The truth about Churchill and ‘Bomber’ Harris

SIR – Ian Garvin (Letters, April 25) lays the blame for the bombing campaign of the Second World War at Sir Arthur “Bomber” Harris’s door.

This requires correction. Lord Cherwell, the then government’s leading scientific adviser with a seat in the Cabinet, advocated area bombing of German cities, and this was accepted by Churchill and the Cabinet. Harris was instructed by the Chief of the Air Staff Lord Portal to carry out the policy.

Albert Speer acknowledged that, had the bombing of cities ceased, 10,000 88 mm anti-aircraft guns could have been used against Russian ground forces, which would have prolonged the war. It is also generally accepted that, after the war, Churchill and others distanced themselves from the policy and encouraged criticism to be directed at Harris – hence the brave actions of Bomber Command not being recognised until recently.

Peter Bolus

Lambourn, Berkshire

SIR – It was good to read Ian Girvan quoting the challenge to the bombing policy of Sir Arthur Harris by the great Bishop of Chichester, George Bell – a challenge made more powerful by the bishop’s inside knowledge of the German situation and his conviction that the Nazis must be fought. Bell’s words inevitably earned him considerable abuse.

It has been suggested that Harris’s statue outside St Clement Danes church might be balanced by a statue of one of his strongest critics. A memorial to Bishop Bell near to that of Harris would be a fitting tribute to a man of courageous Christian principles, and also a rebuke to the Diocese of Chichester, which recently tried to defame Bell following a now wholly discredited single allegation of child abuse – and to its shame still refuses to restore him to public honour.

Rev Dr Barry A Orford

London NW3