Cunningham entered the Chiefs of Staff Committee openly conscious that Alan Brooke and Charles Portal possessed more staff training and government experience. He described himself as a sailor inclined toward decisions and action rather than dialectical argument. Churchill's force of personality made careful preparation essential, so Cunningham relied on his vice chief and director of plans for detailed briefing. A paraphrase of Brooke's view places Cunningham's pressure for faster operations beside Churchill's demands on the committee. Strategic leadership here required committee work, persuasion, and reliance on expert staff.
Chapter · 37:19-39:18
A fleet commander learns committee warfare
Cunningham entered high-level strategy meetings conscious of his limited staff training and relied on careful briefing when dealing with experienced service chiefs and Churchill.