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unusual facts about King George VI



1939–45 Star

The ribbon for this medal, along with those of the other Second World War campaign stars, is reputed to have been designed by King George VI, with the three equal bands representing the equal contributions towards victory of the Royal Navy, Army, and the Royal Air Force respectively.

1947–48 Northern Rugby Football League season

This was the first Rugby League match ever attended by the reigning monarch, HM King George VI, who presented the trophy.

93d Operations Group

While the 93d was at RAF Alconbury, His Majesty, King George VI paid his first visit to an Eighth Air Force base on 13 November 1942.

Africa Service Medal

It was instituted by King George VI, in his capacity as South African head of state, on 23 December 1943, and was awarded in addition to the British stars and medals issued for the war.

Andrew Ray

Despite a rocky period in his twenties, Ray subsequently appeared in numerous film, theatre and television roles over the years, including as nuclear scientist Klaus Fuchs for Anglia Television and as King George VI in Crown Matrimonial on stage and television.

Art Christmas

One of Art's fondest memories was the performance of "Cinderella" for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at the Palladium in London.

Aub Hodgson

On arrival, he helped fill sandbags, was received by King George VI and then returned to Australia.

Baron Fermoy

She was the younger daughter of the fourth Baron Fermoy, a friend of King George VI and the elder of the twin sons of the American heiress Frances Work and her first husband, Hon.

Bert Lawrence

He was decorated with the Military Cross by King George VI for engineering a bridge in an advance action at the Risle River near Brionne, France.

Brackley railway station

On 13 May 1950 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth arrived at Brackley station en route to the first official British Grand Prix held at Silverstone.

Chittagong Hill Tracts

He said that before accepting the post of viceroy he had told King George VI, who was his cousin: "I am prepared to accept the job only on one condition. India must be granted independence by July, 1948 and I will not stay there a day longer".

Douglas Warren

In 1945 they both were awarded Distinguished Flying Cross by King George VI at Buckingham Palace.

Elliott Cutler

For his contributions to military medicine in the Second World War, he received a second Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit from the United States War Department, the Order of the British Empire by King George VI of Britain, the Croix de Guerre by the French government, the Companion of the Order of the Bath, and Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur.

Emily McPherson College of Domestic Economy

The College, on the corner of Russell Street and Victoria Street adjacent to the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, was officially opened on 27 April 1927 by Her Royal Highness Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the Duchess of York, during a royal visit to Australia by her and her husband, His Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Duke of York, later King George VI.

Farndish

In 1937 The Times reported the plans being made in Farndish to mark the celebrations for the Coronation of King George VI – "a fine example of how England's villages may make this a memorable day in the lives of their people".

Fernando Pessa

He joined Portugal's state radio in 1934, and covered World War II for BBC radio, for which he was subsequently appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by King George VI.

Hyde Park Corner

"Hyde Park Corner" was used as a code to announce to the government the death of King George VI in 1952.

Hyde Park Railroad Station

Roosevelt is known to have passed through the station twice during his presidency: in 1939 when he greeted King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom on their 1939 visit, and posthumously in 1945 when his body was unloaded there in preparation for burial.

Jack Miner

He had been presented with the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by King George VI in 1943 "for the greatest achievement in conservation in the British Empire."

Jan Smuts in the South African Republic

He served as a Boer General during the Boer War, a British General during the First World War and was appointed Field Marshal by King George VI during the Second World War.

John Snagge

He provided commentary for the coronation of King George VI in 1937 and again in 1953 for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

King George Boulevard

Opened in 1940, the route was originally named King George Highway in honour of the royal visit of King George VI the previous year.

Laurier House

Many distinguished guests from abroad were received at this house, such as King George VI, Sir Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and others.

Lee Iu-cheung

Dr. Lee's awards include an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by HM King George VI in 1949, an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 1952 and a C.B.E (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1958, the latter both awarded by HM Queen Elizabeth II.

Max Robertson

He was also a commentator at major news events like the funeral of King George VI in 1952 and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II a year later.

