After the navy I worked for 22 years building nuclear submarines ,and I am now retired
Brian, thanks for both watching my video and for taking the time to comment. Interesting hearing about your years in the navy too.
I enjoyed this very much, thanks! I knew some of the story beforehand, but this was really an excellent presentation. Short, and to the point! 🙂 Well done!
Very kind of you. Thanks.
What an amazing story and a very brave man and as usual brilliantly told Chris
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
As usual a great story, thank you. Reminded me of a story my mother told me about meeting another ' madman': Mad Mike Calvert. She (former WREN stationed in Colombo) and my father (Navy Officer Duth submarines ) met Mike in Singapore where my parents were looking for my (by now famous ) grandmother. I was very impressed by the Sindic campagne. maybe you know more?
Fun fact: the Germans who took Churchill and ca. 20 others prisoner did so by bluffing that their weapons were loaded (after a full day's fight they were not). His captors were impressed by the fact that he was leading from the front line, as well as his refusal to divulge any information of military importance.
Churchill's capture took place on 4 June 1944 during the attack on Hill 622 outisde Nerežišće on the Island of Brač. Here is an excerpt from "Sea of blood: a military history of the partisan movement in Yugoslavia 1941-45":
"The biggest of the spring battles took place on Brač in the first days of June 1944, as the 8th Corps tried to draw some heat off the 1st Proletarian Corps, fighting for its life around Drvar at the time. Nearly the entire 26th Division was used for this purpose, as well as one battalion of the British special forces, and air and naval assets. After making a landfall at Bol, three attack groups proceeded inland against their objectives at Supetar, Nerežišće, and Sumartin. For two full days (2-4 June), the Allies hammered against the two fortified battalions of the 118th JD, with little result. Faced with the arrival of enemy reinforcements and the loss of the daredevil Commando leader, Lieutenant-Colonel Churchill (who had been captured and taken to the mainland), the attackers withdrew. Although there is again some controversy concerning their own casualties (according to official reports, 41 KIA, 190 WIA, 51 MIA; according to the NOVJ, the number of enemy captured alone amounted to 220 along with the corresponding number of small-arms), the Germans celebrated a clear-cut victory, and the next three months would see no major amphibious raids."
Thanks for sharing.
What a fantastic story and what a brave and wonderful man Jack was, thank you so much for this great video.
really glad you liked it. Thanks for watching.
Mad bastard. Great character. Excellent video. I had been aware of Churchill but not his full story or exploits. Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it
What a fantastic presentation of an inspirational Officer. Thanks. We actually studied some of his career highlights at Duntroon, back in the day. I think Fighting Jack Churchill would be proud of your work.
Thank you for those very kind words. Means a lot.
Oxfordshire, England does have families with genealogies that go back to Scotland. Those lineages go so every interesting connections, in Mad Jack Churchills genealogy you just have to go back farther than he’s done do to Church records indirectly.
His story would make a fantastic film.
Wouldn't it just. Thank you.
@@TheHistoryChap
and @john buxton
You two gentleman have just *made my day.*
x🧡👏x
Needs a screenplay... love it.
As a woman, Jack is definitely unique, _my kind of man._ ⚡☂️😊
The sort of bloke i loved reading about, when i got my Victor comic, on a Saturday morning. "For Valour", i believe
it was called.
And a real life comic magazine hero.
I've seen several videos on Mad Jack, and I seem to learn something new every time. That says more about you than him but it's an honor either way.
I'll take that compliment, thank you.
I mentioned in another comment I read a book on Tripoli Pirates and the taking of the Philidelphia. Also in the 5th or 6th grade I read a book on commandos and the book described the claymore which is how I learned the word at age 10 -- thanks to Fighting Jack Churchill. I love you content!!!! Why do I remember freakish stuff like this? My sister does too.
Glad you are enjoying. Thanks for your support
Played the pipes well, even for an Englishman. Hilarious. I so love the British since of humor.
NOW THAT'S A TRULY
GREAT BRITAIN 💯🇬🇧🗣️💯
Thank you for all those proud fact's of the man!!!
A truly GREAT KNIGHT 🙏🇬🇧💪🎬🤩🤔🥺🤫😱☠️🆘
REST WITH THE BEST JAKE.
