Boer War description of ex-POW Churchill part of Christie's sale

London, June 2 (ANI): A disparaging Boer Police description of former British Prime MInister Sir Winston Churchill following his 1899 escape from a prisoner of war camp is among the items going on sale today along with other memorabilia.

The telegram, sent by the Boer Police, is one of about 150 lots up for grabs in what what auctioneer Christie's described as one of the most significant sales of Churchill material of its kind, The Telegraph reports.

The item. expected to fetch up to 8,000 pounds, was sent in December 1899 after Churchill escaped from a war prison in Pretoria by vaulting a wall behind the latrines and waiting in an outer garden.

The description: "Englishman 25 years old about 5 foot 8 inches tall medium build walks with a slight stoop. Pale features. Reddish-brown hair almost invisible small moustache. Speaks through his nose and cannot pronounce the letter S. Had last a brown suit on and cannot speak one word of Dutch."

Today's sale is the first of three prompted by the decision of Malcolm S Forbes Jr, grandson of B C Forbes, to sell a collection of Churchill material assembled over the last 30 years.

Also included is a Havana cigar that Churchill gave to a fellow diner at the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo in 1963.

Thomas Venning, director of books and manuscripts at Christie's, said: "This outstanding collection presents an exceptional and fascinating insight into his personality, character, sharp wit and his distinctive way with words, with letters, photographs and books spanning his entire life.

"Winston Churchill is one of the most famous historical figures of the 20th century and his feats as a politician, and as the wartime prime minister of Great Britain in particular, continue to attract great attention and admiration," Venning added. (ANI)