CHURCHILL (WINSTON)
Typed letter signed ('Winston S. Churchill') to Major A.S. Grant, D.S.O. ('My dear Major Grant') written whilst convalescing from illness in Marrakesh during the height of the War, thanking an old military friend for his message, and noting that it is '...always a pleasure to me to be reminded of old times...', and that he had '...been amused in recalling the incidents you mention...' on paper bearing the engraved heading of Prime Minister, one page, old folds, punch hole upper left margin, 10 Downing Street [struck through, and typed 'In North Africa'], 30 December 1943
Footnotes:
'IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO ME TO REMINDED OF OLD TIMES': Churchill fondly recalls past times whilst convalescing from serious illness in North Africa during the height of the war. On 11 December 1943, after attending the Teheran and Cairo conferences, Churchill flew to Tunis where he succumbed to pneumonia. The following day he reported to his daughter Sarah, 'Don't worry, it doesn't matter if I die now, the plans for victory have been laid, it is only a matter of time' (S. Churchill, A Thread in Tapestry, 1967). By 27 December he was well enough to travel to Marrakech to continue his convalescence.

It is probable that the 'old times' recalled took place during the Boer War where Grant served with the Second Battalion, was involved with Kimberley and Mafeking, and volunteered for service with armoured trains, all occasions when the two men may have crossed paths. However it could be the 'old times' go further back to Churchill's school days in Brighton, where he attended the Thompson sisters' school at 29–30 Brunswick Road, as did Grant (see lot 92).

Provenance: Major A.S. Grant (1878-1960); thence by descent.