Whitchurch's Trevanion and Dean are expected to sell a historically important cigar for more than £1,000 at auction next week.

The cigar, which can be viewed before the auction at the firm's Station Road premises on Thursday and Friday before the auction on Saturday, was left half-smoked by Sir Winston Churchill on his voyage aboard HMS Duke of York in 1941 to meet President Roosevelt.

Firm partner and auctioneer Aaron Dean says that while plenty of Churchill cigars have been on offer, this has added importance because of the historical importance.

He continued: "Churchill was sailing with his chief of staff and military advisors to meet with Roosevelt following the attack on Pearl Harbour and America’s entry into the Second World War to support the allies.

"The cigar is something we all instantly associate with Churchill, throughout his political career he was practically inseparable from his cigars, and here is a rare opportunity to be able to own on of Churchill’s personal cigars.

"Other ‘Churchill’ cigars have been offered on the open market but none from such a pivotal period in our history."

The cigar was collected by Reverend Robert Rowland Evans (Robin) while he was the ship's chaplain,

In his recollections of the trip, he stated: "A reserve officer from HMS Caroline came onboard to manage the War Room.

"While he and I were in conversation, there suddenly appeared the Prime Minister followed immediately by some of his chiefs of staff. I remember vividly Sir Dudley Pound, First Sea Lord, arriving first and sitting himself down, followed by other Chiefs of staff which included CIGS Sir John Dill, Lord Portal and, I believe, the Chief Military advisor Canadian Government.

"It was certainly a moment of gloom. I felt "I'm in Court, out of my depth and certainly out of place" but as I made my move to make my exit the Prime Minister said to me "Please abide Padre" and I did for a moment or two and then edged my way out."

The lot is accompanied by a handwritten note explaining the circumstances of its acquisition and a copy of the interview with Reverend Roberts. The auction also include other military important lots including a Grana wristwatch, one of the rarest of the Great ‘Dirty Dozen’ collection of watches issued to the British Military and expected to make £2-3,000.

Also included in the auction is a fascinating Officers Mess visitors book from Park Hall Camp, Oswestry dating from December 1945 and including the signatures of Field Marshall Montgomery (twice), Lieutenant General Brian G Horrocks of Western Command, and many other signatories.