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.

@MarkFeltonProductions

25 күн бұрын

I guess that's why they give him to Croix de Guerre!

@isthereanybodyoutthere9397

25 күн бұрын

Agreed, and maybe it was his way of mocking the various others he encountered who would do the same, like Stalin?

@pegoossens

25 күн бұрын

I believe the reverse should also have been true. Imagine having to be regularly within breathing distance of a man with the drinking and smoking habits of Winston Churchill. that should have earned you an award all of it's own.

@andrewashdown3541

25 күн бұрын

@@MarkFeltonProductions Grrrrrr!

@nanabutner

25 күн бұрын

THAT IS UNEQUIVOCALLY TRUE! I was alive when Charles de Gaulle was president of FRANCE and he most definitely was a pompous excrement evacuator sphincter.

"The only thing they have ever stormed is the eat all you can buffet" Mark Felton dropping some absolute cold lines

@flipgalaxy711

26 күн бұрын

"soon to be unemployed government minister" holy shit, Dr Felton you are cranking them out today

@jaybee9269

26 күн бұрын

“Spud-faced losers.”

@MOrab46019

26 күн бұрын

Love that line.

@oslonorway547

26 күн бұрын

3:23 is honorable colonel in the Reserves. His knowledge of survival skills could actually be useful in training civilians if a war broke out, so I say he deserves his appointment.

@peterallen4605

25 күн бұрын

@@oslonorway547 Only when there's a 5 star hotel nearby for him to go shower and sleep in before the next day's filming.

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.

@luckyguy600

23 күн бұрын

I got a silver plastic pair from TCA for flying on a Viscount. I ended up working for them for 34 years!

@allenjenkins7947

22 күн бұрын

I got mine in 1961, aged 13, from a TAA stewardess on a Viscount flight from Melbourne to Hobart.

@Walker983

12 күн бұрын

As I understand it, military units are eager to have the Premier of their Nation as an Honorary Officer, or a Royal Family member. Also I thought that any GI who was "In Theatre" got the Campaign Medal . . . shouldn't a visiting Prime Minister rate one ?

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.

@andrewatwater

24 күн бұрын

he did his bit

@Sharpbevel

24 күн бұрын

🫡 to your granddad. 🫡

@WiseOwl_1408

24 күн бұрын

Did every factory worker get metals?

@saberint

24 күн бұрын

@@WiseOwl_1408 oh I get it, oh my goodness I am glad I am not you❤️

@robertnewell4054

21 күн бұрын

@@WiseOwl_1408….. They got a PayCheck instead. GrandDad was a Volunteer

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!”

@jaykay4137

25 күн бұрын

Old bastard doesn't know what stolen valor is. Wear all the fatigues you want. Hell, if it's the medal of a family member that died in combat, I could even look the other way if they want to wear one of their medals, so long as they're honest about where they got it.

@OGPatriot03

25 күн бұрын

Yea that's really cringe when people equate camo pants or generic fatigues as stolen valor. If you're wearing rank/medals/ribbons then yes that could be seen as stolen valor depending on the context but Camo obviously doesn't count. It could be considered a bit extra if you go all out in military boots and all, but again without a rank attached it's not stolen valor. When I was a kid I would hike in such gear, with a WW2 helmet to boot.

@mgraemem

25 күн бұрын

Ha! :-D

@user-McGiver

25 күн бұрын

combats and army boots are sturdy and cheap to wear for work... period!

@anonymousm9113

25 күн бұрын

Combat uniforms are durable, utilitarian, and for the most part, comfortable. I've seen many a blue-collar worker wearing them, especially the pants. Prior to joining the Army, I had a bunch of military surplus, and before I shipped for training, I sold most of it at the flea market. I found that I couldn't give away BDU blouses, but the trousers were always in demand. Just before I retired, I bought a couple of extra pairs of Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform (IHWCU) trousers for my own use, along with one spare jacket. I only had one set I wore my last year or so in, but those are nice, so I wanted to ensure I had backups. I probably have 30+ combat uniforms, plus cold and wet weather gear (BDU, DCU, Multicam, OCP). If I choose to wear it, so be it. I won't be wearing my sewn-up uniform components, but if I did, it's all stuff I earned. If I see some guy on the street wearing some surplus pants, cool. He's obviously smart, knowing they'll last longer than most clothes and cost much less than so-called "premium" workwear.

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

@RandomDeforge

25 күн бұрын

Thank you for your service.

@peterkerr4019

25 күн бұрын

Like the guy that was responsible for downing 27 axis aircraft; he was the worst mechanic in the entire Luftwaffe.

@WNH3

25 күн бұрын

"He was in the Catering Corps"--Sybil Fawlty, undercutting Basil's threat.

@m.bowyer5045

25 күн бұрын

🤣.......I thankyou👏👏

@FredScuttle456

25 күн бұрын

@@peterkerr4019 My grand dad was a kamikaze pilot. He flew 30 successful missions.

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

@chrismac2234

22 күн бұрын

It not only, did get a story but was made into a movie.

@microy

22 күн бұрын

@@chrismac2234 pretty sure I read his own account, but what was the film called?

@michaelbruns449

22 күн бұрын

It's in a movie called Young Winston

@tararuaman

20 күн бұрын

You mean, how he was part of an escape plan and became inpatient and left the other officers high and dry. He wanted the glory and took off without them. They never forgave him for that.

@alexbowman7582

20 күн бұрын

He was press, non combatant, they legally had to let him go. He made it sound like he was a hero.

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.

@HenryLeslieGraham

16 күн бұрын

dr Felton was really reaching with this one.

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.

@highpath4776

25 күн бұрын

yes , many bus conductors - and drivers - killed or injured by bombs and many had to drive in the blackout including doubling up as reserve ambluence drivers and so on, such is war planning

@christophercook723

25 күн бұрын

Many men like my late father only accepted Medals that included a Cash payment.

@Cdr_Mansfield_Cumming

24 күн бұрын

Wow, your Dad was a real bloody hero. A knight of the air. Reading your post, I detect a tinge of sadness that he didn’t tell you more. Only one of my Granddads survived the war. He too didn’t talk about it. Neither did my Nan who survived the Coventry Blitz in November 1940. Over two nights the city was destroyed and she lost 36 members of her family. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and sisters. She too never said a word, save, her insistence right up until her last year, in going to the mass grave on Remembrance Sunday, to read the names of her entire family on that marble. She lost my Granddad at the end of the war. A survivor of Dunkirk, where he was severely injured, jumped on D-Day and received his fatal injury at Arnhem. They were a special breed. Our finest generation.

@exsubmariner

24 күн бұрын

I believe your father was entitled to wear at least three medals if he served as a pilot in the RAF during the war a simple search on Google will let you know

@steventrompeter9883

24 күн бұрын

A rare trait,humble. My kind of hero.

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.

@aaronpower5726

25 күн бұрын

Very true. But it also qualified them for a higher benefit Vet Medical Card as well after service.

@petercumpson6867

25 күн бұрын

I met one of the stewardesses on one of the first chartered flights that took nervous Australian soldiers to Saigon. Being a civil airliner the pilot was apparently worried about the soldiers all having guns with them, and asked the (18-year old) stewardess to make an announcement asking them to take care. Quite innocently she announced over the loudspeaker "We understand that you are holding something unusually powerful and dangerous between your legs, and we ask that you grasp it firmly during take-off and landing" or something similar. The whole plane descended into uproar and laughter. Things were much more subdued on the return flights apparently.

@muzzaduzz613

25 күн бұрын

This was still happening as recently as 2003 - a deployment that I was on had to stop random officers turning up on semi-official trips for a day to get a gong. Thankfully this was shut down pretty quickly once the hierarchy got wind of what was going on.

