Deposited Collections

Biographical History

Churchill, Clementine (1885 – 1977) was an English aristocrat and philanthropist and the wife of Winston Churchill (British Prime Minister).  Born Clementine Ogilvy Hozier, the second daughter of Col. Henry Montague Hozier and Henrietta Blanche Hozier (née Ogilvy), the daughter of David Ogilvy, 10th Earl of Airlie.  During her early childhood Clementine and her older sister Katherine moved from the care of their father to their governess (Rosa Stevenson), to a boarding school in Edinburgh before joining their mother and younger siblings.  The family lived in France for a while but following Katherine’s death from typhoid, the family settled in Hertfordshire where Clementine attended Berkhamsted High School for Girls. 

Clementine married Winston Churchill in 1908.  They were married for 56 years until Winston’s death in 1965, they had five children.

During World War I Clementine was involved in politics and charity work, including organizing canteens for munitions workers in London. She continued her charitable work throughout World War II, she served as the president of the Young Women’s Christian Association War Time Appeal and the chairperson of the Maternity Hospital for the Wives of Officers. Her most notable role was serving as chair of the Red Cross Aid to Russia Fund. The charity sent a donation of clothing and medical supplies to the Soviet Union just as relations between that country and Europe became strained. The generosity of the British people was so well received that Clementine was invited to the U.S.S.R. by the Soviet government to see the effects of her charity work and to receive the Order of the Red Banner of Labour.

Clementine was also granted titles in England for her philanthropic work. In 1918 she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and in 1946 she was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in the victory honours list.  In 1965, following the death of her husband, Clementine Churchill was made a life peer as the Baroness Spencer-Churchill of Chartwell.

Clementine Churchill died 12 December 1977, aged 92. She was buried alongside her husband at Bladon, near Blenheim Palace.

Source: Kelleher, D. and Zelazko, Alicja. "Clementine Churchill." Encyclopedia Britannica, September 10, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Clementine-Churchill.

Archival History

This letter was deposited by Mrs Daly in November 1979.

Scope and Content

Handwritten letter to Mrs Daly from Clementine Churchill, 10 Downing Street, Whitehall (November 1941, 2pp) expresses thanks for her “generous contribution to my ‘Aid to Russia’ Fund.”

Access: Available by appointment to holders of a UCDA reader's ticket. Produced for consultation in digital format.

Language: English