‘Churchill’s famous ‘We shall fight them on the beaches’ speech (…) was never broadcast…’

(I thought everyone knew this…)

…but people convinced themselves they heard it.

‘Churchill’s first speeches as prime minister in the dark days of 1940 were by no means universally acclaimed,’ he said.

‘Many people thought that he was drunk during his famous “finest hour” broadcast and there is little evidence that they made a decisive difference to the British people’s will to fight on.’