@pepelemoko01

25 күн бұрын

@@aaronpower5726 War service home loan and war service pension for their wife after the die too .

@davidcrowder1987

24 күн бұрын

Something similar occurred among US commanders during the Balkans IFOR/SFOR era. The commanders would fly into the theater on the 30th of the month and return on the 2nd. Under US DOD regs, that would count as "two months" (roughly one day each month), thus qualifying them for hazardous duty pay for both months and partial income tax relief.

An "honorary Colonel"?! Is that like a Kentucky Colonel, just with less fried chicken?

@frozzie108

15 күн бұрын

Basically - It all goes back to the early army of the 17th and 18th centuries. Rich Lords would raise regiments for the king, and would be their colonel. They would then appoint a Lieutenant Colonel to actually run the regiment. This is why today Battalions (which are the successor to the pre-caldwell reform regiments which were all single Battalion (Battalion being the name of the line companies with the specialist flank companies forming the other part of the regiment)) (and regiments in the non-infantry arms) are led by Lieutenant Colonels, not full Colonels. The practice of having the honourary colonel that isn’t around but is in theory the head of the regiment and uses the regiment for political and military prestige remains.

@theophrastus3.056

15 күн бұрын

@@frozzie108 interesting! Thank for explaining that. So not like a “Kentucky Colonel” and the fried chicken might be there, depending on the Lt Colonel’s taste and the budget he’s given.

@strfltcmnd.9925

15 күн бұрын

and no smell of chicken grease on his clothed.

@frankkorfias7874

12 күн бұрын

I am a “Kentucky Colonel” and was awarded the honorary title from the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky just for being a member of the crew of the USS Kentucky (SSBN 737). It is a very nice certificate and comes with a history of the Kentucky Colonels, which is now a non-profit organization. That title and 50 bucks will get me a nice bottle of bourbon!

@theophrastus3.056

12 күн бұрын

@@frankkorfias7874 I worked at Kentucky Fried Chicken as as a teenager. But I think my rank was roughly equivalent to a Private. 😁

This isn’t a case of ‘stolen Valour’ if he was awarded them. If he bought them privately and wore them without being awarded them, then that would be stolen valour.

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.

Catering is the most important job!

@catlee8064

26 күн бұрын

....yet no one has ever passed the course.....

@WALTERBROADDUS

26 күн бұрын

You have to be tough, to make British cooking taste good.

@sailordude2094

26 күн бұрын

But they would delivery one hot meal a day to the front line. Brave!

@joseywales3789

26 күн бұрын

Cabbage Mechanics are "Super Human!" It takes the human body, roughly 12 hours to turn food into crap.... It takes the Catering Corp 12 minutes 😳😲😂🤣

@catlee8064

26 күн бұрын

@@sailordude2094 Xmas 2008, they flew in chefs and supplies for xmas dinner, tasted not bad, but having been on rations for 2 months, the result was a queue in front of the thunder boxes as the fresh had gone through us like a race horse !

The bravery of this man bordered on the reckless all his life. He flew thousands of miles around the world during the war, being the most important target there was. He deserves everything he ever wore and after all, don't our royal family wear every uniform in the book too?

Winston deserved every single medal we have available. The man was a colossus among liliputians, So much more than the sum of his medals.

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

@jsldj

26 күн бұрын

Hillary Clinton and "journalist" Matt Lauer too!

@peterallen4605

25 күн бұрын

We have senators that use their commissions in the reserves or National Guard to don a uniform on visits to the war zone and demanding to go out on patrol (thus qualifying for the combat ribbons). Yes Senator Graham, I'm talking about you.

@krisfrederick5001

25 күн бұрын

And we have Presidents (bone spurs trump) that accuse actual War heroes (John McCain) of being "losers"

@TheBestDog

25 күн бұрын

I’ll never forget Bush Jr. wearing a flight suit -codpiece and all. Declaring “Mission Accomplished.”

@martinswiney2192

25 күн бұрын

Or Bidens son dying in combat in Iraq. Seems the Iraqis had some sort of cancer gun.

Kelly Holmes had a long British Army career, so she has a track record.

@sulky9466

25 күн бұрын

she served in the WRAC and AGC from 1988 to 1997

@shawngilliland243

25 күн бұрын

Good pun!

@deemond5289

25 күн бұрын

Boom, Tchhhh!

@tonys1636

25 күн бұрын

Wasn't she also one of the most hated people in the Army, a PTI Sergeant.

@jamesbussey2911

25 күн бұрын

She served in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia during her time in the British Army, although I don't know whether it was long enough to earn one of the NATO/UN Medals dished out for that operation. That and N Ireland were about the only two things going on in the 1990s (after the Gulf War) one could earn a medal for, until Kosovo, Kuwait/Turkey and Sierra Leone kicked off later on in that decade.

He was an extraordinary man. I put this down to eccentricity because it caused no harm. After all, he really was a brave soldier.

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.

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.

@Vamooso

25 күн бұрын

I'm supposing he landed on his back on the parachute bag for cushioning, crazy how he survived

@mathewgurney2033

24 күн бұрын

My friend did that and turned his knees and teeth into a hundred small pieces on a large rock. Still alive, on his fourth divorce. Human body is amazingly durable. On a side-note, women are far more fatal to soldiers than even falling out of the sky.

@peetyw8851

24 күн бұрын

Thank you for this information. As a kid in the 50s, I was told of someone else having survived such a fall in WWII. I’ve since learned of others. Amazing!

@Willigula

24 күн бұрын

@@mathewgurney2033you speak the truth dear friend.

@seanford2358

24 күн бұрын

All 3 of the examples of honorary colonels (Grylls, Holmes and Mordaunt) have all actually served in the military proper at some point so not the best examples to have used!!!

To be fair, he did come under fire a number of times in Europe while visiting troops and he had at least been a soldier.

@arseniclullaby

24 күн бұрын

or...one could say, the troops came under fire because Churchill exposed himself to the enemy to glad hand, putting everyone around him in peril.

@kayjay135

23 күн бұрын

​@@arseniclullaby fair too if accurate. It was all out war. I think it would be expected to come under fire when visiting front lines by sheer probability alone. Also, if Germany would have known the location of Churchill and it being within striking distance, they would've thrown everything at it. I assume, we'd know if something like that had occurred. But that is just an assumption, just like yours. Besides all that, even if Churchill got soldiers in danger by visiting somewhere, then a) those visits were huge moral boosts. I'd bet most soldiers would still prefer to meet the man, even if it increased the risk they were exposed too. People weren't that cynical back then as today; b) t's not like he was anyways already sending thousands to their death. Focussing aggression to one spot would relieve other spots, so the net damage would've probably close to nil; c) let's say, it was just eccentric theatrics - if that's what you get with a leader like Churchill, then that's what you get. He was one of the major reasons for the allied success. He was the right guy, at the right place, at the right time.

@arseniclullaby

23 күн бұрын

@kayjay135 as far as A. I think it would depend on which vet you ask, if they'd be willing to risk death for no strategic reason, just to meet Churchill. and what about the people who weren't going to meet him? If they'd have thrown everything at him ( like they did when they knew where Patton was) a whole lot of people who were just in the area would have been killed...again for no strategic purpose. B. That's a pretty cynical way of looking at things, haha. I doubt that he considered any of that, and if he sat down and said "well, the amount of death would be a zero sum change, so I'm going to go visit because my very presence will boost moral." then it must have been one of the many occasions he made decisions while drunk. C.I fail to see how he was a major reason for the Allies success, even though I hear that all the time. His contribution was getting help before being forced to surrender. Germany was never going to beat Russia's overwhelming manpower, and it was never going to be able to keep up with the U.S.'s industrial production. It was simply too small of a country. The war was over when it extended to Russia and the U.S. At that point If you removed Britain entirely from the equation the end result would still have been a defeated and destroyed germany.

