I'd love some guidance about two cat stories. One is described in William Manchester's 'The Last Lion' Vol II, regarding Mickey, a large tabby. Churchill was speaking on the telephone to the Lord Chancellor when Mickey began playing with the telephone cord. WSC shouted, “Get off the line, you fool!” Realizing his mistake he turned his attention back to the Lord Chancellor: “Not you!” he said.
This is quoted in an article in Finest Hour 139 titled 'Churchill's Feline Managerie' The other is a story told in Part 3 of the 1992 'Churchill' mini-series, narrated by Sir Martin Gilbert, at point 7:54. Elizabeth Nel, one of Churchill's secretaries, tells a very similar story, as a witness in the bedroom. This is about a small Persian called Smokey, who pounces on WSC's foot as he is having breakfast in bed, and talking on the 'phone with Sir Alan Brooke. Churchill's interjection is almost the same 'Get off you fool!' followed by a contrite 'Poor little thing' having kicked Smokey off. Both stories have an seemingly impeccable provenance. Are both true? I doubt that I am the first to ask. Andrew Edlin -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "ChurchillChat" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/churchillchat. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
