Not sure what 1940's Canadians thought. I have mixed emotions of him. I admire him for standing up to the Nazi's. He was the right man, at the right time.
But as First Lord of the Admiralty in WWI and II, he made some very bad decisions, Gallipoli being one them. The defence of Norway, when it was too little too late.
Dieppe, etc.
I suppose if you look at the big picture he wasn't the only person doing the planning, other's were involved. So he's not the only person to blame.
Considering he had bouts of depression (Which he called "The Black Dog"), drank too much. But had an amazing command of the English Language, and great speaker.
There were others like General Haig in WWI is a good example that didn't care how many soldiers were killed for a few inches of ground.
Maybe that's why I find Blackadder goes Forth so funny. Because it's so disturbingly true.