The First World War was to provide the first major setback to Churchill’s political career. In December 1914, at the age of forty, Churchill was eager not just to run the Navy but to manage the war itself. Demonstrating his usual self-confidence, drive and determination, Churchill looked for creative ways to engage the enemy, including an attack on the Dardanelles Straits. The high-risk offensive operation went ahead. It soon became clear that the planning of the operation was beyond the capabilities of the British leaders.

By the early 1930s, Churchill no longer had a Government position. He opposed plans to give greater independence to India and seemed out of touch. Based at his beloved house at Chartwell in Kent, he continued to write books and newspaper articles, but many thought his political career was over. It was his vocal opposition to Hitler’s new Nazi dictatorship in Germany, and his calls for British rearmament, that gradually brought him back to public notice.

World War II saw the rationing re-introduced to Britain and, as the war progressed, food shortages became even more severe. Shortages in this period saw creative inventions such as carrot jam and also lead to spam becoming an iconic wartime symbol.

Dr Warren Dockter (University of Cambridge) and Professor Richard Toye (University of Exeter) discuss the reasons for Churchill’s electoral defeat in the General Election of 1945 and the various historical interpretations...

Churchill’s ‘New York Misadventure’ copyright: Churchill Archives Centre...

Bread was subsidized but in 1917, British people were told to eat 25% less copyright: IWM...

copyright: IWM...

copyright: IWM (D 1568)...

copyright: IWM (HU 1129)...