@henrigaziel2002

23 күн бұрын

@@arseniclullabyHow would they know he was there?

@kayjay135

22 күн бұрын

@@arseniclullaby A) fair point. B) lol, I didn't even catch the irony there. It is kinda cynical, but in the way military leaders need to be cynical, because troops ultimately are a resource in strategic terms. I don't know whether he thought about that. It would suit him to question himself, but as it's a given, that any leader should oversee in literal terms their endeavors and as it's a given, that a man at least take a look for himself at the hell, he's sending other men into, I'd bet together with you, that he did not consider any such things as plenty of other seemingly trivial decisions of his had equally or more dire outcomes for some unfortunate souls. C) I'd have to study more about the situation, to give a qualified answer, but off the top of my head I imagine, that his early and firm stance against Hitler's take-over of half of Europe had a significant impact on how Germany couldn't just be done with the western front that quickly; plus while Germany would have been ultimately defeated at some point by the US and Soviet Union, I don't think it's a given, that the Soviets would have ended with the defeat of the axis powers. But I do not have sufficient knowledge to make any serious suggestion. Anyways, thanks for responding!

Am an American and I’ve always have had a great deal of respect for prime minister Churchill. The war in Europe ended in May 8th 1945. I never understood how he was not re-elected in July 1945. It was as if he became expendable after going through as prime minister during war in Europe. A bit like general Patton. • Do I consider these medals as stolen valor? No

@HenryLeslieGraham

16 күн бұрын

i agree, since WC was retired from the military, + being PM, any awards or medals he wore would by NATURE be honorary. thus the medals could NOT count as stolen valour.

@RaymondCalloway

12 күн бұрын

I agree and perhaps we are taking today's definition of stolen valor and reflecting it upon Mr. Churchill. Maybe or not he lobbied the King for the wings but he was a remarkable man, and may I say we forget he was half American as his mother Jenny was born here in the States, in Brooklyn of all places!

Churchill was a deeply flawed human being, aren't we all? But we were very lucky to have him, the right man, in the right place, at the right time. As you pointed out Mark, his medals were given to him by the King. Part of his motive for wearing them may have been to identify with the troops involved in these campaigns, not to denigrate them. He was the one person that made any of these actions possible, by jutting out his jaw and refusing to compromise with Hitler in 1940. Personally I feel proud to have been born during his lifetime.

@user-fm5jk8gc9n

20 күн бұрын

i feel extremely greatful to have been able to have been born after his lifetime i often think would we have won the war without him ?

@Patty-bs3bz

14 күн бұрын

From what I’ve read Churchill was not just the right man at the right time but played a major role in stopping Hitler and the spread fascism. As England’s wartime leader, he initially fended off Nazi sympathizers within the government to take on Hitler because he knew what Hitler was capable of. And when the chips were down, in my mind it he had a unique ability to rally the English people when Hitler’s troops were practically at its doorstep. It was because of his efforts in reaching out to the US that eventually lead to the D-Day invasion and the end of the war. He was unique and of course had his flaws but had he not been there, the outcome for England and the world might have been vastly different. As an American I may not understand all the cultural intricacies of this issue. But Churchill didn’t have any stolen valor when it came to his character or his deeds. To me, he deserved far more recognition. As for the medals, he didn’t award them to himself. So nothing was “stolen”. Churchill is a hero in my book.

Having served in the U.S. Marine Corps, I would be more upset with a TV personality being awarded a Colonelcy and me being made to stand at attention and kiss their arse than WC who was a tough old bird. He seemed more of a "hands on" planner than just a PM.

@lunsmann

25 күн бұрын

Don't forget, old Winston was a seasoned combat veteran in his own right. Those empire campaigns weren't "boy scouts". They were tough campaigns against skilled and determined foes who took many British soldiers lives.

@Archangelm127

25 күн бұрын

Rather too much so in the "hands-on" sense, but otherwise I agree with you. (Speaking as a 100% civilian, for the record.)

@graveperil2169

25 күн бұрын

and for that we got the Gallipoli campaign

@vh1775

25 күн бұрын

Most honorary colonels aren’t tv celebs. Ours was Prince Edward. Before we deployed to Afghanistan we met him about 6 or 7 times, formally and in the field. He presented us with our medals when we came back and had a few pints with us after the ceremony. He couldn’t be persuaded to stay once he found out there was a stripper booked for later.

@Tracy-zr9mg

25 күн бұрын

Well said. Having a TV personality wear Marine dress blues would be infuriating

In the vast scheme of things, as a rallying point Churchill fulfilled a role that he fitted perfectly. He had many failings and strategically errors occurred on a massive scale. My father witnessed him being booed during a visit to Glasgow. But..... cometh the hour, cometh the man- he did deliver the victory he promised - and if he collected a few extra decorations - my father's generation did not seem to mind and they were the ones that mattered - not people with the benefit of hindsight.....

@deimonslagg1187

25 күн бұрын

Felton provides good, well researched information as usual, but in his zeal to go after Churchill, fails to consider Churchill's perspective - - a grateful king offers honours, and he's supposed to answer "Yah, no, thanks anyway"? Accepting the gift honours the giver.

@Crosshatch1212

25 күн бұрын

Bro if it wherent for him we wldnt have been in a war .

@quintrankid8045

25 күн бұрын

@@Crosshatch1212 Please explain that.

@ianb9028

25 күн бұрын

@@quintrankid8045 Second that… this will be interesting

@scottcharney1091

25 күн бұрын

Then there's the Bengal Famine.

"If you where my husband, I'd poison your cake!" an angry woman said to Churchill during tea. "Madam, if you where my wife, I would eat it!" he replied. I like that man 👍

@jehl1963

24 күн бұрын

Or... One day FDR caught Churchill sneaking out of Elanor's bedroom. FDR rolled up to him, waved his cigarette in it's holder and said "Now now Winston, I'll have no more of that". Churchill responded "...and neither shall I!"

@tonnywildweasel8138

24 күн бұрын

@@jehl1963 : 👍

@jasperpike242

23 күн бұрын

Also to Bessy Braddock. "Sir you are drunk". Churchill replied" you madam are ugly but I will be sober in the morning"

@tonnywildweasel8138

23 күн бұрын

@@jasperpike242 👍

I have NEVER seen any American president wear a military medal. There is a pretty good reason for this: The United States President is supposed to be a civilian position. The US military is supposed to work for a civilian president. Wearing medals would remind citizens of banana republics etc. So were they awarded to them? Of course, many US Presidents DID serve in the military, but if they had a rank when they were elected, they had to resign their commission. Some of them were awarded medals during their time in service. And then there's Ike. At the end of World War II, he had the highest rank you could get in the US Military: he was a 5 star general. There is absolutely no doubt that General Eisenhower's success with Normandy and the European theater made it much Much MUCH easier to win the Presidency, but he he had to (and did) resign from the military to run. While he was President, he did not receive any medals reserved for the military. He certainly awarded some. At the end of his second term, he noted that he was more proud of his military career than his presidency and continued to advise the military until his death. He was buried in his military uniform with some extremely prestigious medals, ALL earned during his military tenure before becoming President.

@andrewatwater

23 күн бұрын

I guess Bush the father was the last decorated president?

@bobfry5267

22 күн бұрын

So, Commander In Chief is not a military status?

@ShenandoahTim

21 күн бұрын

I've never seen a US president wear a military medal as President. Given article II section 2 of the US Constitution: “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States . . . .” I'm not sure your argument is that sound. George Washington wore his uniform and commanded troops while in office.

@andrewatwater

21 күн бұрын

@@ShenandoahTim I think James Monroe also wore a uniform when president but I'm not sure...I think Jackson didn't

@l4c390

17 күн бұрын

Interesting facts. Generals of the Army remain on active duty for life. Ike resigned from the Army on 19 Jan 1953 and was re-instated on active duty on 21 January 1961. George Marshall likewise resigned from the Army to serve as the Secretary of State.

There was alot of US military personnel receiving campaign medal just for visiting a war zone for a few days. I received a medal just for serving on a ship, that floated around the Pacific for 6months. As a civilian I think there should be a medal for dealing with customers.

@peterkerr4019

25 күн бұрын

Remember that day, 5 years back, when I faced down that raging Karen, with her dumbass Kevin sniping over her shoulder?

@rabbi120348

25 күн бұрын

The Karen medal.

@theophrastus3.056

25 күн бұрын

I got the National Defense ribbon because I was in the military just before the Vietnam war ended. I never did one damn thing to earn it.... other than enlist while the war was still going on. It's not like you can reject it, as it's in your records and required to be worn for official photographs.

@cousinfester4621

25 күн бұрын

@@theophrastus3.056 NDSM. I was awarded two of them. It was called the "Gedunk Medal" in the US Navy. They stopped awarding those to recruits as of January 2023.

@luckyguy600

23 күн бұрын

You would have got a purple heart if it 'didn't float' around for 6 months!

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.

@peterkerr4019

25 күн бұрын

well said!

@lowrymoore4800

25 күн бұрын

very well said! ;)

@cleophusA

25 күн бұрын

Well said! Hear! Hear!

@AdamFordGhostships

25 күн бұрын

You're saying the king of England contributed more to the war effort than the King of the United States or the King of France? This is an astonishing revelation! As for "well my house has just been blitzed to oblivion, but at least I saw the King wearing some medals yesterday, hooray!" ... I don't think your aviation credentials qualify you very well as an historian ... just based on the evidence here ...

@somebloke13

25 күн бұрын

​@@AdamFordGhostshipsOK little ray of sunshine...

As an Irish man I'll stay out of this, but your videos are brilliant I'll also add, a lot of my family fought in the First World War and my mother's father was in the IRA during the War of Independence and was arrested and put on board a prison ship, he was arrested by his cousin, who was in the British Army. Churchill was a giant after 20th century regardless of his flaws.

@Conorguill

20 күн бұрын

A pro-Allied ‘neutrality’ you are adopting. Very Irish that 😂

Churchill in his capacity was a hero to millions (including my grandfather and his brother who served on my fathers side and my grandfather and grandmother on my mothers side and her 2 brothers who served one of which was killed at normandy) and I know for a fact if they were still alive today they would find it both funny and nonsensical that 80yrs later somebody who never lived one day of ww2 would suggest he stole valour. Stolen valour is a recent term that in its general sense and popular meaning describes people who aquire FAKE medals, uniforms and documents to back up false stories of combat and valour for many reasons but mainly for monetary gain or higher social standing and praise, NONE OF WHICH APPLIES TO CHURCHILL. Did he make mistakes? Get things wrong? Yes but the man's valour has never been in question, your talking about the man who lead a nation that for a time stood alone against the nazis and was under constant threat/attempts of assassination, when those around him wanted to surrender, (and at one point was within days of the invasion of Britain) nobody can imagine the immense burden or courage and will it must have taken to go on. There's thousands of examples of key decisions and use of logistics personal risks etc. He went well above and beyond the capacity of prime minister becoming a symbol of defiance resistance and hope for millions around the world many actions they don't give medals for so does it bother me that HE WAS AWARDED a few extra medals with no recorded disapproval from the regiments or the public at the time? No, the only fair and logical way is to judge him by the standards of his time. Oh, and Churchill wasn't "kicked out of office" he was democratically voted out by a nation that wanted to heal and put the war behind them which is totally understandable, but you never mentioned he was voted back in again! I get the impression that Churchill isn't one of your favourite historical leaders judging by the underlying narrative of your video? And I get it, if you'd of had the decency and balance to put out the opinion and life experience of the people he was relevant to your "medal thing" would of stood out as petty and insignificant and thats not what you where going for.....

Stolen Valor King: L.Ron Hubbard!

@RT-mm8rq

25 күн бұрын

You got that right!

@tomhenry897

25 күн бұрын

Didn’t he attack Mexico when in the navy

@SurferJoe1

25 күн бұрын

@@tomhenry897 That sounds right; he also had an epic battle with a bunch of logs, or something. Most of his claimed awards didn't exist in that form during his service.

@kleverich

25 күн бұрын

Supreme Admiral For Life of the Sea Org.

@matty74123

24 күн бұрын

He served under Zenu in the intergalactic fleet

Admiral Michael Boorda, Chief of Naval Operations, was so distraught that a newspaper reporter was investigating him for stolen Valor that he committed suicide. It was determined afterward that he was told he could wear the ribbons he wore.

@jimfesta8981

25 күн бұрын

I doubt that was the only reason he took his life. He should never have been CNO with having mental problems to begin with.

@wayneantoniazzi2706

25 күн бұрын

@@jimfesta8981 Absolutely. If someone's ready to off himself over a mistake on his "fruit salad" that could be made by anyone there's other things going on with him.

@shaider1982

25 күн бұрын

I think he was one of the few Admirals to have started as a seaman. Also started the concept of the Arsenal ship: a ship filled with VLS tubes.

@SEAZNDragon

25 күн бұрын

@@wayneantoniazzi2706 Never underestimate the power of stress my friend.

@wayneantoniazzi2706

25 күн бұрын

@@SEAZNDragon Oh, far be it from me to underestimate to power of stress, far from it. Still, I have to wonder what Admiral Boorda was stressing out over as a peacetime commander, but what do I know? And as I remember the whole Boorda "controversy" was due to him mis-applying a "Combat V" to a lesser decoration ribbon. So what if he did? He wouldn't have been the first "heavy" to make a mistake with his ribbons, I can't help but think anyone else would have just laughed it off saying "Man, if you've got as many ribbons as I've got you're bound to mess up! I might even have some high school track and field awards mixed in without realizing it!"

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

If the king awarded, sir Winston Churchill, these metals, who am I to contest them. 😅

Now Hitler, on the other hand, there was a painter. He could paint an entire apartment in one afternoon! Two coats!

@quintrankid8045

25 күн бұрын

Did you know, I never knew that the Third Reich meant Germany.

@christophercook723

25 күн бұрын

Someone asked him to paint their Porshe. He painted their Ferrari when he went into their garage to get the paint and Brushes.

@oldmoviesinbwwithsubtitles3501

25 күн бұрын

😂😂 👍

@peterrraklliproductions2020

25 күн бұрын

Producer’s references are always a treat.

@Spider1V

25 күн бұрын

😆

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.

@josephderrico6254

24 күн бұрын

In the United States our DOD civilians have their own service medals.

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.

I never cared about the medals. As a Silent Service Veteran, I only cared about earning my Dolphins and not screwing anything up that would get my mates hurt or killed.

This doesn’t change my opinion of Churchill one bit, it merely adds specificity to a question I’ve always had about him and the costumes he chose. An interesting historical figure in every way. Thank you for your complete examination.

Churchill being a veteran and being so integral to the prosecution of WWII, I don’t have a problem with him wearing those medals.

@auldare7053

25 күн бұрын

I don't either, its the blind adherence to him being a god-like figure who saved the world and fought the bosch by himself alone that irks me, there's no evidential or historical basis for it.

