Churchill, Winston Spencer.

Churchill, Winston Spencer. A half smoked cigar, 10cm long, retaining it's original red and gold 'Winston Churchill band' together with a photograph taken on 11th May 1947 at Le Bourget Airport, Paris, of Churchill smoking the actual cigar, the photograph subsequently signed by Churchill, and a letter from Churchill's secretary on House of Commons notepaper returning the photograph. Together with three album pages containing fourteen photographs recording Churchill's visit to Paris on May 9th, 10th and 11th 1947. Provenance:From the estate of the late Corporal William Alan Turner, Air Quartermaster, 24 Squadron (Transport Command). Corporal Turner was part of the cabin crew that flew Churchill and his wife from RAF Northholt to Le Bourget Airport, Paris, on 9th May 1947 and back again two days later, Churchill went to the Palais des Invalides where he was awarded France's highest military honour the Medaille Militare by the Prime Minister, Monsieur Ramadier. The signed photograph was taken form the doorway of the Avro York MW 101 just before Churchill boarded. Corporal Turner has written on the mount, 'He stood there his cigar in an ashtray when he came aboard, and I took the remains into protective custody.'