LONDON'S PROUD🇬🇧🙏💯
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Brilliant as ever. Many thanks 👍👏
Thanks for watching and for your continuing support.
now I wonder if I could bring a cello into combat... absolute mad lad that man. Also a well told story
Many thanks.
most excellent thank you!!
Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for watching.
Thank you Chris, very enjoyable.
Glad you enjoyed.
What a story!!! Fantastic Chris
Many thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
What an amazing character! Chris,thank you so much. Thoroughly enjoyed that.
James, thank you for watching.
Thanks Chris - another great story well told - cheers
Glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you. You made my night.
I've already read about this character. But it was just a short mention. I'm glad you told and showed more about him.
Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for watching.
Great story and superbly told, again, Chris. Thank you
My pleasure.
Thanks for sharing this.
My pleasure.
Thank you.
My pleasure. Thank you for watching.
Chris, another great job. Keep them coming
Will do. Thanks for your support.
And before I say my farewells; brilliant video, and great narrative of the man. 👍
Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Great episode
Many thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
Excellent work. You tell a wonderful yarn.
Many thanks, Stuart.
Excellent told and I have read many things about this brave officer and soldier thanks 👏
Glad you enjoyed.Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Another great video!
Many thanks.
Good morning, Chris, bloody excellent video. I have seen a few bits on Fighting Jack, but this was brilliant, What an incredible character, Cheers
Glad you enjoyed and thanks for taking the time to comment.
What an awesome chap,thanks
Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for watching.
Mad dogs and Englishman. Nothing was out of the question for this man.👍👍
Tom, you are absolutely right. Thanks for watching.
These are the kind of stories that inspired me as young boy growing up in wartime and post war Britain. They made me want to join the fight and I became a navigator in RAF Bomber Command. Peacetime service was not as exciting as war so I eventually resigned my commission.
David, thanks for watching. I guess that "Mad Jack" Churchill would have sympathised with your lack of excitement in peacetime.
Yet another WONDERFUL video!🤩
Many thanks. It was a great one to research.
@@TheHistoryChap I am your greatest fan🤩
Love learning about this soldier
Glad you enjoyed.
What an absolutely amazing story. As you say, straight out of "Boys Own!", and you tell it so well. Since living in New Zealand I have found a couple of characters that I would love to hear you talk about. The first being Lt Charles Upham, VC and bar. The other being Nancy Wake. Or "White Mouse" as she was known to the Nazis. Thank you Sir.
Russ, Upham VC has been nominated before so I will move him up my league table of future talks. Thanks.
Nancy Wake. What a gutsy lady.
@@simonsmith1974 Her biography is well worth the read.
Outstanding Man, downright Inspiring! Outstanding story, Well Done! Good job, keep it up, looking forward to the next one!
Many thanks.
Great presentation!
Thank you. Please make sure you subscribe so you don't miss future videos.
Love that wonderful piece of history. What an awesome individual.
Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for your awesome channel! I love history and I it helps me with my PTSD.
Carlos, I am pleased that history and my channel are helping you. Best wishes, Chris
@@TheHistoryChap you're very welcome.
What a brilliant story and so well told. Real Boys Own stuff! Thank you.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
There should be a biopic made about Jack Churchill - what an amazing character!
Indeed. Thanks for commenting.
What a guy ! I knew about him but this was great, thanks 👍
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Fantastic story. If a writer had made up a story like Jack Churchill's, people would say those things would never happen.
So true! Thanks for watching.
Agreed!
The steam launch mentioned at 15.59 was Woodland Lily, (renamed by Churchill as "Stromboli") Churchill bought Woodland Lily from my father is about 1970
Thanks for sharing that info.
I love the enthusiasm you bring to every video. I wasn’t aware of his brush with Hollywood, fascinating, thanks
Now have to rewatch Ivanhoe! Good job and keep up the great storytelling! Thank You!
Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for watching.
Enjoy Ivanhoe. Not sure I've ever sen the film but I have read the book.
Thank you for sharing your research
My pleasure. Thanks for your support.
As an amateur archer and fencer I like his style
Incredible life.
Jack was an absolute Chad - I would follow him into battle any day 💥
Thanks for your vote for Jack Churchill.
