The Churchill Quiz Book: How much do you know about Britain's wartime leader?

By Kieran Whitworth

Do you think you know everything there is to know about Churchill?

Have you seen every film and read every book ever produced about this great British statesman? Then delve into The Churchill Quiz Book to find 800 fascinating questions on every aspect of his heroic, colourful and controversial life!

With multiple-choice questions, anagrams, truth or fiction sections to baffle and intrigue, picture quizzes and much more, you will find there is still something new to learn about the compelling icon who led Great Britain to ultimate victory in World War II.

Published in association with Imperial War Museums, this quiz book covers all aspects of the extraordinary life of Sir Winston Churchill.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Release date: Apr 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781472845788

Kieran Whitworth

Kieran Whitworth has been the Book Buyer at Imperial War Museums for over 17 years, during which time he has developed his passion for military history, especially the history of World War II. His first quiz book, The Ultimate World War II Quiz Book, was published in 2017.

Book preview

CONTENTS

Introduction

Acknowledgements

How to Use This Book

Questions

1. Beginnings

2. Passion and Politics

3. Politics, Empire and the Road to War

4. War and Wilderness

5. Alone and at War

6. Darkest Hours

7. Adversity and Striking Back

8. Liberating Europe

9. Victory and Defeat

10. Post-war and Legacy

Answers

Further Reading

About the Author

Imperial War Museums

INTRODUCTION

Winston Churchill was a man who, for many, needs no introduction. Acclaimed by his supporters as a war-leader, national saviour, adventurer, innovator and orator, he is deplored by his detractors as privileged, reckless, heavy-handed, militarist and imperialist. But whatever your views on the man who was voted by the British public as ‘the Greatest Briton’ in 2002, he lived and worked through some of the most tumultuous times of the early twentieth century, knew many famous historical figures, was a modernist who saw both the advantages and perils of newly developing technologies, and was a family man and devoted husband who did indeed deliver the British Empire through its greatest crisis, the Second World War.

Such a rich and colourful life, as you would expect, has been documented and studied for many years, but it is also fertile ground for those who like their history in more bite-sized chunks, and who enjoy the task of asking and answering questions about people and events they think they already know. This book offers an easily digestible look at Churchill’s many adventures through 800 questions about the man, his life and his world, from his early years through to his ‘finest hour’ and beyond.

Churchill retains his iconic status to this day, primarily due to his time as Prime Minister during World War II, but his life was a rich tapestry both before and after that, and the questions here look at both the man and the myth, and just as importantly his impact on the political and historical landscape in which he lived. Whilst the majority of the book explores his time during the Second World War, those who have only have a passing acquaintance with Churchill’s life beyond his political career will be delighted to find questions that shine a light on the personality of the man. Famous for his speeches, quotes and quips, he also had a keen sense of humour and a lack of respect for the privileged establishment of which he was a part: an anti-establishment establishment figure.

So delve into these pages and test (and expand) your knowledge about the iconic historical figure that is, quite simply, Churchill.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank my colleagues at Imperial War Museums for their help and support on this book, especially David Tibbs, Maddy James and David Fenton, and all my colleagues in the curatorial teams who checked the questions and answers. Thanks to Laura Callaghan and the team at Osprey Publishing for their enthusiasm, dedication and support on ‘another’ book about Winston Churchill.

As ever, thanks to my wife Joanne, for her support and encouragement, and to Elsa our dog, who allowed me to skip the occasional walk, though I’m not sure Churchill as a dog lover would have approved. Finally I’d like to dedicate the book to two people, my nephew Rowan, who lives in New Zealand, and to my dad, who has always supported me throughout my life.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

This book is packed with questions about the life, work and times of the ‘Greatest Briton’, Winston Churchill. You can enjoy them either as a solo challenge, or to test the knowledge of family and friends. Inside you’ll find ten chapters which explore each stage of his life in turn, broken down into 4 ‘quizzes’ per chapter. Feel free to tackle each one in order, or dip in and out at your leisure. The question types you’ll encounter include ‘True or false?’, anagrams, picture questions (based primarily on photos from the archives of Imperial War Museums), multiple choice questions and straightforward questions. Some have obvious or more subtle hints in the question, but others don’t – the most fiendishly difficult, which we expect only the true Churchill buff will be able to answer, are tagged as ‘Expert’ questions.

One thing is guaranteed – no matter whether you’re a Churchill newcomer or a confirmed afficionado of this giant of British history, you’ll find something new to learn in these pages!