Melbourn Aubrey

Between 1936 and 1938 he was Moderator of the Federal Council of Free Churches and presented the Loyal Address on behalf of the Free Churches to H.M. King George VI.

New Zealand Civil Air Ensign

The original design for the ensign was submitted to King George VI by the Governor-General of New Zealand, Lord Galway.

Ogidi, Anambra

Upon his death, Amobi I was succeeded by his eldest son, HRH Prince Benjamin Olisaeloka Amobi, who, as HRH Igwe Amobi II of Ogidi, later represented the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria at the coronation of HM King George VI of England in 1937.

Orb and Sceptre

As with Crown Imperial, written by Walton in 1936 for the coronation of Elizabeth II's father, King George VI, it quietens down into a Trio section in the middle in C. This theme is heard subdued on the strings, before repeated in its more stately and grand form.

People's United Party

One month earlier the colonial government dissolved the PUP-dominated Belize City Council for neglecting to place a portrait of King George VI in its chambers, and in October jailed PUP leaders Richardson and Phillip Goldson for an article in a local newspaper justifying revolution.

Port Whitby and Port Perry Railway

The last service to run on the line was a special passenger-only service to Toronto to bring well-wishers to the Royal Tour of 1939 by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

Queen Elizabeth's horses

Elizabeth owns many thoroughbred horses for use in racing, having inherited several on the death of her father King George VI, in 1952.

South African honours system

Between 1937 and 1952, King George VI, as the Union's head of state, instituted several civil and military decorations and medals for the Union, including the King's Medal for Bravery.

South Ayrshire

The buildings were built in 1931 on the site of Ayr Jail and opened by King George VI.

Szyk Haggadah

The Haggadah was dedicated to King George VI of England, who received one of the first copies.

The Clark Brothers

The Clark Brothers gave their first British performance for King George VI and became favourites in working men's clubs.

Top Cottage

Although it was meant as a retreat, FDR also received notable guests at the cottage, including Britain's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and, after half a century in private ownership, it was restored and given to the National Park Service, which today operates it as part of the nearby Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site.

The next year it would be host to the famous picnic where Roosevelt cooked and served hot dogs to Britain's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on the first state visit to the United States by a British sovereign.

Vijay Hazare

In India's 25th Test match, nearly 20 years after India achieved Test status, he led India to its first ever Test cricket win (and the only victory under his captaincy) in 1951–52 against England cricket team at Madras, winning by an innings and eight runs in a match that began on the day that King George VI died.

Wajid Ali Khan Burki

He was knighted MBE (Order of the British Empire) 15 November 1945 by King George VI for Medical Service during WWII.

West Park, Wolverhampton

In 1911 commemorative flower beds were set out for the coronation of King George V; similarly in 1937 for King George VI.

William M. Branham

Branham claimed that God's miraculous intervention healed King George VI of England through his prayers.


see also

Charles Armstrong

Charles Armstrong-Jones (born 1999), son of Viscount and Viscountess Linley and great-grandson of King George VI of the United Kingdom

George Kruger Gray

The reverse design for the crown (5 shillings) of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II was later used for the Krugerrand beginning in 1967.

John Oxx

The partnership also had successes with Alamshar, who won the Irish Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot; with Azamour, winner of the St. James's Palace Stakes, the Irish Champion Stakes, the Prince of Wales Stakes and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2004 and 2005; and with Kastoria, whose 2006 season included a win in the Irish St. Leger.

Rhodesian Armoured Corps

An Armoured Depot was established at Blakiston-Houston Barracks which conducted all armour training and housed the Headquarters, Stores, Signals and Workshop detachments adjacent to King George VI Barracks (Army HQ) on the outskirts of Salisbury.

Vigil of the Princes

The Prince of Wales, The Duke of York, The Earl of Wessex and Viscount Linley took guard at 16:40 UTC on 8 April 2002 at the lying-in-state of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (widow of King George VI; daughter-in-law of King George V).