An Irresistibly Brilliant Career!!!
Indeed. Thanks for watching.
Good Gosh, what an interesting story. And what an unusual individual, but truly impressive. Thank you for taking the time to share this man's journey. Taking a sword into a WW2 battle! Now that is an original idea that only he could have likely got away with. (Love him picking up the bagpipes as well, originating from the Scottish Highland's myself).
Thanks for watching my video & for taking the time to comment.
Splendid. What a great character.
Thanks for watching.
Nice one, what a fella.
Thanks for watching
Brilliant.
Many thanks.
Fascinating story , coincidentally David Niven was in the Highland light infantry ! Thank you for explaining ,the DSO and bar etc . Your delievry and enthusiasm are contagious , and you are so right Fighting Jack was straight out of Boys own manual and war comics …. With plenty of onomatopoeia’s !
Thanks for watching and commenting. Glad you enjoyed it.
Very interesting thankyou
My pleasure. Thanks for taking the time to watch.
Wow what a bloke, excellent video.
Thank you. Lots more coming your way.
God bless Mad Jack and British eccentricity .
Indeed.Thank you for taking the time to post your comment.
Ah Chris! Thank you for this one, saving it for later. Will eloborate then.
Hope you enjoy.
Another really interesting video about a lesser known historical figure!
Thank you, I'm glad you found it interesting.
Great video, Chris! Why not one more on another British maverick soldier: Orde Wingate?
Wingate & the Chindits would be a great video. Thanks for the suggestion.
really loved this, what a legend and beautifully told too, thank you very much, how I'd never heard of this great man before I don't know but my father may have known him because my dad was in Palestine in 1946 with the Welsh guards, I wonder ❤️
Heath, I wonder too....it is funny to think that members of our families were connected to historical events and characters in some way.
@@TheHistoryChap absolutely sir, my dad was a Batman to a high ranking officer, so sorry I can't ask him if it was Mad Jack
that was a very interesting and as usual....very informative.
Well it held my interest anyway.
I thought for a moment you were referring to the Piper who played on the Normandy beaches, but obviously not so.
absolutely true about the Germans being correct in discipline. my DaD was a POW and held the ranks of Bomberdier and later, Sergeant. he told me that when a German guard of a lower rank spoke to him...the guard stood to attention. Absolutely true.
Nice presentation...keep it up.
I love that story about the German guard. It's brightened up my day whilst it is pouring outside.
@@TheHistoryChap
He was at Stalag 17a Kaiserstienbruk in 1944. Just one of 13 camps from 06 '42 to 05 '45.
Inspired leadership madness! Awesome.
Glad you enjoyed.
@@TheHistoryChap definitely, your material is excellent. Keep it going.
Sounds like my uncle who fought in WW2,korea,and was one of the first advisors in vietnam with the 1st special forces.Retired a seargent major in 63.
You must’ve been very proud of him. Thanks for watching my video and for sharing your story.
@@TheHistoryChap HE had a gorilla tattooed on his chest wearing a green army uniform,helmet,and smoking a cigar.
If ever the needed to be a a tv series like band of brothers style this would be it 🎉 as always fantastic episode ❤
It certainly would. Thanks for posting.
good story
Thank you for watching so many of my videos
keep coming @@TheHistoryChap
Awesomeness supreme
Indeed.Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Just bumped into your channel and very much enjoying your talks. Have you thought of doing one on the siege of Colchester?
Glad you are enjoying, thanks for watching.
I hadn't thought of the Siege of Colchester, but I think the whole English Civil War (or the War of the Three Kingdoms) deserves some videos.
Please subscribe (& hit the bell icon) so you don't miss them.
my dad was at Salerno , he was the gunner in a landing craft ,two of his cousins were also in the vessel , they were mostly lads from Cowcaddens in Glasgow and had been formed into the Scots Guards ,they attacked a tobacco factory
My grandad was in the Ordnance Corps - truck driver. Mentioned in dispatched twice.
Inspiring, what else is there to say "Brilliant"
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
What a weapon. I have read up on Jack Churchill before seeing this but it just makes me like him more.
Glad you found it interesting.
@@TheHistoryChap Same here, thanks for the vid.