Untitled
Category
Manuscripts and documents
Date
17 Nov 1945
Materials
Measurements
150 x 195 mm
Order this imageCollection
Chartwell, Kent
NT 1101016.6.1
Summary
One of three cards accompanying the two-tier mahogany lectern in Flemish Renaissance style given by the City of Antwerp, 17th November 1945. Formerly part of the Heirloom Collection.
Full description
Presented to Churchill on 17 November 1945 during visit to Belgium with Mary. Correspondence in Churchill Archive for this major post-war visit. The Times on 19 November 1945 reported, “Mr. Churchill arrived in Antwerp yesterday after a long delay caused by enthusiastic greetings in every village that he passed through on his way from Brussels. The streets of Antwerp in which detachments of British divisions that took part in the city’s liberation were lining the route, looked like a sea of flags. At the Gothic Bourse, which was shattered by a flying bomb, Mr. Churchill was received by the Burgomaster, M. Camille Huysmans, ‘his friend during the blitz in London’. Speaking at the ceremony at which he was made a freeman of Antwerp, he enumerated the adventures of the port during the two great wars. Returning thanks for his warm welcome, he said that the city was honouring not him alone. But the resistance of the British people. He had been only the interpreter of the nation’s feelings.” The Churchill Archive contains: Camille Huysmans, Burgomaster of Antwerp, offering freedom of the City, 1945. Letter from WSC to the Burgomaster and Aldermen of Antwerp [Netherlands] accepting the Freedom of the City and regretting that it was not possible for him to come to Antwerp on the suggested day of VE day plus 30 [carbon]. Speech notes for WSC's speech of thanks (17 November, Antwerp [Belgium]) on receiving the freedom of the city of Antwerp.