Who Awarded Winston Churchill WW2 Campaign Medals?

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill rightfully received a deluge of awards from Britain and other countries following WWII, including, perhaps less rightfully, no fewer than six British campaign stars and medals. Research shows that Churchill did not meet the award criteria for any of the six WWII medals, so how did he obtain them? Was Britain's most famous leader guilty of the modern misdemeanour called "Stolen Valour"?

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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions 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.

Credits: GrafVonEbbell; Robert Prummel; Fdutil; Gentlemen's Military Interest Club; Imperial War Museum; Col. Andre Kritzinger

[jeffreyharris]

Whether Churchill "deserved" all of those campaign medals, I am not qualified to say. However, I do believe Churchill deserved a medal for having to put up with Charles de Gaulle for all that time.

[flipgalaxy]

"The only thing they have ever stormed is the eat all you can buffet"

Mark Felton dropping some absolute cold lines

[ejm]

I don’t think he stole any of this “valour” but accepted what was offered by the King in very exceptional circumstances.

[justme]

I witnessed the other extreme of seeing some innocent workman being accused of “stolen valor” because he was wearing US Army camouflage pants.
This worker was up on a ladder installing a sign when an elderly man was yelling at him for wearing the pants.
“Will you leave me alone? My brother was in the reserves and gave me these. They’re comfortable for work. It’s not like I’m wearing medals for f*** sake!”

[judescinnamon]

My dad was a Spitfire pilot in WWII. He spoke very little of his experiences and I never saw any ribbons or medals. The joystick from his last plane however was uncermoniously stored in the garden shed after he was demobbed. Us kids played air battles with it. He supported Churchill and the only time I ever witnessed him visibly moved was watching Churchill's funeral on our little black and white telly.

Oh, he used to joke that his official air force photo in his RAF uniform said he felt like a "bus conductor" in it but that the bus conductors did a far more important job than him. I loved that about him.

I appreciate the illumination of these facts. With power comes generous benefits it would appear.

[saberint]

My grandfather had polio and had to walk in leg braces. He drove voluntarily drove ammo trucks as a civilian around Britain. He got no medals and had no right to wear any… but for years he risked his life in the only way that he could to do his bit for the country. I think that’s the definition of state stolen valor.

[josephturner]

My grandad killed thousands in the war. He was a cook.

[earlthepearl]

Hey, hold on….I was awarded my first set of wings by a TWA stewardess when I was six, and 46 years later I still can’t take off and land an airplane.

[georgethompson]

Sorry Dr Felton, but I think you’ve missed two points here. Firstly, the King is the Fons Honorum, the fount of honour. Which means it’s his discretion as to whether a medal is awarded, over that of the actual eligibility criteria. So if King George VI gave Churchill his medals, then they were legitimately presented, even if they didn’t meet the criteria.

Secondly, the role of the sovereign as commander-in-chief is not a titular position, but a legal one. Whilst the monarch does not oversea the day to day running of the forces (as I am led to understand that being sovereign is a rather busy one), they do still exercise authority over them. For example, on the occasion of the Coronation of Charles III, the order was given to the Royal Navy, from the king, to splice the mainbrace, which entails the drinking of grog during the working day. The consumption of alcohol during the working day is usually banned in standing orders, and many ships don’t drink whilst at sea. The recognition by service personnel of the legitimacy of this order indicates that the position of the monarch as head of the armed forces is not just titular.

[ljdasilva]

During the Vietnam war, the Australian Army regularly sent senior officers on the 'Saigon Express' so they would qualify for two campaign medals - this required only being in-country for a day. So it was fly in, have a few drinks in the hotel bar and then fly out the next morning safe and sound while clutching two ill-gotten (but legitimate) gongs in their manicured hands.
it's a cruel world.

[luckeyhaskins]

As a US Naval aviator I have no problem with Churchill or the King wearing medals to rally their troops and country. From a legalistic standpoint everything in the video is true but what Churchill and the King 17:25 did, exceeded their ally counterparts. The both men were extraordinary in many ways although not perfect. The world owes both its gratitude for a job well done with symbolic medals earned.

[strfltcmnd.]

Churchill's escape from the Boers deserves its own story.

[BrassLock]

My Dad was always joking that he organised the refreshments for the troops so that as they breached the enemy lines, there he was in his caravan with a hot pot of tea and biscuits. He was proud to have served as a private from 1939 to Captain 1946 in the RASC.

[spacecadet]

Just remember "stolen honour" is when you award yourself the medals. In the case of the airman's wings, it would appear that Churchill did not award himself the wings, the King did. Even though this is an unusual case, as medals and honours are done in the King's name, it would stand as a legitimate award and Churchill would be fully entitled to wear them.

[Chiller]

I would begrudge Winston Churchill less for “stolen valour” than most politicians then and now. Churchill did attend Sandhurst and was commissioned as a British officer. He lead in combat and was recognized for bravery. As prime minister he was, after all, directly involved in military decision making especially early in WW2. Yes some of his meddling resulted in poor outcomes like Greece but he also had direct input into other decisions that turned out pretty well, like replacing Auchinleck with Montgomery. Churchill’s decisions did have direct influence on the prosecution of the war on a strategic and occasionally on an operational level. He shouldered immense responsibility and contributed greatly towards the Allied victory. Yes he’s guilty of showboating but he demonstrated authentic valour, perhaps borrowing some rather than stealing any.

[sailordude]

In America, we have US Senators that lie about being in combat and still get elected, lol. Thanks for the interesting video Dr Mark!

[cynderfan]

It's not stolen valour if the award is properly awarded by the correct authorities. You could say he didn't earn those awards, but they were awarded legitimately.

[davealford]

Civilians have and still are entitled to military medals for 'service in theatre’. As a civilian technical officer serving on board Royal Fleet Auxiliary supply ship during 1st gulf war I, along with all the other civilian staff on board, was awarded The Gulf medal 1990-91 and a General Service Medal N. Iraq & South Turkey. Any civilian serving in a war zone is still entitled to campaign medals if they fit the required criteria.

[jaymcbakerk]

Bear Grylls may be a tv personality and an honorary Colonel, but he’s also ex-special forces. His military career ended when he fell 16000 feet in freefall and broke his back after his parachute didn’t open.

[ercando]

As an American who has nothing but complete respect for 'Sir Winston' this was an unpalatable treatment. Critical judgment of a servant of the crown trying to save an Empire in such stressful times. Thank you Dr. Felton, interesting non the less.