Winston Churchill files revealing love of whisky and champagne sell for $13,000
By Ed Chatterton
Never-before-seen Winston Churchill documents stating his lifestyle habits as "whiskey and champagne" have fetched $13,000 at auction.
The wartime prime minister's life insurance proposal, which was made in 1913 when he was 39 years old, came to light recently after nearly 70 years.
When declaring his medical history, he revealed his boozy appetite and said his habits were "whisky and champagne at meals - nothing between."
The insurance documents formed part of a selection of historic artifacts which were kept in storage for decades in a war bunker underneath Goodge Street in London.
Other rare paperwork related to his burglary claim in March 1959 following a break-in at his Hyde Park home and revealed the suspects who were under suspicion.
Intruders gained access to the London residence via an unsecured attic window and ransacked the upper-floor bedrooms while Sir Winston and Lady Churchill were away.
The crime was never solved.
The documents reveal the stolen valuables - including jewelry, fur coats and even Sir Winston's famous cigars - and their total value as being $32,500.
They went under the hammer at Special Auction Services in Newbury, Berkshire, on July 7, where the collection was divided among three UK buyers and one from Switzerland following bids from across the world.
Special Auction Services Director Thomas Forrester said: "It was amazing to see such huge interest in these pieces.
"The worldwide bids showed the appeal of Churchill as well as the unique nature of these lots.
"These insurance documents were a previously unseen snapshot in time but now will be enjoyed by the wider public rather than being locked away in an archive.
"They were locked away in a war bunker underneath Goodge Street in London for at least 30 years.
"They provide a fascinating insight into Churchill's lifestyle and a time when life just appeared a little bit more interesting.
"Imagine telling your GP now your diet is whisky and champagne, you'd probably get a good telling off.
"They reveal how the great man was really quite human."
The files shed further light on the details of the crime, the suspects and the subsequent police investigation with a further letter from Alliance Assurance confirming to Sir Winston that no culprits were ever caught.
They also detail the guilt the couple's butler felt at having left the property unlocked and how police at one point suspected the new housemaid's fiancé.
Another note reveals police had no joy interviewing neighbors as "those people who were not away apparently all having spent most of the evening watching television programmes."
Insurers also state how the only people home at the "two rather large adjoining semi-detached residencies" were their butler, housemaid and temporary cook.
One letter adds: "At the moment the Police have no clue concerning the identity of the thief or thieves.
"Lady Churchill and the Secretaries have stated that references are thoroughly checked before servants are engaged...the integrity of none of them is we gather in question.
"Lady Churchill herself knows the housemaid's fiancé and nothing is known against him.
"Up to the present therefore there would seem to be no reason to think that any of the servants are implicated.
"The butler was obviously very upset at the occurrence and probably had some feeling of guilt in that it was he that was responsible for leaving the house entirely unoccupied.
"On balance neither we nor the police are of the opinion the crime was planned or that the thief or thieves knew that it was Sir Winston's house being entered.
"The probability is that the thieves would not attempt to enter the house as they would naturally suppose it would always be occupied and would also be aware it was under police protection."
A further note reads: "Despite exhaustive investigations by the police officers concerned, very extensive publicity including publishing of photographs of the missing jewellery, etc, and the advertisement of a reward of $1,000, there have been no developments likely to lead to the identification of the thief or thieves or any recovery of the stolen property.
"We fear that the prospect of any such recovery is now remote."
Forrester added: "I think if the burglary happened today then maybe the butler might have come under more suspicion - but the crime was never solved.
"The level of detail is astonishing as the documents talk about possible suspects and the value of all the items stolen."
Churchill's burglary claim had an estimate of $520 to $780 and sold for $4,160, while his life insurance proposal was expected to make $260 to $390 but sold for $3,380.
His unsigned mortgage application for $32,500 and interest to buy Chartwell Farm, Parkside Farm and Bardogs in Kent was also in the sale and fetched $1,560.
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This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 10:58 AM.