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Windsor, George VI

Date of birth:
December 14th, 1895 (Sandringham House/Norfolk, United Kingdom)
Date of death:
February 6th, 1952 (Windsor/Berkshire, United Kingdom)
Buried on:
St. George's Chapel Windsor
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

King George VI of the United Kingdom was born as Albert Frederick Arthur George of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. His father, King George V, changed the family name to Windsor due to the anti-German sentiment in July 1917. He was the last Emperor of British India from 1936 to 1947 and the last King of Ireland until 1949.

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Awarded on:
June 22nd, 1897
Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal
Awarded on:
June 26th, 1902
King Edward VII Coronation Medal
Awarded on:
June 22nd, 1911
King George V Coronation Medal
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Acting Lieutenant
Unit:
H.M.S. Collingwood (1908), Royal Navy
Awarded on:
December 14th, 1916
Became Royal Knight on December 14th, 1916 and as the King the Sovereign on December 11th, 1936, which he held until his death on February 6th, 1952.
Order of the Garter
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Acting Lieutenant
Unit:
H.M.S. Collingwood (1908), Royal Navy
Awarded on:
June 3rd, 1917
Order of St. Vladimir 4th Class
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Acting Lieutenant
Unit:
H.M.S. Collingwood (1908), Royal Navy
Awarded on:
August 11th, 1917
Ordine Militare di Savoia -Knight
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Acting Lieutenant
Unit:
H.M.S. Collingwood (1908), Royal Navy
Awarded on:
1917
Grand Croix de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Acting Lieutenant
Unit:
H.M.S. Collingwood (1908), Royal Navy
Awarded on:
November 22nd, 1918
Grootlint in de Leopoldsorde / Grand cordon de l'Ordre de Léopold
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Acting Lieutenant
Unit:
H.M.S. Collingwood (1908), Royal Navy
Awarded on:
1918
Grand Cross of the Order of the White Eagle
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Acting Lieutenant
Unit:
H.M.S. Collingwood (1908), Royal Navy
Awarded on:
1919
Mentioned in Dispatches
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Acting Lieutenant
Awarded on:
1919
1914 Star
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Acting Lieutenant
Awarded on:
1919
British War Medal 1914-1920
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Acting Lieutenant
Awarded on:
1919
Victory Medal 1914-1918
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
November 30th, 1920
Elefantordenen
Awarded on:
January 1st, 1921
Became Sovereign as the King on December 11th, 1936, which he held until his death on February 6th, 1952.
Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)
Awarded on:
October 18th, 1922
Ordinul Carol I - Grand Cross
Awarded on:
April 24th, 1923

Extra Knight. Became Sovereign as the King on December 11th, 1936, which he held until his death on February 6th, 1952.
Order of the Thistle
Awarded on:
July 9th, 1924
Order of the Star of Ethiopia - Grand Cross
Awarded on:
June 12th, 1926

Became Sovereign as the King on December 11th, 1936, which he held until his death on February 6th, 1952.
Grand Cross to the Venerable Order of Saint John (GCStJ)
Awarded on:
December 22nd, 1926

Became Sovereign as the King on December 11th, 1936, which he held until his death on February 6th, 1952.
Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)
Awarded on:
June 3rd, 1927
Royal Victorian Chain
Awarded on:
June 20th, 1933
Wisam al-Imtiaz-i-Rafidain 1st Class
Awarded on:
May 6th, 1935
King George V's Silver Jubilee Medal 1935
Awarded on:
March 7th, 1936

Became Sovereign as the King on December 11th, 1936, which he held until his death on February 6th, 1952.
Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick
Awarded on:
October 7th, 1936
Basilikon Tagma toy Soteros - Grand Cross
Awarded on:
October 7th, 1936
Awarded on:
December 11th, 1936

Became Sovereign as the King on December 11th, 1936, which he held until his death on February 6th, 1952.
Order of Merit
Awarded on:
December 11th, 1936

Became Sovereign as the King on December 11th, 1936, which he held until his death on February 6th, 1952.
Order of the Companions of Honour
Awarded on:
December 11th, 1936

Became Sovereign as the King on December 11th, 1936, which he held until his death on February 6th, 1952.
Grand Cross of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (GCB)
Awarded on:
December 11th, 1936

Became Sovereign as the King on December 11th, 1936, which he held until his death on February 6th, 1952.
Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)
Awarded on:
December 11th, 1936

Became Sovereign as the King on December 11th, 1936, which he held until his death on February 6th, 1952.
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Awarded on:
December 11th, 1936

Became Sovereign as the King on December 11th, 1936, which he held until his death on February 6th, 1952.
Imperial Service Order (ISO)
Awarded on:
December 11th, 1936

Became Sovereign as the King on December 11th, 1936, which he held until his death on February 6th, 1952.
Grand Commander of the Star of India (GCSI)
Awarded on:
December 11th, 1936

Became Sovereign as the King on December 11th, 1936, which he held until his death on February 6th, 1952.
Grand Commander of the Indian Empire (GCIE)
Awarded on:
December 11th, 1936

Became Sovereign as the King on December 11th, 1936, which he held until his death on February 6th, 1952.
Order of British India 1st class
Awarded on:
December 11th, 1936

