Historic Winston Churchill pocket watch appears at auction

Winston Churchill referred to the evacuation of stranded forces from the beaches of Dunkirk in his “finest hour” speech soon after becoming prime minister in 1940.

He might have been keeping time with a golden pocket watch gifted to him years earlier by Herbert Asquith, who became the first Liberal prime minister in 1908.

The gift was given at a time when Mr Churchill had just defected from the Conservative party to the Liberals in 1905.

This historic timekeeper has found its way to auction with Berkshire-based Dawsons,

The gift from Mr Asquith was to acknowledge him jumping ship, and is inscribed with the message ‘To Winston with gratitude H. H. Asquith Xmas 1905.’

It is also engraved on the front case with Mr Churchill’s coat of arms.

It will be sold at Dawson’s Fine Jewellery, Watches and Silver Auction on Thursday, May 23.

The full hunter pocket watch was bought by Mr Asquith from renowned clock and watchmaker Sir John Bennett, who held the title ‘Maker to the Royal Observatory’, and is engraved with the company’s name and crest.

It is not known when and why Mr Churchill parted with the pocket watch, but records show it was sold decades later by London silversmith Hennell Ltd in 1983 to Nancy Henderson Cole, Countess of Enniskillen, for her husband, the Rt. Hon. David Cole, 6^th Earl of Enniskillen, for his 65^th birthday.

The pocket watch was then passed down through the family to its present, unnamed, owner.

“There are certain moments in life when you feel truly connected to history and having the opportunity to delve deep into Sir Winston Churchill’s past, both politically and personally has been a privilege. To hold a Minute repeating pocket watch with the Armorial bearings of Sir Winston Churchill, believed to be a gift from another former Prime Minister, H. H Asquith in 1905, is nothing short of surreal. It brings me great pleasure to bring the watch to auction,” says Edward Langmead, watch specialist at Dawsons. 

The 18ct gold pocket watch is a full hunter minute repeater that goes to auction with an estimate of £20,000 to £30,000.