Winston S. Churchill (1874–1965)
Typed letter signed to Torfrida Lois Acantha Oliver following his receipt of a major French military honour.
London: 7 June 1947.
“Churchill Doesn’t Need a Guard — He Is at Home!”
Churchill recounts a warm Parisian welcome after receiving one of France’s highest military decorations.
A charming post-war letter in which Churchill recalls the enthusiastic reception he received in Paris during a visit to be honoured by the French government.
Churchill had travelled to Paris on 10 May 1947 to receive the Médaille militaire, one of France’s most prestigious military honours, awarded to him by French Premier Paul Ramadier in recognition of his leadership during the Second World War. Writing shortly afterwards to Mrs. Oliver, Churchill expresses his pleasure at hearing of a friendly remark made by a French gendarme during the visit:
“I have received with much pleasure your letter of June 3 and am complimented by your kindness in telling me of the friendly remark of the gendarme during my recent visit to Paris.”
Churchill then adds a typed anecdotal note recounting the exchange that occurred in the streets of Paris:
“I had said to the gendarme, seeing a number of them in the street, Est-ce que l’on monte sa garde pour M. Churchill? [Is this the guard for Mr Churchill?]
The gendarme replied; Oh, Churchill n’a pas besoin de garde, il est chez lui! [Oh, Churchill doesn’t need a guard, he’s at home!].”
The remark neatly captures the affection with which Churchill was regarded in France after the war, where his leadership during Britain’s resistance to Nazi Germany had earned him enormous admiration.
The recipient, Mrs. Oliver, was the wife of Vice-Admiral Robert Don Oliver, who had recently served as Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. Churchill also asks her to convey his thanks and best wishes to Admiral of the Fleet Henry Oliver, an old naval colleague.
Provenance:
Sotheby's, London, 8/11/83, Lot 369.
Description:
Single sheet (238 × 190 mm), on printed Chartwell letterhead overtyped with Churchill’s London address “28 Hyde Park Gate, London S.W.7,” typed on one side and signed “Winston S. Churchill,” with additional typed anecdotal note. Hole-punched upper left; light toning; signature slightly smudged. In very good condition.
Winston S. Churchill (1874–1965)
Typed letter signed to Torfrida Lois Acantha Oliver following his receipt of a major French military honour.
London: 7 June 1947.
“Churchill Doesn’t Need a Guard — He Is at Home!”
Churchill recounts a warm Parisian welcome after receiving one of France’s highest military decorations.
A charming post-war letter in which Churchill recalls the enthusiastic reception he received in Paris during a visit to be honoured by the French government.
Churchill had travelled to Paris on 10 May 1947 to receive the Médaille militaire, one of France’s most prestigious military honours, awarded to him by French Premier Paul Ramadier in recognition of his leadership during the Second World War. Writing shortly afterwards to Mrs. Oliver, Churchill expresses his pleasure at hearing of a friendly remark made by a French gendarme during the visit:
“I have received with much pleasure your letter of June 3 and am complimented by your kindness in telling me of the friendly remark of the gendarme during my recent visit to Paris.”
Churchill then adds a typed anecdotal note recounting the exchange that occurred in the streets of Paris:
“I had said to the gendarme, seeing a number of them in the street, Est-ce que l’on monte sa garde pour M. Churchill? [Is this the guard for Mr Churchill?]
The gendarme replied; Oh, Churchill n’a pas besoin de garde, il est chez lui! [Oh, Churchill doesn’t need a guard, he’s at home!].”
The remark neatly captures the affection with which Churchill was regarded in France after the war, where his leadership during Britain’s resistance to Nazi Germany had earned him enormous admiration.
The recipient, Mrs. Oliver, was the wife of Vice-Admiral Robert Don Oliver, who had recently served as Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. Churchill also asks her to convey his thanks and best wishes to Admiral of the Fleet Henry Oliver, an old naval colleague.
Provenance:
Sotheby's, London, 8/11/83, Lot 369.
Description:
Single sheet (238 × 190 mm), on printed Chartwell letterhead overtyped with Churchill’s London address “28 Hyde Park Gate, London S.W.7,” typed on one side and signed “Winston S. Churchill,” with additional typed anecdotal note. Hole-punched upper left; light toning; signature slightly smudged. In very good condition.
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