Became Sovereign as the King on December 11th, 1936, which he held until his death on February 6th, 1952.
First Class to the Indian Order of Merit
Awarded on:
April 29th, 1937
Ojaswi Rajanyako Manapadvi
Awarded on:
May 10th, 1937
Kungliga Serafimerorden
Awarded on:
May 11th, 1937
Awarded on:
June 29th, 1937
Daikun'i kikkashō
Awarded on:
February 2nd, 1938
The Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri
Awarded on:
1938
Orden Kiril i Metodij
Awarded on:
November 7th, 1938
Awarded on:
May 2nd, 1939
Banda das Três Ordens
Awarded on:
July 19th, 1939
Order of the Karadorde's Star - Grand Cross
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Field Marshal
Awarded on:
May 20th, 1940
Became the Sovereign with the institution on May 20th, 1940 and held this until his death on February 6th, 1952.
Order of Burma
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Field Marshal
Awarded on:
1942
Krigskorset
Rank:
Field Marshal
Awarded on:
November 10th, 1943
Wisam al-Hashimi
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Field Marshal
Awarded on:
1945
Legion of Merit - Chief Commander (LoM - CC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Field Marshal
Awarded on:
1945

With palm
Croix de Guerre (1939-1945)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Field Marshal
Awarded on:
July 1st, 1946

Personally presented by H.M. Wilhelmina at Buckingham Palace on 31 July 1946.
Grootkruis der Militaire Willems Orde (MWO.1)
Period:
After War Period (1945-now)
Rank:
Field Marshal
Awarded on:
1951
Canadian Forces Decoration (CD)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Field Marshal
Awarded on:
April 2nd, 1960
Compagnon

Posthumously awarded
l' Ordre de la Libération

War Diary mentions

17 March 1944 WO 171/607 - 6 Guards Tank Brigade
Ex "Smith". The Bde was inspected by His Majesty the King.

17 March 1944 WO 171/1258 - 3 Scots Guards
The 6 GUARDS TANK BRIGADE was inspected by H.M. The KING.

22 March 1944 WO 171/847 - 23 Hussars
Visit of H.M. The King. HORNSEA Ranges. Advance party left for ALDERSHOT.

22 March 1944 WO 171/2401 - 171 Company
Unit inspected with 159 Inf. Bde. (200 all ranks) by H.M. the King at Driffield Aerodrome.

22 March 1944 WO 171/1359 - 8 Rifle Brigade
The Bn. paraded complete in BRIDLINGTON for inspection by H.M. The King. Advance parties left HUNMANBY for new location.

22 March 1944 WO 171/853 - 2 Fife and Forfar Regiment
[…] the King & Queen visited the Bde & drove past the regt on parade. Ex Frederick Uncle IV – the name given to

22 March 1944 WO 171/866 - 3 Royal Tank Regiment
H.M. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth accompanied by Princess Elizabeth visit unit. Exercise “York” finishes.

22 March 1944 WO 171/1349 - 3 Monmouthshire Regiment
Exercise “York”. The King, Queen and Princess Elizabeth inspected 159 Inf Bde at DRIFFIELD aerodrome.

22 March 1944 WO 171/1307 - 1 Herefordshire Regiment
H.M. King George VI inspected 11 Armd Div. Less 29 Armd Bde at DRIFFIELD.

22 March 1944 WO 171/456 - 11 Armoured Division
HM The King accompanied by HM The Queen and HRH The Princess Elizabeth visited fmns and units of 11 Armd Div.

22 March 1944 WO 171/997 - 151 Ayrshire Yeomanry
Ex ‘York’. Div Arty inspected by H.M. The King, H.M. The Queen, H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth near DRIFFIELD, Yorks.

22 March 1944 WO 171/691 - 159 Infantry Brigade
The Bde was inspected by H.M. The King with H.M. The Queen and H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth, the Corps and Div. Commanders were present. The inspection took place at 1200 hrs on DRIFFIELD Aerodrome. Bde H.Q. advance party, with battalion adv parties left for new location.

22 March 1944 WO 171/1250 - 1 Coldstream Guards
Visit of H.M. THE KING.

24 March 1944 WO 171/1250 - 1 Coldstream Guards
Letter re Visit of H.M. THE KING.

8 April 1944 WO 171/846 - 15-19 The King Royal Hussars
The appointment of Field Marshal Sir Philip Chetwode, Bt, G.C.B., O.M., G.C.S.I., K.C.M.G., D.S.O., D.C.L. as Colonel of the Regiment approved by H.M. The King.

19 May 1944 WO 171/1397 - 2 East Yorkshire Regiment
H.M. King inspected the Bn.

22 May 1944 WO 171/1387 - 2 Royal Warwickshire Regiment
H.M. King George VI visited the Bde.

22 May 1944 WO 171/1384 - 2 Royal Ulster Regiment
Inspection by H.M. the King of the 9 Br Inf Bde at HAMBLEDON – 500 All Ranks represented the Bn.

21 June 1944 WO 171/456 - 11 Armoured Division
Reprint of message from H M The King

6 September 1944 WO 171/1297 - 2 Glasgow Highlanders
Passed through Belleghem - first British troops to do so - and the BN was presented with a hand made tapestry of King George VI.

12 October 1944 WO 171/1254 - 2 Grenadier Guards
Visit of H.M. The King to NIJMEGEN Area.

12 October 1944 WO 171/840 - 1 Royal Dragoons
No change in 'A' and 'D' Sqns patrols. A quiet night. Spasmodic mortaring and shelling throughout the day. At 1600 hrs orders were received to patrol and picquet EINDHOVEN – TURNHOUT Road between STEENSEL and TURNHOUT tomorrow morning and report it clear by 0800 hrs, as H.M. the King would be using that route. 'A' Sqn lose a Dingo on a mine. Tpr Brady wounded.

Sources