Menzies & Churchill At War retells a crucial part of Australia’s history using Menzies’ war diaries and 16mm home-movies. It is a dramatic recreation interspersed with newsreels and other archival footage. It is a “must see” for anyone interested in Australian history.
It shows the behind-the-scenes battle between Menzies [Matthew King] and Churchill [Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell] over Australia’s defence. Menzies tries persuading Churchill to send reinforcements to Singapore against the growing threat from Japan.
Jennifer Vuletic narrates this 55-minute documentary which includes dramatisation for events which occurred behind closed doors, and historic newsreels of Menzies in Britain. Menzies’ movie camera also recorded graphic footage of the devastation caused from the Blitz.
Menzies’ daughter, Heather Henderson, is interviewed alongside Professors David Day (University of Aberdeen), Joan Beaumont (Deakin University) and Judith Brett (La Trobe University).
World War II
The documentary opens with Hitler plunging Europe into World War II. Most western European countries have collapsed in defeat within two years. Only Winston Churchill and the British Empire stand in defiance. Menzies commits troops to support Britain.
However, Australia’s enemy is on the doorstep. Japan invaded China and expands further southwards.
Menzies left Australia to secure Australia’s strategic safety from Japan. His power base, the United Australia Party was in deep trouble as it was riddled with intrigue and personal animosity. It clung to power with an extremely fragile majority. Would he remain in office upon his return?
Meanwhile, Churchill promised to come to Australia’s aid if Singapore was attacked.
Menzies inspects the garrison at Singapore en-route to London. It was anything but impregnable with inadequate air defence and the guns pointed in the wrong direction! Was this cause for concern that Churchill may sacrifice Australia’s interest for the Empire’s sake?
Menzies also visits troops in North Africa.
The North African campaign soon deteriorates for the Allies with the siege of Tobruk.
“Tobruk must be held to the death,” Churchill insists.
Problems arise when Churchill insisted upon sending troops from North Africa into another but controversial military disaster. (Churchill’s role in sending Australian soldiers to their deaths at Gallipoli was not forgotten.)
It soon becomes clear Singapore was not on Churchill’s agenda.
Was Churchill “too damned autocratic” and “completely out of control” as Menzies claimed?
The documentary raises the controversial issue of Menzies succeeding Churchill as leader of the War Cabinet in London. Would the British want a Dominion Prime Minister in charge?
However, Menzies outstayed his welcome but he wasn’t leaving without a fight.
Australia
Menzies returns home to political turmoil. He soon finds himself voted out of office with the Labor Party, led by John Curtin, in Government.
His worst fears become reality in February 1942 when Singapore fell to the Japanese. Approximately 15,000 Australians spent the rest of the war in forced labour camps where many died.
Churchill is hailed a hero when World War II ends, but he is unceremoniously dumped as Prime Minister two months later.
Forgotten People
Menzies contemplates his future whilst in the political wilderness. He founds the Liberal Party and reaches out to the “forgotten people”—Australia’s middle class.
Menzies and Churchill discover they had more in common when they are both out of office, and plotting their return.
Menzies & Churchill At War premiered on the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC1) on Thursday, 30 October 2008. It is now available on DVD.
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