@edgaraquino2324

25 күн бұрын

Agreed, Scott....he was a brilliant man who worked very hard dealing with so many problems with so much stress....it would have killed a lesser man imho....he did much for the UK & the world & to a certain extent, people are not grateful for his service...he did not have to do it, it was his duty...so I do not begrudge him his foibles, drink, good food & his medals...never has so much been done by one man & unappreciated by so many....

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.

I think the primary reason Churchill received all these campaign medals, as well as the pilot wings, is because the King wanted him to have them. Britain may elect a government but they do not elect the king or queen. It’s that plain and simple from my perspective.

My grandson is a near three year old Churchill lookalike. But that is not the only reason Churchill has a special place with me, and I am not blind to his many flaws and downright wrongdoings. But in 1940, the man was there. And it made all the difference that he was.

@jimgraham6722

25 күн бұрын

Stepping up to the occasion when called, is very, very important.

If the King gave the medals to Churchill, then it's not stolen valour. It's out of the ordinary for sure. Thats my opinion.

@faithlesshound5621

25 күн бұрын

All honours were granted by and in the name of the King, so he had the right to bypass the normal rules.

@cc111me

25 күн бұрын

Wherever he is WC, is laughing about this!

@rovercoupe7104

25 күн бұрын

He had the right to decline. M

@jimbeckley872

25 күн бұрын

Being awarded them by the king, and choosing to wear them are two different things.

@dougaldouglas8842

25 күн бұрын

@@jimbeckley872 How can words be awarded as valour, only actions are such

I wouldn't be too hard on Churchill. The King had wide discretion on honorary Awards and Decorations and I suggest he did not hesitate to give some to WLSC.

I think it's disgraceful that you should compare any uniform or decoration Churchill wore to the absolutely fraudulent stolen valor.

I never thought I would hear Mark Felton say, "Blah, blah, blah" in one of his videos. Made me laugh out loud.

@clivestraw1913

25 күн бұрын

Churchil fought at ondurman egypt he was in the boer war and the great war the best pm.this country's ever had he also got the commandos and paras formed

@luckyguy600

23 күн бұрын

You know. He just might be the only human Englishman in history!

In defense of Churchill; if the King awards you a medal, would it not be insulting to refuse said medal?

@dave1234aust

26 күн бұрын

Double edged sword. Ignore the monarch you've sworn to serve, or where medals that technically you didn't qualify for. I tend to lean towards obeying the monarch, as it's basically an order from the very top.

@jC-kc4si

26 күн бұрын

You can then put it on your shelf and then never ever wear it out in public.

@roland9423

25 күн бұрын

Lawrence did.

@cbwavy

25 күн бұрын

Knowing Churchill, I wouldn't be surprised if he negotiated with the king for those medals

@drewjohnson-85

25 күн бұрын

@@jC-kc4siThat could also be seen as disrespectful, his Monarch ordered that he receive those medals and any thing that implies that he believed himself unworthy of them could be considered being disrespectful of the Monarchy as an institution.

If someone is wearing medals they did not earn, that is considered stolen valor in the US. It's worth noting though that, almost no one gets charged with "Stolen Valor.". Most people that are discovered to be stolen valor are generally just publicly shamed within their community. That's about as far as it goes.

Normally I have no time for people who wear medals they never earned, but Churchill is different. Whether or not he met the normal criteria, he earned his medals.

Am I the only one who sees the irony that Churchills adversary in Germany would only wear the basic medals he earned in WW1?

@dangvorbei5304

25 күн бұрын

There's a tendency in the American armed forces to over -award officers, and the same thing happened in Imperial Germany. He knew that and rubbed that Iron Cross in the faces of the German general staff. They didn't like him much.

@NormanMStewart

25 күн бұрын

Not even all of his medals, just a couple, in addition to his party badge.

@lunsmann

25 күн бұрын

Well, as far as dictators go, that other bloke is the only one in modern recorded history who didn't cover himself with all the bling. I read that Idi Amin wore 2 Victoria Crosses on his bloated chest.

@dangvorbei5304

25 күн бұрын

@@lunsmann And anybody who pointed that out got to dine with the crocodiles.😁

@chiefslinginbeef3641

25 күн бұрын

​@@NormanMStewartfunny seeing you here

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.

Mark, an interesting video, and you're not shy about expressing your feelings, but have you considered that Churchill may have felt that to refuse these decorations would have been perceived as insulting to those who were awarded them in in the conventional way? Clearly he wanted to identif, and be identified with, the military side of the conflict. The man had a colossal ego to be sure so I don't believe that it would have been difficult to convince him that he really deserved them, but he was also hugely romantic and had plenty of genuine reason to presume the fellowship of serving soldiers. That he was in the front lines at Omdurman, in the Boer War and even on the Western Front as an infantry officer during the First World War may all have been the product of what we would now surely regard as "improper influence" is also perfectly arguable, but doesn't change the fact that he was actually there and he took his chances. I suspect that a great many holders of those WW2 decorations that Churchill might not technically have "earned" nevertheless felt the more proud of theirs for seeing the same medal or ribbon amongst his.

Churchill, once told to 'get on better with de Gaulle' said "Ok ok...I will kiss him on both cheeks, and all four if I Must!"

Kelly Holmes was in the army for 10 years before her double Olympic gold medal triumph made her a national treasure.

@RustyPetterson

25 күн бұрын

I had no idea! I see she was the British Army Judo champion and ended up as a sergeant. Well I never.

@jphanks

25 күн бұрын

And Bear was with 21 SAS before a bad parachuting accident

@Northernlanes

25 күн бұрын

poor research by Felton

@UCannotDefeatMyShmeat

25 күн бұрын

Now, will this be responded to or disappear, or be sandbagged perhaps?

@jonb3311

25 күн бұрын

@@jphanks Not exactly.

This is not to slam Churchill in any way, but it's interesting to note that two of his counterparts, Stalin and Hitler, who were true warlords, had a more minimalist view of medals and awards. Stalin famously did not appreciate receiving the title of Generalissimus, and only ever wore his "Hero of the Soviet Union" medal in public. Hitler contented himself with only appearing with his WWI iron cross and party badge if I'm not mistaken.

@TelethaTestarossa

25 күн бұрын

Hitler wore 3 medals, the third was his wound badge from WW1. Stalin had an array of orders and campaign medals but you generally only see his hero of the soviet union star in portraits, and sometimes next to his hero of socialist labor badge, but it's interesting he didn't catch brezhnev's habit of awarding himself additional stars, particularly to match zhukov. As a member of the stavka you can also argue he was legitimately part of the operations he got many of those medals and decorations for.

@celiacresswell6909

24 күн бұрын

Interestingly Putin doesn’t style himself military at all despite having a seemingly bottomless thirst for military blood

@Katyusha666

23 күн бұрын

@@celiacresswell6909 I think Putin must have military-style awards/medals from his time in the KGB - but it's not part of the image he wants to cultivate. As one commenter noted - Brezhnev's excess created a political precedent to mock (see the amount of jokes about his medals,) I think Putin knows how ridiculous he would look if tried doing the same.

@user-wj6dt5bq3w

22 күн бұрын

Putin has no thirst for military blood, he has tried to end this war several times and the West always says no.

@bruceybrew

19 күн бұрын

@@celiacresswell6909a bottomless thirst for blood, the propaganda is working well on you

Churchill saw action in India and fought in two wars. He led the British through WW2. If the king gave him wings he didn't "steal" anything. I think his penchant for uniforms was a morale booster. Of course, since he is being judged by " today's standards" he is obviously guilty of stolen valor and many other things I'm sure. Too bad he's not in charge of the UK today.

