Christian civilisation and the rights of small nations) for which Britain was fighting and for which Churchill thought the United States should and eventually would fight. The War Illustrated published the speech with the title "'If the Empire lasts a thousand years men will say, this was their finest hour'". Preparation and delivery The speech was delivered to the Commons at 3:49 pm, and lasted 36 minutes. Churchill, as was his habit, made revisions to his 23-page typescript right up to and during the speech. The final passage of his typescript was laid out in blank verse format, which Churchill scholars consider reflective of the influence of the Psalms on his oratory style. See also Appeal of 18 June – another famous speech given the same day by Charles de Gaulle Never was so much owed by so many to so few The Darkest Hour Timeline of the United Kingdom home front during World War II Notes References External links Hansard record of speech The Churchill Centre: Their Finest Hour Link to audio file of the speech 1940 in the United Kingdom World War II speeches English phrases British political phrases Quotations from military Speeches by Winston Churchill June 1940 events 1940 speeches 1940s neologisms