A Churchill mystery solved

Thanks to Mr Michael Refalo's fascinating letter of October 17 and to his remarkable memory, I can now, with the help of papers held at Churchill College, Cambridge, reveal the full story.

In May 1946 Mr Edward Ceravolo enquired through Lt. Col. Agius, then Maltese Trade Commissioner in London, whether Mr Churchill (as he was then) would accept a gift of a piece of Maltese silver, since he regarded Mr Churchill as the saviour of the world from slavery and paganism. Mr Churchill replied at once that he would be honoured to receive such a gift.

Mr Ceravolo initially intended to present a model of Valletta's Kingsgate but later decided that a shield with Grand Master La Valette's coat of arms would be more appropriate. The Kingsgate model was later given to Mrs Roosevelt in honour of President Roosevelt, who had died in 1945.

Both the shield and the Kingsgate model were the work of Anthony Attard, described as one of Malta's most famous silversmiths. Sadly, Mr Attard died before his shield was presented to Mr Churchill by Mr Ceravolo.

Mr Ceravolo brought the shield to London and on July 24, 1946 presented it to Mr Churchill at the latter's room at the House of Commons. Also present were Lt. Col. Agius and Mr H.A. Bonavia, from the Malta Office in London. The latter presented a bouquet of red and white roses to Mrs Churchill.

In accepting the gift Mr Churchill said that he would keep the shield in his home and treasure it as a memorial to Malta's heroism.

Mr Churchill then arranged for a signed photograph of himself to be framed in walnut at Aspreys, the London jewellers, and he later sent this together with a box of his special "Churchill" cigars, to Mr Ceravolo in Malta. In his covering letter of thanks he wrote that the shield was hanging in his study and was a perpetual reminder of Malta's gallantry during the war. I trust that Mr Ceravolo's family still possess this unique letter and the photograph.

The shield still hangs in Sir Winston's study at Chartwell, unlike many other gifts which are displyed in a special museum room. I am sure that any of your readers who are able to visit Chartwell will be pleased and proud to see this evidence of Sir Winston's affection and admiration for the people of Malta.