Churchill, Sir Winston--

presented by churchill to the doorkeeper of the house of commons to replace the one he had lost in the london blitz.

Churchill presented this snuff box to Brimson on 23 October 1941. Brimson had lost his own on 10 May 1941 when the House of Commons Chamber was destroyed by enemy bombing. The Times reported the next day:

"The Prime Minister yesterday presented to Mr. W.R. Brimson, head door-keeper of the House of Commons, a Georgian silver snuff-box to replace a similar snuff-box (kept by the head doorkeeper and frequently used by Mr. Churchill in common with other members) which was destroyed in the bombing of the Houses of Parliament..."
(The Times, Friday 24 October 1941, p.2)"

[Although described as Georgian the snuff box was in fact hallmarked for William IV. In the nineteenth century the Birmingham Assay Office changed its date letter in the June of each year. King George IV died on 25 June 1830, and in the same month the date letter F (for George IV 1829-30) was followed by date letter G (for William IV 1830-31).]

Another report appeared on the same day in the American press, which included a quote from Brimson recording that "it's rarely that Mr Churchill passes me without taking a pinch of snuff", and how when Churchill learnt of the loss of  his "beautiful snuff box" he exclaimed "Never mind, I will get you another one!". "Instead of asking for a pinch of snuff yesterday, Churchill handed him a new snuff box" (Newspaper Abstracts.com).

The attack on the Houses of Parliament was one of the worst of the entire blitz: "The worst attack was the last...the enemy returned to London with incendiary bombs...It destroyed the House of Commons. One single bomb created ruin for years. We were, however, thankful that the Chamber was empty..." (Churchill, The Second World War, Vol. II, The Grand Alliance, 1950)

William Robert Brimson was born on 16 March 1878 in Dalwood, near Axminster, Devon (a few miles to the west of the village of Churchill, from which the family took their name). He retired in 1943 at the age of 65, as reported by The Times on 17 March, again mentioning his "treasured possession", the silver snuff box ("...the Prime Minister is among those who often take a pinch passing in or out of the Chamber..."). He died on 16 September 1958 at the age of 80.

The New Chamber of the House of Commons was opened on 26 October 1950. Within the Principal Doorkeeper's Chair, at the door to the Chamber, is the earlier silver plate from the present oak snuff box made from the original chamber door, inscribed with the names of the principals from 1943 to 1982. The first name is that of Brimson's successor, Mr. F.S. Sandell.

an important re-discovery of a presentation by churchill, reflecting his love of tradition of the house of commons even during the "darkest hours".