Winston Churchill's "Stolen Valour"?

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"?
Dr. Mark Felton is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
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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

[@jeffreyharris3440]

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]

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

[@isthereanybodyoutthere9397]

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

[@pegoossens]

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]

@@MarkFeltonProductions Grrrrrr!

[@nanabutner]

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.

[@josephturner7569]

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

[@RandomDeforge]

Thank you for your service.

[@peterkerr4019]

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

[@WNH3]

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

[@m.bowyer5045]

🤣.......I thankyou👏👏

[@FredScuttle456]

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

[@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.

[@andrewatwater]

he did his bit

[@Sharpbevel]

🫡 to your granddad. 🫡

[@WiseOwl_1408]

Did every factory worker get metals?

[@saberint]

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

[@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.

[@Tyrrituil]

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

[@mathewgurney2033]

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]

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]

@@mathewgurney2033you speak the truth dear friend.

[@seanford2358]

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!!!

[@justme8340]

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 metals for f*** sake!”

[@jaykay4137]

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]

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]

Ha! :-D

[@user-McGiver]

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

[@anonymousm9113]

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.

[@flipgalaxy711]

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

[@flipgalaxy711]

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

[@jaybee9269]

“Spud-faced losers.”

[@MOrab46019]

Love that line.

[@oslonorway547]

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]

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

[@Katyusha666]

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]

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]

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

[@Katyusha666]

@@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]

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

[@stevesmith9151]

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]

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]

​@@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]

@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]

@@arseniclullabyHow would they know he was there?

[@kayjay135]

@@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!

[@brick6347]

Catering is the most important job!

[@catlee8064]

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

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

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

[@sailordude2094]

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

[@joseywales3789]

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]

@@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 !

[@ljdasilva3139]

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]

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

[@petercumpson6867]

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]

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]

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

[@davidcrowder1987]

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.

[@strfltcmnd.9925]

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

[@chrismac2234]

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

[@microy]

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

[@michaelbruns449]

It's in a movie called Young Winston

[@jackieking1522]

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.

[@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.

[@highpath4776]

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]

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

[@Cdr_Mansfield_Cumming]

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]

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]

A rare trait,humble. My kind of hero.

[@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.

[@earlthepearl3922]

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]

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

[@vernmeyerotto255]

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]

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!

[@EdMcF1]

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

[@sulky9466]

she served in the WRAC and AGC from 1988 to 1997

[@shawngilliland243]

Good pun!

[@deemond5289]

Boom, Tchhhh!

[@tonys1636]

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

[@jamesbussey2911]

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.

[@shed66215]

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.

[@bradbrisbane]

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

[@Calligraphybooster]

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]

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

[@JeepWrangler1957]

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]

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]

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

[@graveperil2169]

and for that we got the Gallipoli campaign

[@vh1775]

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]

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

[@mikeblubaugh8988]

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]

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

[@rabbi120348]

The Karen medal.

[@theophrastus3.056]

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]

@@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]

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

[@aaronlambert9297]

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

[@clivestraw1913]

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]

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

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

"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]

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]

@@jehl1963 : 👍

[@jasperpike242]

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

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

@@jasperpike242 👍

[@sailordude2094]

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]

Hillary Clinton and "journalist" Matt Lauer too!

[@peterallen4605]

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]

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

[@TheBestDog]

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

[@martinswiney2192]

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

[@SurferJoe1]

Stolen Valor King: L.Ron Hubbard!

[@RT-mm8rq]

You got that right!

[@tomhenry897]

Didn’t he attack Mexico when in the navy

[@SurferJoe1]

@@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]

Supreme Admiral For Life of the Sea Org.

[@matty74123]

He served under Zenu in the intergalactic fleet

[@jonb3311]

I didn't see a chest full of Stolen Valour on Charles de Gaulle. My father was entitled to several medals, apparently he had to apply for them after the war, so he didn't bother. In fact he wasn't in the slightest bit interested in going anywhere near those who popped up annually on November 11th. He didn't want reminding of what he'd lived through during WW2 and certainly wasn't into glorifying his service. As for Churchill, he along with his friends, considered him to be bloody war monger and a shit towards the working classes.

