The Churchill Series – Mar. 30, 2006

(One of a series of weekday posts on the life of Winston S. Churchill.)

Of course, Churchill’s part of this post but he has a secondary place. Primacy and the last word go today to H.R.H. King George V.

It’s July 1919. What they’re calling The Great War is over. Britain is drastically reducing the size and scope of its military.

The Royal Air Force is a separate service arm, having been made so in an expedient move in the closing months of the war. But the planned reductions include eliminating the RAF as a separate arm; and reassigning what remains of it to Army and Navy control.

Churchill, as Secretary of State for War and Air, believes a separate air service offers the best chance of Britain developing an adequate air defense system. So does King George. They carry the day with a decision that will later be seen as essential to victory in the Battle of Britain.

With the RAF’s future now secured, the matter of equivalent ranks arises. The Army has its Field Marshals; what will the RAF’s equivalent be?

The rank of Marshal of the Air is proposed. Churchill is fine with it, but the army doesn’t like it at all.

When the ranking RAF officer goes to Buckingham Palace to discuss the matter with the King, the King remarks, “Don’t you think Marshal of the Air is poaching a bit on the preserves of the Almighty?”

He has a suggestion: “Why not simply Marshall of the Royal Air Force?”

The matter is settled.
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Peter Townsend, Duel of Eagles. (pgs. 22-41)