Lot Essay
This tribute was written to commemorate Winston Churchill's eightieth birthday and was broadcast on television.
Autograph Material
SIR HAROLD ALEXANDER, ALEXANDER OF TUNIS (1891-1969)
Details
SIR HAROLD ALEXANDER, ALEXANDER OF TUNIS (1891-1969)
Autograph manuscript in the the hand of Alexander of Tunis, unsigned, 2 pages, 4to, [November 30th, 1954].
In this tribute Alexander describes a visit to the front with Churchill. "I count it a unique privilege to pay my tribute to a great man in this way -- and also a real pleasure to wish my old friend and chief a Happy Birthday ... On a number of occasions he [Churchill] came to stay with me at my command Headquarters in North Africa and in Italy. I always enjoyed these visits, except for one thing and that was when he used to ask me to take him up to the front to watch a battle. I managed to side-step that one, until right towards the end of the Italian campaign when I ran out of excuses ... I hadn't the heart to refuse him. I admit that it was a grave risk to take ... I feel sure that if he had made the Army his career, he would have been as great a soldier as his illustrious ancestor, the Duke of Marlborough."
With letters of provenance.
Autograph manuscript in the the hand of Alexander of Tunis, unsigned, 2 pages, 4to, [November 30th, 1954].
In this tribute Alexander describes a visit to the front with Churchill. "I count it a unique privilege to pay my tribute to a great man in this way -- and also a real pleasure to wish my old friend and chief a Happy Birthday ... On a number of occasions he [Churchill] came to stay with me at my command Headquarters in North Africa and in Italy. I always enjoyed these visits, except for one thing and that was when he used to ask me to take him up to the front to watch a battle. I managed to side-step that one, until right towards the end of the Italian campaign when I ran out of excuses ... I hadn't the heart to refuse him. I admit that it was a grave risk to take ... I feel sure that if he had made the Army his career, he would have been as great a soldier as his illustrious ancestor, the Duke of Marlborough."
With letters of provenance.