[@theophrastus3.056]

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

[@luckeyhaskins1734]

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 <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1045">17:25</a> 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]

well said!

[@lowrymoore4800]

very well said! ;)

[@cleophusA]

Well said! Hear! Hear!

[@AdamFordGhostships]

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]

​@@AdamFordGhostshipsOK little ray of sunshine...

[@alsecen5674]

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]

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]

@@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]

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]

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

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@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!"

[@lucataddi8604]

While the content of the video is passable, the title is a disgrace, totally incorrect and a clear case of clickbait.

[@Ashfielder]

It’s the greatest annoyance to me that Bojo got a ride in a Typhoon. Really milking the office for everything it can offer.

[@davealford6910]

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]

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

[@tsr207]

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]

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]

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

[@quintrankid8045]

@@Crosshatch1212 Please explain that.

[@ianb9028]

@@quintrankid8045 Second that… this will be interesting

[@scottcharney1091]

Then there's the Bengal Famine.

[@user-so2by4pm6b]

the prime minister is the highest in the military chain of command. He spent day and night for the UK.

[@christophercaldwell6888]

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]

I guess Bush the father was the last decorated president?

[@bobfry5267]

So, Commander In Chief is not a military status?

[@geneziemba9159]

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.

[@AdmiralBonetoPick]

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

[@quintrankid8045]

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

[@christophercook723]

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

[@oldmoviesinbwwithsubtitles3501]

😂😂 👍

[@peterrraklliproductions2020]

Producer’s references are always a treat.

[@Spider1V]

😆

[@Inquisitor_Redacted]

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.

[@user-tb7cb2rf3n]

Some American politicians were awarded medals for Valor duringvWW2. A prime example is Lyndon Johnson. An elected member of the House of Representatives, being awarded a Silver Star for flying along on one bomber mission in the Pacific theater,

[@williampawson5476]

And the POS had it presented/awarded to him over and over as a publicity stunt.... he should have been ashamed of his stolen valor....

[@collinkendrick531]

Some of us call them “Gravy Seals”

[@daviddwight5745]

Steven Seagal😂

[@inisipisTV]

@@daviddwight5745omg. The king of stolen valor.😅

[@shaunvduke]

Gravy Seals - awesome! And apt.

[@Valkanna.Nublet]

Meal Team Six

[@andrewmarsden1970]

Should be illegal in the UK.

[@Subcomandante73]

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

[@SEAZNDragon]

@@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]

Why?

[@Bryzerse]

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]

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

[@johndanger8717]

I wouldn’t say he was a “tourist” on his overseas visits. He was acting to directly bolster military campaigns by visiting the troops and surely conferring with local military leaders

[@crownprincesebastianjohano7069]

If Kings can get medals, why not the PM?

[@martinputt6421]

Neither of them should have had those additional medals.

[@lunsmann]

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]

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

[@cc111me]

Wherever he is WC, is laughing about this!

[@rovercoupe7104]

He had the right to decline. M

[@jimbeckley872]

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

[@dougaldouglas8842]

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

[@Chiller11]

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.

[@UnitSe7en]

There's a distinction between someone who was given medals by another with authority to do it, and those that simply decide which medals they wish to wear and LARP around in public. Churchill is not among the second. He is not a "Walt". Deserved for appropriate service or not, this does not make him guilty of stolen valour. I expected more from you, Mark.

[@letzrock1675]

So why was he wearing pilot wings?

[@We_Must_Resist]

You did not listen to the video. Mark explained clearly why and how Churchill and the King simply decided which medals they wished to wear and then wore them in public. Its a spectacular conflict of interest. The King had the authority and Churchill had the ear of the King. So they abused their authority. Nobody complained until Mark Felton spoke up. A good historian is thruthful. In a time when propagandists rule its a welcome relief to hear Mark Felton speak.

[@UnitSe7en]

@@We_Must_Resist And he very much used them in support of King, country and soldier.

[@letzrock1675]

@@UnitSe7en Still waiting for your explanation on the pilot wings. I expected better from you.

[@UnitSe7en]

@@letzrock1675 I also expect people who reply to me to be able to read and comprehend words and concepts that don't involve sticking your finger up your nose and then licking the window.

