Churchill Medal - This Was Their Finest Hour

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Date:1970

Description:

London Twenty-four carat gold on silver medal, 1970

Diameter 44mm

This is one of a set of four Churchill medals designed by David Cornell and minted by the medallist John Pinches. The medals celebrate the 25th anniversary of peace in Europe after the Second World War. The obverse features a portrait of Winston Churchill facing left. He is wearing an overcoat with a handkerchief in the pocket. To the bottom right is the name of the designer, 'Cornell'. The reverse features a plaque flanked by Union Jacks on flag poles and with a lion's head above. On the plaque is an exerpt from a speech made by Winston Churchill to the House of Commons on 18 June 1940. Britain was bracing itself for an air battle that was to become known as The Battle of Britain.

'The Battle in France is over', Churchill remarked, 'I expect that the Battle of Britiain is about to begin...the whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us...let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, IF THE BRITISH EMPIRE AND ITS COMMONWEALTH LAST FOR A THOUSAND YEARS, MEN WILL SAY 'THIS WAS THEIR FINEST HOUR'.'

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Donor ref:LEAMG : M3379.1980.1 (66/16962)

Source: Leamington Spa Art Gallery and Museum

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