Historical information

Portrait of King George V (Duke of Kent) 1935

Significance

Presented to the 6th Battalion Royal Melbourne Regiment by an Allied Battalion the Royal Fusiliers as a toke of friendship and esteem. This Portrait would have hung pride of place in the officers mess from 1935-?
The portarait is also signed by the artist, an M.C reciepient, as well as the the reigning monarch, and colonel in chief of the presenting unit. It is supported by a letter from the colonel of the Presenting unit, Maj Gen Hill CB.CMG.DSO, and as such is hghly provinanced

Physical description

Colour print of His Magesty King George V wearing the unaiform of the the Royal Fusilliers, Read coat with decorations and blue sash under a navy blue over coat.
The print is signed in lead pencil by the artist and by King George V on the lower edge.
A regimental badge is present in the top right of the image.
The picture is framed in a pewter coloured frame with ornate leaf mouldings in the corners.
On the lower edge of the frame is a plaque which states " From the Colonel and Officers of the Royal Fusilliers 1935"

Also included with the portait is a letter on Royal Fusiliers letterhead dated October 23 1935

" From - Maj-Gen. W.P.H. Hill. CB. CMG. DSO., Colonel. The Royal Fusiliers

Dear Armstrong
I am forwarding to you under a separate cover an engraving of a portrait of His Majesty, King George V, Colonel - in - Chief, the Royal Fusiliers, in the uniform of the Regiment,
This portrait was painted by Captain Oswald Birley, M.C., late Royal Fusiliers, and presented to the Regiment by Lord Wakefield to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the raising of the Regiment of Fusiliers at the Tower of London in 1685.
His Majesty has graciously signed this copy for presentation to your Regiment from the Corps of the Royal Fusiliers, and we trust that you will accept it as a token of friendship / and esteem ....

and esteem we feel for our Allied Battalion, the 6th Battalion, the Royal Melbourne Regiment

Yours

Sincerely W.F.H. Hill


Lieutenant-Colonel C.E. Armstrong ,
Comdg. 6th Bn. The Royal Melbourne Regt.,
Carlton,
Victoria,
Australia"


This letter is supported by framing card , which has some water damage on the lower right corner and right side

Inscriptions & markings

signed by King George and the artist

From the Colonel and Officers of the Royal Fusilliers 1935"