Emphasis Preaching Journal

"We shall fight on the beaches; we shall fight on the streets; we shall fight in the hills; we will never surrender!" With these words Winston Churchill called the British people to rally after Dunkirk, and these words moved Americans to the support of the Allies in World War II. It's become a British legend, the many ways Winston Churchill found to say "Never give in." His own life is a great example of failures and obstacles overcome. He seems to have languished in peacetime and flourished in war. He was the very personification of the British will to survive. No wonder that speech was a turning point that changed the tideflow of the war.
Except that it was a fraud. Churchill originally gave the speech in the House of Commons, and it was so well received that it was a natural choice for broadcast and morale purposes. But it wasn't recorded and Churchill was fatigued. What energy he had left over was demanded by his other duties. So Prime Minister Churchill refused, saying, "Get some actor."
"Some actor" turned out to be impressionist Norman Shelley, who did such a good job that no one knew of the substitution until Shelley wrote his memoirs decades later. He says Churchill even complimented him on imitating the air hissing through his teeth. Much later Churchill made his own recording. But the one that went on the radio and changed the course of the war was only a reflection of Churchill's own message. -- Mosley