Winston Churchill Cowes Yacht Photos Set To Go Under The Hammer

A photo album from the early 1900s showing Winston Churchill relaxing on the yacht Oceana in Cowes is going under the hammer at Charles Miller Ltd in London on Tuesday 12 November and is expected to fetch £600-800.

The family album contains approximately 125 personal photographs which may have been taken by a member of the family of Gilbert A. Tonge who owned the yacht between 1894-1919 and, who as a member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club clearly had high ranking friends in government and industry.

Images include Winston Churchill steering the yacht with a cigar in his mouth, relaxing on deck (also with his trademark cigar) as well as posing with Clementine.

Maritime Memorabilia Specialist Charles Miller said:

“This album is a rare find. Not only does it provide a snapshot into the life of Churchill at the time but unusually it contains images of people actually working on the yacht as well as images of the luxurious interior which is fully panelled and fitted to a very high spec.

"The backgrounds of the pictures are also fascinating – there are passing paddle steamers, warships and even a lady wearing a large hat steering a steam launch, and one shows a gramophone in a tent on deck!”

The album was discovered unidentified in a Norfolk saleroom and also includes a photo of the tea magnate Sir Thomas Lipton aboard.