Nicholas Winton,a British saved 669 children from the Nazis,was awarded the highest civilian honour in the Czech Republic on Tuesday. Winton,now 105,was presented with the Order of the White Lion by the Czech president in a special ceremony at Prague Castle. Winton,who has often been nicknamed "the British Schindler",organised the transportation and settlement of 669 children over nine months before the Second World War broke out in September 1939.Most of those he saved were Jewish children living in then-German occupied Czechoslovakia whose families were later imprisoned or murdered in concentration camps. Winton gave a speech during the ceremony.He said,"I want to thank you all for this enormous expression of thanks for something which happened to me a long time ago.I am delighted that so many of the children are still about and are here to thank me.England was the only country at that time willing to accept unaccompanied _ .I thank the British people for making room to accept them,and of course the enormous help given by so many of the Czechs who were at that time doing what they could to fight the Germans and to try to get the children out.'' In the same ceremony,the Order of the White Lion was also presented to his grandson Nicholas Soames in honor of Sir Winston Churchill.They are the only British citizens to receive the award,after Margaret Thatcher and the Queen.Presenting the award,the Czech President,Milos Zeman said."It is a great pleasure to present this award to two great personalities of the UK.I am only ashamed it has been awarded so late--but better late than never." Why has Winton been called" the British Schindler"?
Because he rescued 669 children before the Second World War. Because he joined the army in the Second World War. Because he made great contributions after the Second World War. Because he saved 669 Jewish children before the Second World War.