Presentation medal
Category
Coins and medals
Date
1892
Materials
Silver
Measurements
52 x 36 x 10 mm
Order this imageCollection
Chartwell, Kent
NT 1101166
Summary
Silver medal with the form of a Maltese Cross with lion surmount, the Public Schools Fencing Championship, 1892, won by WSC; the reverse with inscription. 1969. Formerly part of the Heirloom Collection.
Full description
The school newspaper, The Harrovian, reported, “His success was chiefly due to his quick and dashing attack, which quite took his opponents by surprise." Supposedly, when Churchill asked his father to come to Aldershot to watch him fence against Bradfield College and Tonbridge School, he replied “It is Sandown Races which I must go to.” (Martin Gilbert, Churchill: a Life). The Churchill Archive contains: Letter from Churchill ([Harrow School, Middlesex]) to "Mama" [Lady Randolph Churchill] informing her that he is working hard at his fencing in which he represents the school, asks her to send his love to Lady [Laura] W[ilton] and to send him money to "replenish the exchequer". Letter from Lord Randolph Churchill, 2 Connaught Place, London, to Churchill, congratulations on Churchill's success in the Harrow School Fencing competition. "I only hope fencing will not too much divert your attention from the Army Class. Letter from "Jack" [John S Churchill] (Elstree School, Herts) to Churchill, on the Harrow Fencing Cup.Letter from Lady Randolph Churchill, Grand Hotel, Monte Carlo, to Churchill, congratulations on winning Public Schools Fencing Competition. In 1951 Churchill was elected Vice-President of the Sevenoaks Fencing Club and in 1953 he was appointed Honorary President of the Amateur Fencing Association.
Marks and inscriptions
inscription on reverse