Questions

1 BEGINNINGS

Winston Churchill was born into an aristocratic Victorian family, but this didn’t mean he had a calm or even normal childhood. Despite the relative luxuries and entitlement of his early years, he was lonely and starved of the affections of his parents, a famous politician and his society wife, who were often more interested in careers and Victorian high society than in their son. The young boy became a young man but first had to endure boarding schools, teachers and ill-discipline, which could often be ascribed to a lack of attention paid to this bright but mischievous boy. This chapter will ask questions about Churchill’s early years, his family, where he lived, went to school and how he spent most of his formative years living in the shadow of his father, which was to become a recurring theme throughout his life.

© IWM (ZZZ 7555D)

QUIZ 1

1 Where was Winston Churchill born? A) Kensington Palace B) Chatsworth House C) Blenheim Palace

2 True or false? Churchill was born three weeks prematurely.

3 EXPERT Winston Churchill was born on 30 November, but in which year?

4 EXPERT What was Churchill’s full name given to him at birth?

5 True or false? Churchill’s maternal grandfather was an American tobacco merchant, and Churchill got his love of cigars from him.

6 Churchill’s surname had been hyphenated with that of the Spencer family of Althorp since which date? A) 1800 B) 1809 C) 1817

7 Which member of Churchill’s family is featured in this portrait photograph?

(Photo by Print Collector/Getty Images)

8 ANAGRAM The stately home where Churchill was born was named after a battle from which European war? a cops chief as showiness turn

9 True or false? Churchill’s father proposed to his future wife only three days after their first meeting.

10 ANAGRAM What was the name of Churchill’s American socialite mother, before her marriage to his father? enjoin me jeer

11 Churchill’s parents were married at the British Embassy in which European city? Hint: Churchill would later parade down its main street in victory.

12 EXPERT Who was Frederic Taylor and how was he connected to Winston Churchill?

13 Churchill was baptised in the chapel of the stately home where he was born, but who was his godmother? A) Clementina, Marchioness Islington B) Clementina, Marchioness Camden C) Clementina, Marchioness Knightsbridge

14 Churchill’s mother had a small tattoo on her left wrist, which she often kept covered by a bracelet. What was the tattoo? A) Rose B) Serpent C) Moon and stars

15 EXPERT Churchill’s American maternal grandfather, Leonard, had been enormously rich before a stock market crash reduced his wealth. What nickname was he given because of his wealth?

16 EXPERT Churchill spent his early childhood years living at Little Lodge, but in which park and European city was it situated? Hint: this park also hosts many pop concerts in the city.

17 EXPERT What was the name of Churchill’s brother who was born in February 1880?

18 What was Churchill’s first nickname? A) Minny B) Skinny C) Binny

19 ANAGRAM Who was the young Winston’s nanny? sizable teeth ever

20 EXPERT What nickname did Churchill give to his nanny?

Answers here

QUIZ 2

1 In this photograph is a seven-year-old Churchill. A year later he was to start at St George’s Preparatory School which was located in which English town? Hint: this town could take you to the races.

© IWM (ZZZ 7555D)

2 When Churchill was a young child he fell from which animal whilst riding in the park that was the answer to question 16 in Quiz 1?

3 True or false? Churchill once destroyed the straw hat of a teacher after he had been caned.

4 What was the nickname given to the stocky, red-haired Winston Churchill at school? A) ‘Copperbeech’ B) ‘Copperchub’ C) ‘Copperknob’

5 Winston Churchill was born on the family estate in the village of Woodstock in Oxfordshire. Which royal had been imprisoned at Woodstock in an earlier period? A) Mary I B) Charles II C) Elizabeth I

6 True or false? Winston Churchill was related to Lady Diana Spencer, the Princess of Wales.

7 Churchill once remarked about his ‘impediment’ that it wasn’t a ‘hindrance’. To what impediment was Churchill referring?

8 EXPERT Who in Churchill’s early life was Herbert Sneyd-Kynnersley?

9 Following his removal from St George’s School, Churchill was enrolled at Brunswick School, in September 1884. Name the East Sussex seaside resort where it was located.

10 True or false? As he knew his father was a famous politician, Churchill asked him for autographs so that he could give them to his classmates at school.

11 In 1885, a young Churchill came first in which class? A) History B) Geography C) Classics

12 True or false? Whilst at school in December 1884, a then ten-year-old Churchill became involved in an argument with another boy over a penknife, and stabbed the other boy in the chest.

13 In March 1886, Churchill contracted which illness whilst at school? A) Measles B) Typhoid C) Pneumonia

14 ANAGRAM Name the late Victorian society doctor of the Churchill family who helped nurse a young Churchill