@TheoCapteijn-kh8nj

17 күн бұрын

I agree.

@gbcb8853

16 күн бұрын

Including Treorchy?

@HenryLeslieGraham

16 күн бұрын

no because stolen valour is pretending to have been in the army when you werent. since WC was in the army, the complaints are highly misplaced - for all the questionable medals were honorary. stolen valour doesnt apply. a different critique is needed, of which im sure there is one maybe "the-wearing-of-undeserved-awards-by-wartime-military-and-government-leaders"

As an Australian I couldn't agree more with your commentary here. Thanks

Dame Kelly Holmes is pictured wearing the ribbons for Dame Commander Order of the British Empire (Civil) (left) and MBE (Military) - though she didn't qualify for any campaign medals, she did serve 11 years in the army, with WRAC and Adjutant Generals' Corps, reaching the rank of Sergeant and being a PTI while competing for some of her early athletics achievements. I have no issue with Churchill wearing the medals he did - I doubt very much any of the people who had gone through WWII with him would begrudge him wearing them either.

Should be illegal in the UK.

@Subcomandante73

25 күн бұрын

If done to gain monetary advantage then it is at is will be fraud. Otherwise it is considered gauche.

@SEAZNDragon

25 күн бұрын

@@Subcomandante73 I'm surprised the UK doesn't have their own Stolen Valor. The US law was actually rule unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court under 1st Amendment/free expression grounds. In other words you have the right to lie. Very quickly the Stolen Valor laws were rewritten as fraud laws. As you say you lie for monetary gain you get arrested and lot of these guys get found out because they founded a fake charity or seduced some poor woman and milked her for her cash.

@richardhart9204

25 күн бұрын

Why?

@Bryzerse

25 күн бұрын

I'm surprised to hear such suggestions. Even though it's very scummy, I feel like criminalising it could be considered somewhat of an attack on free speech - something that military fanatics usually adore more than most. Obviously fraud is a different matter though and should very much be illegal lol.

@crefmag

25 күн бұрын

Walts used to drive me mad when I was in the SAS

A chap i know attended a parade wearing his dead sons Afghanistan medal that he got posthumously....now whilst it was technically wrong he was proud of his sons actions....so...i guess he was ok to do this in my humble opinion

@philipr1567

24 күн бұрын

It is OK for a close relative (civilian) to wear a deceased person's medals as long as they are pinned on the right side of the chest (the opposite side to where a recipient wears the medal).

@sitcorocket

24 күн бұрын

@@philipr1567 Cheers...thought it would be ok to do it.🇬🇧❤️

I think he deserved the honor to wear the ribbons, could you imagine anyone else leading the country? The King allowed Sir Winston the Honor.

Colonial Sanders still guards his chicken recipe to this day.

@henryrodgers1752

25 күн бұрын

*Colonel* Sanders. We Americans haven’t been “colonials” for quite some time.

@PineRidgeRez

25 күн бұрын

@@henryrodgers1752 We shall see.

@exsubmariner

25 күн бұрын

​@@henryrodgers1752then get your own language geezer

@shawngilliland243

25 күн бұрын

Harlan Sanders WAS indeed an official "Kentucky Colonel".

@exsubmariner

25 күн бұрын

​@@henryrodgers1752the world's most famous colonel his greatest achievement he fried chicken. was he awarded chicken wings to put on his uniform 😂😂😂

When the king says you get wings, you get wings.

@jaybee9269

26 күн бұрын

Churchill was an actual pilot. And a chad.

@bigben5051

26 күн бұрын

Is this in reference to Mark's comment about the all you can eat buffet? I love some wings hahaha

@sgt.grinch3299

26 күн бұрын

Redbull gives you wiiings!

@greenockscatman

26 күн бұрын

John Bull gives you wings

@roland9423

26 күн бұрын

He was an Angel, certainly.

Thank you for this very illuminating video! So many times I’ve seen footage or photos of Churchill in uniforms and wearing medals without ever questioning the background to them and now I know. I also love your irreverent taking-down of persons in authority and your strong sense of what is right and wrong.

I would say that in the case of Churchill, he is an exception to many rules, and this is one of them. Were he JUST a journalist who became PM and did this, that would be an issue. Were he JUST a PM while the nation was involved in some distant conflict and did this, that would be an issue. Were he JUST a former veteran of a different war who did this, that would be an issue. But he was Winston Churchill. I believe that no other "civilian" in the "modern" era could be pointed out as more deserving of the de facto title of "War Lord" than he. He took the office of PM to handle the war, and he left the office of PM as the war was nearing its final stages. His war was a war where Britain was on the defense, where even parliament itself was bombed to ruble, not some far flung conflict in some other place while he sat at number 10 sipping tea calmly while others were made to fight on his behalf. He took his role as a wartime PM seriously and insisted against bucking any traditions or unwritten rules that normally separated the PM from the day to day of a military endeavor. He took charge like no other modern PM ever had or likely ever will (need) to again. So speaking as someone in uniform today, the son of a Marine, the Great-Grandson of 2 men who both saw extensive action in both Europe and the Pacific of WW2, and as someone who has personally busted "stolen valor" frauds: I say Churchill was not only NOT committing stolen valor, he was in fact reclaiming valor that he has every practical right to. If you want to argue the details of his wearing of wings, I would say that he didnt choose to give them to himself, they were awarded by direct order of his nations Commander in Chief. That means he earned it, regardless of if he earned it the same as others or not. If he had never so much as flew in a plane before, that would be an issue, but seeing as he did in fact fly an aircraft himself (solo or not) several times, Id say the debate on that becomes rather childish and narrow at that point. As for the various WW2 medals, that is where my previous point sticks the most. You dont have an Italy Campaign without Churchill manning his post as wartime PM. He did his job as a war leader in leading the war. If an Officer in the military can earn a campaign medal for "planning" an operation while never actually participating in the operation outside of that planning stage, then by George then Churchill has every damn right to those medals as any posh dandy Officer prancing around with them ever did.

Mark, your grandfather's decorations are impressive. Thank God for him and all the others like him.

@MarkFeltonProductions

26 күн бұрын

Thanks - he was a soldier for 31 years and told the best stories I've ever heard.

@bele2.041

25 күн бұрын

@MarkFeltonProductions And you tell some of the best stories I have ever heard. Carry on...

@matthewlok3020

25 күн бұрын

@@MarkFeltonProductionscan I say that your grandfather inspired you to become a historian?

@darthur954

25 күн бұрын

@@MarkFeltonProductions Perhaps an idea for a video?

@dakiler2028

25 күн бұрын

@@MarkFeltonProductions Well that's a video I'd watch immediatelly. 'War Stories with Grandpa Felton'.

Some of us call them “Gravy Seals”

@daviddwight5745

25 күн бұрын

Steven Seagal😂

@inisipisTV

25 күн бұрын

@@daviddwight5745omg. The king of stolen valor.😅

@shaunvduke

25 күн бұрын

Gravy Seals - awesome! And apt.

@Valkanna.Nublet

25 күн бұрын

Meal Team Six

He rallied the troops like no other. He accepted defeat in the political arena. Let it alone.

Wow Old Churchy did a lot of service with his vocal cords

My maternal Grandad signed up in '39 and got out in '46. He chucked all his medals in the bin because he "just wanted to forget all about it." He never spoke a word about what happened during those years.

@UCannotDefeatMyShmeat

25 күн бұрын

Reminds me of guys getting sick of hearing “thank you for your service” and just going “please stop calling me a hero” as they’ve heard more than enough

@sugarkane4830

25 күн бұрын

Shame though.

