Hello, and thank you for listening to the history of World War II podcast, Episode

85, Risks and Rewards.

Having not flinched in the face of gunfire in Cuba, Winston returned home to spend six

idol months, the only idol time in his life, to his recollection, before heading to India.

He and another hundred officers sailed out on September 11, 1896.

Leaving behind his mother, mounting debts, and a bounce check, Winston left Jenny to

handle the last two, as best she could.

And handle them and her own debts, she did.

Jenny borrowed money, used her life insurance as collateral, to borrow 17,000 pounds.

And undertaking something seen on TV all the time now, she took over houses, redecorated

them, and then sold them for a profit.

Still, she was down to 900 pounds a year, and had to turn to friends to make ends meet.

Churchill was not happy at the prospect of spending the next nine years in India.

He would be far removed from where he needed to be, to make an impact, to run for office.

And the ship he was aboard, the SS Britannia, was heading away from the most convenient

conflict in the area at the time, Crete.

For now, as an experienced journalist, he could make money and a name for himself, by

covering that building conflict between Greece and Turkey.

But the SS Britannia, having left to South Hampton, was on its 23-day journey, carrying

the dispirited Winston, who spent his time playing chess, and decided he might as well

spend the next nine years improving his game.

That seemed to be the highest expectation he could have from this posting.

...