[@maestromecanico597]

Churchill was a certifiable headcase who saw himself as a soldier from a long line of soldiers. In his mind he was born a soldier and died a soldier, ergo, all medals and awards are legitimate.

[@shaggyofwv]

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

[@dave1234aust]

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]

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

[@roland9423]

Lawrence did.

[@cbwavy]

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

[@drewjohnson-85]

@@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.

[@stephenandrew8387]

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

[@RustyPetterson]

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

[@jphanks]

And Bear was with 21 SAS before a bad parachuting accident

[@Northernlanes]

poor research by Felton

[@UCannotDefeatMyShmeat]

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

[@jonb3311]

@@jphanks Not exactly.

[@damienmarktaylor]

As a former RAF Chef, I’ve poisoned thousands, my breakfasts were so dangerous I was nearly fast tracked into the SAS 😂😂😂

[@timeandnourishment1961]

Who Dares Eats.😅

[@damienmarktaylor]

@@timeandnourishment1961 I like it. Fantastic! You win the internet

[@dabrab]

Ah, the caterers - the only branch of the military capable of causing 100% casualties!

[@pjdepaolisii]

I can only imagine the private conversations between George and Winston about all of this.

[@scottm2828]

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]

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]

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....

[@garycharland3018]

Churchill, reportedly, turned down a dukedom after WW2. I have to believe that if someone would have told him that accepting 6 medals was "stolen honor" he would have had nothing to do with them, such was his sense of honor and service to King and country.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

He turned down the peerage title 'Duke of London' because he wanted his male line to have a political career in the House of Commons.

[@ianrobertson2282]

@@MarkFeltonProductions Being created Duke of London would not have prevented his male descendants from having a political career. They are not peers. If his son was an MP when Churchill died, then the son could have disclaimed the title and continued as an MP.

[@faithlesshound5621]

@@ianrobertson2282 It was not possible until 1963 to disclaim a peerage one had inherited. Churchill's eldest son Randolph was a temperamental drunkard and gambler who was clearly not going to have a stellar political career, having never won a contested election. He had been elected unopposed to parliament in 1940 but lost his seat in 1945.

[@edwardteyssier2357]

I agree that when medals are awarded to someone, anyone, who did not earn them, that it cheapens the value of those medals and cheapens the sacrifices made by those soldiers who did earn them.

[@nonefu2373]

Churchill even flying to a war zone in WW2 was a Risk! Look at what happened to Admiral Yamamoto.

[@buckgulick3968]

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]

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]

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

[@lunsmann]

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]

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

[@chiefslinginbeef3641]

​@@NormanMStewartfunny seeing you here

[@JimFortune]

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

[@jaybee9269]

Churchill was an actual pilot. And a chad.

[@bigben5051]

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

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Redbull gives you wiiings!

[@greenockscatman]

John Bull gives you wings

[@roland9423]

He was an Angel, certainly.

[@frankrausch3002]

“Elites never follow the rules, than or now”……….

[@franceswray8340]

Though Churchill was an exemplary war leader he was decidedly vain - he famously had his 80th birthday painting by Graham Sutherland burned as he did not regard it as flattering, so none of this is surprising. I also think he and George VI would have fought if they could, but their roles precluded this. Both showed enormous and steadfast courage in leading Britain during WW2, so for my part I don’t begrudge them their ribbons.

[@jasperpike242]

No. Clemmy did that.

[@Broomtwo]

"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]

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

[@Broomtwo]

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

[@OGPatriot03]

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

[@highpath4776]

@@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]

​@@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.

[@fuferito]

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]

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

[@highpath4776]

@@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]

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]

@@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)

[@asmodeus0454]

Winston Churchill was a bit of a show-off. That he got medals to which he was not entitled does not surprise me in the least.

[@kiwiwifi]

During all of this, the Germans were handing out yellow Stars of David, like there was no tomorrow.

[@Lassisvulgaris]

For those wearing them, there WAS no tomorrow.....

[@diedertspijkerboer]

So sad that you think your comment is funny.

[@Go4Corvette]

My father flew 52 missions in WWII B17s and earned every medal he received.

[@roland9423]

A brave man.

