Presentation medal
Category
Coins and medals
Date
22 Jan 1952
Materials
Bronze
Measurements
2 mm (Depth); 35 mm (Diameter)
Order this imageCollection
Chartwell, Kent
NT 1101160
Summary
City of New York medal of Honour, in bronze, awarded to WSC January 22nd 1952. Formerly part of the Heirloom Collection.
Full description
Churchill’s first visit to the USA as a peacetime Prime Minister (with Anthony Eden) was for talks with President Truman from 5-23 January 1952. He addressed Congress on 17 January. He is said to have received this medal from the Mayor of New York (Mayor Impellitteri) on January 22nd while in his pyjamas in his hotel bed due to a cold. On accepting the medal Churchill emphasised to the Mayor that British-American unity was very important for both countries, ‘indeed for the entire world’. Churchill wrote to Clementine on 21st January, “I have let myself in for a Parade through the streets of New York to the Mayor’s Parlour tomorrow (Tuesday) to receive a gold medal. Unfortunately the weather has turned icy. (Yesterday warm & muggy). I have the beginning of a cold. This is a tiresome problem.” Exhibited at the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York, June to September 2012.