@mirandahotspring4019

25 күн бұрын

Interesting, because after the war when the medals were decided on and struck you had to apply to the war medals board for them. They weren't just handed out, you had to write in with your name and service number and address to receive them.

@RW4X4X3006

25 күн бұрын

My dad was the same regarding Korean War and Vietnam. After he passed while going through his things, I came across his DD-214 - Good Lord, he had a serious bowl of fruit salad, along with a Silver Star.

@davebarrowcliffe1289

24 күн бұрын

@mirandahotspring4019 People just did as they were told in those days and if the Sergeant told you to sign some papers, you just signed them.

Well i am Greek and i am aware of the bad decisions Churchill made for Greece and Crete in 1940 and 1941... I am aware about his plans for Greece and Aegean sea in 1943 , 1944 and 1945. I am thinking that the Germans lost the war in a common effort. This allied effort happened because England and Commonwealth troops fought hard the difficult years of 40 , 41 and 42. The heart of this fight was the common soldier, but the voice and mind that kept this heart beating (in a symbolic but importatant way) was Churchill. I d like to hear your opinion about this. Greetings from Athens Greece

@dougie1943

25 күн бұрын

You are absolutely right. British activity in 1940/1941 in North Africa, the Mediterranean and the sending of troops to assist the Greeks against an Italian invasion alerted the Germans to the vulnerability of its southern flank. To deal with that the Germans invaded Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, Crete and despatched the Afrika Korps into North Africa before it had even embarked on its ill fated Barbarossa campaign. Within a year, German aggression would be stalling on the approaches to Moscow and with defeat in North Africa. The tide of the war had changed and it had been Churchill's strategy that had sown the seeds for the allied victories that were to follow.

@bilmastersoftheunive

25 күн бұрын

@@dougie1943i totally agree with you. One detail. When Italy attacked Greece in 28/10/1940, Albania was already occupied a year before by Mussolini. My opinion:Without the influencial presence and courage of Churchill, Germans may had win the war in the west since 1941 or 42.

@d.k8746

25 күн бұрын

The tide turned because germany was not prepared to fight against the vast forces assembled agaist her and so Germany was destroyed.

All medals and awards, of any description, are strictly for the people who earned them according to the qualifying criteria. Honorary awards must never be confused with the real thing

If Kings can get medals, why not the PM?

@martinputt6421

23 күн бұрын

Neither of them should have had those additional medals.

AFAIK, neither FDR or Truman accepted or wore medals related to WWII. However, Truman served in the Missouri National Guard prior to WWI, and was promoted to Captain and commanded a field artillery battery in France. After WWI, he remained in the army reserves, and was eventually promoted to full Colonel. He remained in the reserves into the early 1940s. His only decorations were related to his service in WWI.

@wayneantoniazzi2706

25 күн бұрын

Truman told a good story about himself. When the United States entered WW2 he went to see General George Marshall and ask if he could be put back on active duty. Marshall said "No Senator, I'm afraid you're too old." "Too old?" said Truman, "General Marshall, you're older than me!" "That's true Senator, but you forget I'm already in the Army!" Years pass, Truman becomes vice-president, then president when FDR dies. When General Marshall went to see Truman Harry said "Well General, you think I'm too old for this job too?" All in good fun though!

As Mark predicted, many comments suggest that Churchill made such a big contribution that the ordinary rules don't apply to him. As a fan of Churchill, I understand that view, but see it a little differently. Churchill was a man with great talent, and some big offsetting shortcomings. He was in part a showman, and he carefully crafted his public image, including his uniforms and medals. His unique appearance was part of what made him effective. His French helmet in World War I is another example of cultivating a unique and distinctive look. He had immense confidence and a big ego, and believed himself to be destined for great things. And part of that was that he acted as if the ordinary rules did not apply to him. In a good cause that level of self-regard was mostly good. In smaller matters, it looks self-serving and beneath him. His actual achievements speak for themselves, even with the errors he made, which Mark points out. Why did he do this? Seventy years later, it looks like his taking these medals was unfair to people who actually served in combat and met the criteria. Maybe he would not have seen it that way. I wish we could ask him what his motive was. We do know that he had plenty of medals he actually earned, for service and courage that were genuine. He didn't need to take medals he hadn't earned. My takeaway is that it was wrong, but overall, a small wrong, for Churchill to take them. Nonetheless, sadly it lowers him a little to know this happened. Our heroes are all human, and have their faults.

My father was in the Merchant Navy, mainly Atlantic and Mediterranean torpedoed, he had a number of medals and I still have his War Medal.

This does feel like cheap sniping

Laughing is rare for a Mark Felton video but storming the "all you can eat" buffet. That was funny.

@Tommy_Donuts

25 күн бұрын

Some call the keyboard commandos storm the all you can eat buffet the Gravy Seals.

@matthewlok3020

25 күн бұрын

I guess I laughed the loudest when I heard that storming the all you can eat buffet ever since I watched Dr. Felton’s videos

@urbanimages

25 күн бұрын

Semper Fry!

@KenR1800

25 күн бұрын

But I received my Knight Commander of the Order of Golden Corral from General Tso himself! (*for our friends across the pond, Golden Corral is the name of a buffet chain in the US)

@quintrankid8045

25 күн бұрын

@@KenR1800 The Wikipedia article about Zuo Zongtang AKA General Tso, has this little thing, "In 1875, the Guangxu Emperor made an extraordinary exception by awarding Zuo a jinshi degree - even though Zuo never achieved this in the imperial examination - and appointing him to the Hanlin Academy. " Stolen Academic Valor!

For what it’s worth, FDR’s son (James.) went from civilian to a Marine Lieutenant Colonel bypassing every rank under it. He was downgraded to Captain later due to the absurdity and probable criticism.

@quintrankid8045

25 күн бұрын

David Sarnoff, head of RCA, got to be a Brigadier in 1945, considering that he was around 55 at the time, I'm pretty sure he didn't start off as a private.

@highpath4776

25 күн бұрын

@@quintrankid8045 Possilbly due to technical work on radar and radio for the US army ?

@quintrankid8045

25 күн бұрын

@@highpath4776 According to Wikipedia he served on Eisenhower's communications staff and facilitated radio coverage of the invasion of France and a few other things. IDK about radar.

@kevinconrad6156

25 күн бұрын

Lots of people with technical skills were given high ranks to start. We needed thousands of officers and did not have the time to train them through all the ranks and many were not demoted but returned to a lower rank because the higher tanks were brevet promotions.

@wayneantoniazzi2706

25 күн бұрын

xx@@highpath4776 Exactly. Many high-ranking corporate men such as Sarnoff were invited into the services for their techical expertise and give high ranks so they'd have the "pull" to cut through red tape and get the job done. However this did NOT mean those high ranks would entitle them to lead troops in the field. By the way, Sarnoff loved being called General Sarnoff for the rest of his life! Not bad for a Jewish kid from New York! Eddie Rickenbacker was invited back into the Army Air Force during WW2 and offered a general's rank but turned it down, believing he'd be more useful as a civilian.

My guess is that so many people, including the King simply wanted to honour Churchill. It would have been bad manners to refuse.

“awarded” is the outright opposite of “stolen”…

I am amused by Mr Felton's ire over the King bending the rules for Mr.Churchhill. He served as PM for the majority of WWII and pushed back on those in the government who would have given up the fight early on. He also went to every theater where he received a campaign star. Additionally his plane was attacked by German fighters, only escaping by the use of a fog bank. Don't get upset with kings when they act like kings!

