And the On November 16th of 1899, Lady Randolph Churchill, Winston Churchill's mother was

handed the telegram. The moment this telegram was read by Churchill's mother is captured by author

Candice Millard when she writes in reference to this telegram, quote, it began with the five words that every mother fears most when her son is at war.

And she goes on to outline those words, which were, I regret to inform you.

Now the words that followed could certainly have been much worse than the words that actually

did follow.

But nevertheless, myself being apparent and thinking of a moment like this, it's heart-wrenching all the same.

Now the full sentence was, quote, I regret to inform you that Mr. Winston Churchill has been captured by the Boers."

End quote.

And I read the telegram myself as you can see it in the archive of all of Churchill's

papers online.

And the telegram, after that anxious introduction, highlights one other detail about

Churchill's capture. The detail is that Churchill, quote, fought gallantly, end quote.

That was it.

The brevity of the telegram were the briefness of all of this, the lack of detail or additional

details I should say,

must have drove Churchill's mother

and anyone who read it and cared for him

absolutely insane with worry.

Now of course as a parent you're grateful that your child is still alive.

But then all the other questions start swirling around in your head.

Where is he? Is he okay? Is he wounded? What is happening?

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