THE TWO CHAMBERLAINS

      I have often thought about the seeming contradictions in a name.

     And I think there are no two more contradictory, yet famous people who have the same last name, than Lawrence Chamberlain and Neville Chamberlain. Now I don’t know if they were related, but I suspect they were, with a fairly aristocratic sounding name as this one.

      Lawrence Chamberlain was a professor in a prestigious college in Maine, before the advent of The American Civil War. When the war began, he requested a leave of absence to join the fighting, but was turned down. So, having attempted to be relieved in the proper way, and failing, he took a slightly devious route. The professor requested a sabbatical to study in Europe. The request was approved. But Lawrence had not intention of studying in Europe. He joined the Army instead, and was commissioned a full Colonel.

      In July 1863, Colonel Chamberlain found himself in a small town called “Gettysburg,” (along with about 100,000 other troops; some wearing blue and some gray).

     He was ordered to put his regiment on one extreme end of the Union line; which happened to place him on an outcropping called “Little Round Top.” Chamberlain was admonished to hold his position at all costs, since if the enemy managed to flank his position, they might likely have taken the entire field.

     And though the Confederate Army inflicted serious casualties on Chamberlain’s forces; they held. And when his unit ran out of ammunition, they “fixed bayonets,” charged the hapless rebels, and won the day!

     Some believe that this battle within a battle was the key to victory at Gettysburg. Many add that had Chamberlain failed, The United States might not have existed today; since a Confederate victory in this battle might have seen England recognizing the separate and sovereign status of the Southern states.

     After the war, Colonel Chamberlain was elected Governor of Maine. Though he was wounded several times in The Civil War, he lived out a long life.

     The other Chamberlain was named Neville.

     As I recall, he was born slightly before Lawrence died. It’s doubtful they ever knew one another, given they lived on separate continents. And of course, there was that very large age difference.

     Neville was elected Prime Minister of Great Britain during the ‘30’s; just as World War II was “gearing up.” Hitler’s Germany was “biting off” chunks of European land, as England stood back and watched. In an effort to appease Hitler, Chamberlain met with the dictator, and signed what amounted to a blank check. As a result, Czechoslovakia fell under German control. There is an old film clip of Neville Chamberlain waving a piece of paper that contained Hitler’s worthless promise and signature.

     Although the “weak-kneed” politician thought he was saving England and the other European countries from Germany’s dominance, he soon rued the day he appeased Hitler. After that, “it was all downhill.” As a result, Poland, and numerous other countries experienced Germany’s wrath.

     Two notable men. Same last name. They may have been relatives. Nothing else in common. One a brave and unyielding soldier, and subsequently a politician. One a politician, who would have shamed a soldier’s uniform.

    

     Scripture speaks of the value of a good name. Historians know these two names. One went from glory to glory. The other was lifted up on high, and in one fell swoop, fell from grace. One was liked and admired throughout his life. The other was criticized, scorned and derided for one seeming act of cowardice;

   …that followed him to the end of his life.

  By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "Musings." Copyright 2010
 
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