British Union Jack Flag, signed by Sir Winston Churchill

Signature (“Winston S. Churchill”), written as Prime Minister during World War II, on a calico label applied to a British Army Union Flag flown above General Brian Horrocks’s headquarters during the Allied Advance through Holland and into Germany, 1944–1945. The flag is composed of machine-stitched sections of red, white and blue woven wool.

The Political Sale, Sotheby's London, Wednesday July 15, 1998, lot 188

In good condition; with minor wear consistent with age and use.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Prime Minister Churchill made frequent visits to the British Army in Europe, more than once earning the ire of Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who felt he was exposing himself to too much risk. This signature was obtained and affixed to the General Horrocks’s XXX Corps headquarters flag during one of these visits. Horrocks had only recently returned to active duty after being severely wounded in an air raid while serving in North Africa. Horrocks was widely considered one of the most able of the British commanders, and Eisenhower considered him “the outstanding British general under Montgomery.”