@benwilson6145

24 күн бұрын

Churchill was bullshit artist

To me a Stolen Valor person is a candy arse who could not fire a gun, and would cower in fear at the sight of one. Churchill in WW1, and the Boer War was a bad arse. He was a war hero, if he got medals improperly in WW2 was more than likely to inspire troops, and the country. I do not believe soldiers would hold it against him since he was a war hero, already.

@Art-is-craft

25 күн бұрын

It is a terrible video. Only an activist would make it.

@Loehengrin

25 күн бұрын

​@@Art-is-craftWell said

@reefermadnezz9819

25 күн бұрын

​@@Art-is-craftChurchill was a Idiot

@darthminty3648

25 күн бұрын

You've never done due diligence and your mind has been rotted by propaganda. Churchill is the biggest war criminal of the 20th century.

@sydneylousr

25 күн бұрын

You're just excusing it because it's Churchill... Are you english or what because churchill was one of the more recent examples of someone in power who really wanted awards and medals so your second to last sentence needs some support.

What a wopper Dr Felton, probably the most honest historian out there . . .

Honestly i dont mind he got them. This is a man that would have waded ashore with the first wave at Normandy, cigar and whiskey in hand, if they had let him. He was a soldier before, he was a soldier of sorts during the war as our leader when we were alone and everyone kinda was. Medal are for show they are for the image, image is important in war.

6 DFC's were requested for the medevac pilots of my dad's squadron. The vile admin sent 3, telling the squadron leader to do the distribution. Using flying hours, my dad and his best friend had identical 3rd place so they tossed a coin for it. My dad lost. About a month later one of the pair had to do a milk run so toss a coin? "No way" says my still sore dad " You won the last one, this ones yours." and so Merve Cecil DFC cheerily took the flight. Flew into wires. So now I'm here.

@gbcb8853

16 күн бұрын

His record is available on the Australian War Memorial website. “He never lived to receive his award”.

Yet, one could argue that WWII in Europe and North Africa would have been a short affair indeed had Great Britain in Churchill's tenure not stood alone against Germany and her allies, which ultimately resulted in those campaigns for which Churchill was awarded. A bit _meta,_ I know...

@Crosshatch1212

25 күн бұрын

We wldnt have been in one if he hadn’t wanted it .

@highpath4776

25 күн бұрын

@@Crosshatch1212 tricky, appeasement vs a war (which Churchill did not actually arrange the declaration of and took over a PM into WW2 ), never going to be easy ensuring British Independence. Perhaps we could have tried Neutral like Ireland.

@tomrob3654

25 күн бұрын

I agree with your sentiment about Churchill. He was a great leader. I strongly disagree that Great Britain stood alone. Without the Commonwealth behind her, Great Britain would most likely have gone the way of France and Poland. The resources, manpower, and military and political commitment of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, et al were crucial factors in Great Britain's survival in the first few years of the war.

@highpath4776

25 күн бұрын

@@tomrob3654 Well it was British Empire. I think we mean Britain in All of Europe (Spain I think tried neutral) was not aligned to or overrun by Nazi Germany ). We took for granted the overseas colonies would chip in support (india maybe excepted because rumblings there for independence)

Interesting topic. It had never seemed strange to me that he wore military uniforms so much during WW2 until now.

Churchill was a great war leader, but being awarded medals that he didn't deserve seems very petty indeed.

"The rules" for earning certain medals are created under the King, the titular commander-in-chief, kind of through his authority. So since the King is technically above these rules, he can go around the rules and award anyone a medal, including Winston Churchill. Everyone knows Winston Churchill did not physically fight operationally in WWII. It would be different if it was just a random person that we don't know the history of that is claiming to have fought and is wearing medals, but didn't actually serve. Also we know Winston Churchill served bravely in the WWI and in colonial wars before that, so its not like he was just always a civilian that had never served.

@MarkFeltonProductions

25 күн бұрын

I never said he wasn't brave or a veteran.

@Broomtwo

25 күн бұрын

@@MarkFeltonProductions You are right, to be clear I'm not saying you did, I am just re-iterating the point

@OGPatriot03

25 күн бұрын

I agree, if the king gives you a medal then that's official.

@highpath4776

25 күн бұрын

@@OGPatriot03 And those medals indeed were chosen to reflect places Churchill Had been - taking a risk - were there really war tourists ? - should ENSA or similar celebrities going overseas have medals - indeed did they ?

@TR-Mead

25 күн бұрын

​@@MarkFeltonProductionsHUGE mistake at @0:20. The guy on the right is legit. That is LTC Bo Gritz. Vietnam War hero with 3x Silver Stars, 4x Bronze Stars, and 2x Purple Hearts to his name. Absolutely NOT stolen valor. A combat proven bad-ass.

First, I have always thought Churchill a great man and orator. Yet I have never thought of him as a humble man, nor an entirely honest man. Yet without him all Europe would have been lost to the Nazis. Roosevelt would never have helped Great Britain if the Japanese had left well enough alone.

@wesswess8361

25 күн бұрын

Los to the nazi's you say? Take a look around you and see what Europe has become.. This is what the 'Nazi's' tried to protect us from... If it wassen't for German bravery we would all be speaking Boschjevik...

@Randall1001

25 күн бұрын

Roosevelt was already helping Britain long before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. You've never heard of Lend Lease? Or any of the other ways Roosevelt pushed US neutrality as far as it could go to benefit the UK?

@davidsavard4925

25 күн бұрын

'Without him all of Europe would have been lost to the Nazis" Establishment historians and folks like Mark Felton never tell the truth about ww2 Germany.. The West sided with murdering Bolshviks and had it not been for Germany pre-emptively attacking the Soviet Union, Europe would have suffered the same kind of bloodbath Russia did.. Churchill was a monster and a war criminal.. He bombed Germans cities like Dresden and he rejected every peace offers put out by Germany.. History is always written by the winning side..

@frankperkin124

25 күн бұрын

The US was helping GB before the Japanese got stupid and attacked Pearl Harbor.

@personnenestici

25 күн бұрын

Britain, famous for defeating the n**is 😂😂😂😂😂

For his opening remarks, I award Dr. Felton the title, Lord of House Snark.

My father refused to wear his WW2 medals, as he was disgusted with the treatment of the RAF bomber crews after the Hamburg and Dresden raids and the post war treatment of 'Bomber Harris'. He had served since 1942 in the European campaigns and then in Burma against the Japanese.

Churchill should have worn "Cigar" and "Whiskey" Medals!

When the King says you get to wear RAF pilot wings, you get to wear RAF pilot wings.

@jon9021

25 күн бұрын

Absolutely…

@wayneantoniazzi2706

25 күн бұрын

It's said that the actual flying is easy, it's the take-offs and landing that are the hard part. So it goes without saying that considering his high status Winston could have "delegated authority" for the take-offs and landings! Problem solved! Most likely the justification for His Majesty awarding Winston those wings!

@georgethomas7814

25 күн бұрын

I agree.... and if the King wants a medal then he can award it himself.

@markoremus6392

25 күн бұрын

Yeah, but most British kings, including the current one, are dolts. So, what does that say when they award medals?

@RW4X4X3006

25 күн бұрын

That being said, his aids put his clothes together for him daily. I doubt he paid much attention.

Regardless of the qualifications and criteria, the King was very wise in giving Churchill all the medals he got because of his genius moves in WWII that resulted in Allied victory.

My Dad volunteered for the RAF in 1939, but his boss got him deferred due to vital work. He was then called up, and served with Monty in the desert, was at El Alamein, went all the way up to Tunis, and then stayed on in Palestine when most of the Allied forces went over to Italy. But he never collected any of his medals, and never took part in any parades after the war. Some young men are enamoured of shiny metal. Many seek adventure. Others just do their duty.