Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970) WWII Signed Letter From Genera...

Estimate

£250 - £300

Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970) WWII Signed Letter From General de Gaulle: Dated 15th July 1940

De Gaulle fled from France on June 17th 1940 when he learned that the French politicians were planning to surrender to the Germans.
Initially he was in temporary accommodation in St Stephens House but was only there just over a month after which he moved to Carlton Gardens.
The letter, personally addressed to the vendors grandmother "Renee Cockburn" Renee Cockburn the vendors grandmother. She was born Renee Dumont in Le Havre, France
in 1896. Her father, Leon Dumont was a veterinary surgeon.
In 1914 the First World War began. The vendor’s grandfather, Hector Stewart Cockburn, had just
qualified as a veterinary surgeon and he joined the Army Veterinary Corps. He was billeted
with Leon Dumont and after the war, he and Leon’s daughter
Renee married and returned to live in England. (Picture Attached)
When the Second World War began and the Germans were invading France, Renee was
devastated. She was concerned for her mother, now very elderly and still living in Le
Havre. When General de Gaulle escaped to London, she wrote to him and the letter is his
reply to her. was written while he was at St Stephens House and the text gives some insight into his thoughts at that time.

"Dear Madam, The sentiments expressed in your letter of the 8th July are a precious encouragement to me. I thank you very warmly.

In these tragic hours of the history of the world, all those who still have their liberty must unite with resolution for resistance and to conquer.

Yours faithfully, madam, my respectful gratitude.

Charles de Gaulle

Attached are copies of the letters Renee’s mother wrote to her in April 1940 and May 1940 as the
Germans took over. The April letter mentions English prisoners of war and the May one
tells Renee that her mother has moved to Vichy)