Churchill Medal - We Shall Never Surrender

Move your pointing device over the image to zoom to detail. If using a mouse click on the image to toggle zoom.
When in zoom mode use + or - keys to adjust level of image zoom.

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 in military dress facing left. To the bottom right is the nama of the designer, 'Cornell'. The reverse features a rectangular plaque flanked by two Union Jacks on flagpoles and with a lion's head above. The inscription on the plaque is an exerpt from Churchill's speech to the House of Commons after Dunkirk, 4 June 1940. His tone was cautionary but he also aimed to capitalise on the euphoria and sense of relief that Dunkirk inspired in the nation.

'I have myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our island home...if necessary for years, if necessary alone...we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air...WE SHALL FIGHT ON THE BEACHES, we shall fight in the landing grounds, WE SHALL FIGHT IN THE FIELDS AND IN THE STREETS, WE SHALL FIGHT IN THE HILLS; WE SHALL NEVER SURRENDER'.

Share:


Donor ref:LEAMG : M3379.1980.4 (66/16968)

Source: Leamington Spa Art Gallery and Museum

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.