6 replies to this topic

[David Filsell]

In all the books I have on Jutland I cannot locate any reference to this point. Help please
Was it Beatty that Churchill described as being able to loose the war in a day?
Does anyone have the precise quote and a source please?

[David Seymour]

David,
Jellicoe, not Beatty.  Am searching for quote.
Regards,
David

[David Seymour]

David,
This from the Royal Navy website: "Admiral John Jellicoe was one of the Royal Navy’s most senior admirals during the First World War. He commanded the Grand Fleet from 1914-1916 and then served as First Sea Lord. While in command of the Grand Fleet he was, as Winston Churchill correctly observed ‘the only man on either side who could lose the war in an afternoon’. "

As yet I cannot trace the remark to a letter, speech or book.  Still looking!
Regards,
David

[David Seymour]

David,
Sorry, no luck with source of quote!  Perhaps another Pal will know.
Regards,
David

[christine liava'a]

Q.Who, in The World Crisis, was "the only man on either side who could lose the War in an afternoon"?
A.Lord Jellicoe
The Churchill Centre
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The Churchill Centre  |  1150 17th Street NW, Ste. 307  Washington, DC

[David Filsell]

Thanks guys - no wonder I couldn't find it!!. Only excuse is that I'm all at sea with Great War naval mtters..
David

[duckman]

Q.Who, in The World Crisis, was "the only man on either side who could lose the War in an afternoon"?
A.Lord Jellicoe
The Churchill Centre
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Churchill Centre  |  1150 17th Street NW, Ste. 307  Washington, DC

Curses, Christine, you beat me to it.

FWIW, The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (4th Ed. 1992 - Page 203:6) has it simply as:
"Jellicoe was the only man on either side who could lose the war in an afternoon."
"The World Crisis" (1927) Part 1, Chapter 5.