Churchill wrote of his return: “I received the warmest of welcomes on returning home. Oldham almost without distinction of party accorded me a triumph. I described my escape to a tremendous meeting in the Theatre Royal. As our forces now occupied Witbank colliery district, and those who aided me were safe under British protection, I was free for the first time to tell the whole story. When I mentioned the name of Mr. Dewsnap, the Oldham engineer who had wound me down the mine, the audience shouted: ‘His wife’s in the gallery.’ There was general jubilation.” Churchill was duly elected to parliament as the Member for Oldham. Still not 26 years of age, he had arrived!