[@siglavikingkearns8108]

@@roland9423 Extremely lucky also.

[@roland9423]

@@siglavikingkearns8108 Aye. But we all are.

[@Rev6044]

But was he Winston Churchill?

[@Go4Corvette]

​@@Rev6044 My father was better than any politician then or now and earned every medal he received. He also lost a brother who died serving with General Patton in the Battle of the Bulge. Out of the original almost 5,000 men my father went to England with, his B17 crew of 10 were the only ones to come back alive, all the others were killed. My father never displayed his medals and it was something I never knew about until after his death. WWII veterans never showed off or boasted about their achievements. It's easy for politicians to give orders but they never spill their blood. Churchill was full of hot air nothing more.

[@GeloDianela]

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]

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]

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

[@quintrankid8045]

@@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]

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]

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.

[@Willigula]

“The only thing they have ever stormed is the eat-all-you-can buffet” - Dr. Felton drops the most savage trolling comment in his own video’s dialogue preempting the comments section below. LOL.

[@ROYNEPTUNE]

My grandad jokingly bragged that he fought WWI at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

[@moleasuarus]

Certainly it was unorthodox to award Churchill those service medals. However, he can't be compared to those representing themselves as combat veterans and recepients of awards for valor who never served in the armed forces.

[@davidpowell3347]

Especially those who step forward as political candidates for elected office claiming a falsified military honor or service.

[@Omegaxero]

He led the country through its darkest hour. He deserve any medal he has.

[@billm83army]

@@Omegaxero horse shit

[@martinputt6421]

@@Omegaxero No he didn't. He didn't fight in any battles during the war.

[@martinswiney2192]

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]

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]

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]

'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]

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

[@personnenestici]

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

[@dusterowner9978]

My Dad had a 21 year career in the US Air Force (50-71) with a one year tour in Vietnam earning the Bronze Star . He earned any and all the metals and ribbons I have in my care .

[@Lassisvulgaris]

For gong hunters: There are a LOT of memorial medals anyone can buy. Not military, but allowed to wear on uniforms (depending on country)....

[@bilmastersoftheunive]

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]

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]

@@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]

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

[@PineRidgeRez]

Colonial Sanders still guards his chicken recipe to this day.

[@henryrodgers1752]

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

[@PineRidgeRez]

@@henryrodgers1752 We shall see.

[@exsubmariner]

​@@henryrodgers1752then get your own language geezer

[@shawngilliland243]

Harlan Sanders WAS indeed an official "Kentucky Colonel".

[@exsubmariner]

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

[@rogersheddy6414]

"Wangle" is such a deliciously British word.

[@sunsetgundog]

Where were the WW2 "Sir Humphrey" s when they were needed? "Are you entirely sure that's wise Sir Winston (or Your Majesty) ?"

[@MightyMezzo]

Don’t know if this is true or not, but I’ve seen a couple of documentaries and docudramas in which Churchill was ready to head over to Normandy to lead the troops onto the beach, and it took the personal intervention of the King to dissuade him. It suggests that if Churchill didn’t see any actual shooting in WWII it wasn’t for lack of trying.

[@tellyknessis6229]

No - more like he wanted to be on one of the ships offshore witnessing it. KGVI dissuaded him by saying something along the lines of "If you go, I shall go with you." Churchill backed down...

[@laneromel5667]

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]

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

[@Liodegrance]

​@@Art-is-craftWell said

[@reefermadnezz9819]

​@@Art-is-craftChurchill was a Idiot

[@darthminty3648]

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]

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.

[@charlesleighton8556]

Some civilians who are attached to the armed forces do legitimately receive campaign medals. An example of this is the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Whether Churchill was ‘attached’ in the same way on his morale boosting visits is another question .

[@uingaeoc3905]

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.

[@josephonesta6416]

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

[@Tommy_Donuts]

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

[@matthewlok3020]

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]

Semper Fry!

[@KenR1800]

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]

@@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!

[@bele2.041]

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

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

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

[@bele2.041]

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

[@matthewlok3020]

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

[@darthur954]

@@MarkFeltonProductions Perhaps an idea for a video?

