Description:

A Young Winston Churchill Recruits Soldiers for the Boer War in South Africa, 1902

Guestbook Signed, “Winston S. Churchill”, 46pp, 7.75” x 9.75”, Witney, January 3, 1902, a visitors register for the Witney Institute, with visitor signatures dated between 1901 and 1920. Additionally signed by Churchill’s cousin, the 9th Duke of Marlborough, Charles “Sunny” Spencer-Churchill (1871-1934) as "Marlborough", directly above the former Prime Minister's signature on page three. Black soft cover stamped “Visitors Register” in gilt is scuffed and worn; spine strip missing; heavy soiling and edgewear; a few loose pages with large loss to last page. Overall in good condition with a fine Churchill signature.

The now-defunct Witney Institute was a gentlemen-only social club visited by Winston Churchill (1874-1965) and his cousin while in town to enroll recruits for mounted units to serve in the Boer War. The following day, Churchill was commissioned as a Captain, Imperial Yeomanry, Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars (QOOH). The QOOH was a Yeomanry regiment of the British Army between 1888 and 1922. Its foundation dates back to the formation of a troop of Yeomanry at Watlington, Oxfordshire in 1798. Renamed several times before becoming the QOOH, the regiment served in the Boer War with 40 and 59 Companies of the Imperial Yeomanry and also served in Belgium and France during World War I.

Winston Churchill remained an enthusiastic supporter for the rest of his life, having a significant influence on the fortunes of the regiment during both World Wars, and even giving it a special place of honor at his funeral. The register holds approximately 1,000 visitor signatures, most of which are accompanied by a member signature in the “Introduced By” column. Further investigation may uncover other signatures of note, and almost certainly, some of Churchill’s successful recruits.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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