“Mad Jack” | Legend Series

Jack Churchill (1906 – 1996), sometimes known as “Fighting Jack” or “Mad Jack” Churchill.

His frequently quoted motto gives a clue to his attitude: “Any officer who goes into action without his sword is improperly dressed”. Jack Churchill also added bagpipes and a bow and arrows to his prerequisites for battle.

When his company was trapped after the Battle of l’Epinette (near Bethune), Churchill killed the first approaching Nazi soldier with his longbow, then used two machine guns to fight back until they ran out of ammunition. He managed to get the remainder of his company to safety by leading them through the enemy lines at night, despite being shot in the shoulder.

Churchill encouraged his men by playing his bagpipes. In fact, Churchill leaped into action playing the “March of the Cameron Men” on the pipes and then hurled the first grenade before charging onwards. He was wearing a basket-hilted sword of the claybeg type.

Using just his claybeg, he was responsible for the capture of 42 German troops and a mortar crew.