[@dakiler2028]

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

[@user-nx9fd2kt4v]

Poet, Robert Browning said this in his poem, 'The Lost Leader' - "Just for a handful of silver he left us, Just for a riband to stick in his coat . . ."

[@michaelm9141]

Read the story of US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Boorda. Accused of stolen valor and committed suicide. Sad story.

[@danteardenz2670]

" I know it's smashing , and shattering the lives of thousands every second - and I just can't help it . I enjoy every second of it . I think a curse should be upon me , because I love this war ". Winston Churchill. To wear medals one did not deserve, trivializes the merit, and adds nothing to the prestige of the wearer , but lowers it . Eisenhower , wore only what he earned, Mac Arthur, festooned with awards , including the Congressional Medal Of Honor wore none ( looking very elegant) , that was simpliciry of the Napoleoniac tradition ; the confidence of restraint.

[@rickdunn3883]

Maybe true, but as an American...I give Churchill a pass. He helped save Europe and the world. Pass awarded.

[@a-nus]

lmao

[@Abbale]

Unbelievable haha.

[@simonayers8033]

A video on the awards the bad men from Germany and Russia gave themselves would be interesting. I’m betting it was not only Winston who pumped up his medal count.

[@septembersurprise5178]

"On the whole, it is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them." - Mark Twain

[@albertaaardvark966]

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

[@jon9021]

Absolutely…

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

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]

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

[@markoremus6392]

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

[@RW4X4X3006]

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

[@davebarrowcliffe1289]

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]

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]

Shame though.

[@mirandahotspring4019]

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]

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]

@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.

[@rileymcormond4353]

I think that there are two important dimensions to this: The first being that he was actually awarded the medals, and the issue of whether or not he deserved them is quite separate; The second is that he really didn't use them to make people believe that he was something that he wasn't, as I suspect everyone was aware that his role as Prime Minister did not involve 180 days active service in North Africa. Should wearing medals awarded for simply "showing up" be considered a form of stolen valour? I would not expect that the average civilian would be able to differentiate between participation medals and combat medals.

[@clydeblair9622]

It's bizzare seeing combat troops in shorts.

[@alexfortin7209]

“George VI was obsessed with medals” pretty much explains it all.

[@wwiibuff9862]

For the first time ever, I completely disagree with your point of view Mark. Churchill's wearing of those extra medals, campaign awards, and pilot wings are nothing like Stolen Valor. He was not not just some loser off the street who procured those awards to make up a fake military career. He was involved in each of those campaigns in one way or another, albeit indirectly, I believe he had input or the final say on many operations that were part of those campaigns. He may not have fought in them, but neither did the rear echelon Generals at the top who also received those awards. And although he technically did not meet the written criteria for them, if they were presented to him by the king, it would be quite an insult not to wear them.

[@zen4men]

Absolutely!

[@UCannotDefeatMyShmeat]

If insulting the king is the only worry here, then it’s a completely victimless crime. More simply *if* the generals didn’t directly earn them then clearly the people who actually had enacted their plans did.

[@NapoleonCalland]

Never in the history of this channel's comments section, were so many points made in so few. 😉 🦁 ☀️ 🐝 ⚡ 🦅 ⚡ 🐝 ☀️ 🦁

[@mgramsdale]

@@UCannotDefeatMyShmeat The King endorsed these too!

[@michaelconfoy2862]

​@@mgramsdaleThat must make it right. Ask Henry II.

[@copferthat]

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?

[@IntrospectorGeneral]

It is rather amusing that Churchill's accumulation of uniforms did not extend to the Royal Navy. His terms as First Lord of the Admiralty, as a political appointment rather than a commissioned rank, did not entitle him to a rank or uniform. In lieu he wore the uniform of the Royal Yacht Squadron at occasions such as his meeting with Roosevelt in 1941 to sign the Atlantic Charter.

[@jonclassical2024]

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

[@Mr.Benson]

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]

Churchill was bullshit artist

[@getmartincarter]

I had been under the impression that holding a commission in the Army disqualified the officer from being a Member of Parliament. This prohibition dates back to the problems experienced during the English Civil War . Although an Honorary Colonel is not a commissioned officer such a person wearing a uniform in an area of operations would confusion the chain of command and inappropriate.

[@caractacusbrittania7442]

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