The British Hero.
The “British Hero.” It is a term often attached to many of the successful leaders and servants of Britain. But what does one mean by this term? To be British is to be of British heritage and to be a hero is to carry out a noble or courageous act. However these two definitions do not simply combine to create a British hero. There are many who successfully fulfil both these criteria but who are, as Trotsky remarked, consigned to the “dustbin of history”. Take the Duke of Marlborough who fought with great bravery and skill at the Battle of Blenheim and won a vital victory in the War of Spanish Succession, yet he has not gained the status of a “British Hero.” Why is this? What distinguishes the Duke of Marlborough from Churchill or Alfred the Great?
Elizabeth I’s Ar
Elizabeth I’s Armada Portrait, c.1588
One attribute that might be seen as important in shaping a British hero is the pursuit of success against all odds. Churchill, when faced with the might of Nazi Germany and even opposition from his own cabinet, decided to fight on in the Second World War despite the threat of invasion. Alfred the Great achieved glory by uniting a fractured kingdom to repel the Viking hordes, adversaries who were not only greater in number, but armed with more advanced weapons. Elizabeth I presided over the defeat of the great Spanish Armada and Wellesley was victorious at Waterloo with the might of the French Empire stacked against him. It appears that being the “underdog” is essential to becoming a “British Hero.” Furthermore, something in the British hero’s character seems to distinguish him from lesser men. Not only is he usually brave and courageous, but he also has a quickness about him. On being accosted for being drunk by Lady Astor, Churchill retorted “I may be drunk Madam,
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