Churchill and the ‘Boffins’ of the First World War (Photo: ©Churchill Lecture Series IWM)
When: 29th April 2014, 7pm – 9pm (doors open at 6.30pm)
Where: Churchill War Rooms, Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AQ
£: Adults £17.50 and concessions £14 (which includes the opportunity to view the Churchill War Rooms after the event).
What is it?
In this talk, writer, historian and television producer, Taylor Downing will be launching his new book at the Churchill War Rooms. The stories in the book, drawn out in the lecture, will explore the roles played by some of the scientists who worked behind the scenes during the First World War.
Churchill’s enthusiastic backing of scientists and new ideas during the Second World War is well known but his support for innovation can also be seen as far back as the First World War in his career at the Admiralty and – later – the Ministry of Munitions. Downing will take a closer look at the scientists – the first ‘boffins’ – who built on the great advances of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, from aviation to code-breaking and from medicine to engineering.
Taylor Downing says “My talk on the First World War is not about trenches or poets, it relates a little known aspect of the war, the encouragement given by Churchill to the scientists who contributed to the war effort and laid the foundations for many post-war developments in science and technology. It will be a privilege to launch my new book on this subject, Secret Warriors, with a Lecture at the Churchill War Rooms where I have greatly enjoyed lecturing before”.
Downing’s new book Secret Warriors: Key Scientists, Code Breakers and Propagandists of the Great War, goes on general sale on 1st May 2014. Downing will be taking part in an early book signing after the end of the talk and copies of the book will be available from the book shop on the night.
This talk is the last instalment of the series exploring Churchill’s early career and his role in the First World War.
More info: www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms