Prince George, Duke of Kent, Earl of St Andrews and Baron Downpatrick |
Passing out of Darmouth as a Midshipman in 1921, he served in the Royal Navy until 1929 and was then attached to the Foreign Office and Home Office. He accompanied his brother Edward on his tours of Canada (1927) and South America (1931). In 1934 he undertook a tour of his own through Africa. He was designated governor-general of Australia in 1938, but this appointment was cancelled due to the outbreak of war.
During the war he initially served in the naval intelligence section of the Admiralty with the rank of Captain (later promoted to Rear-Admiral), but wanting a more active role, transferred to the Royal Air Force where he took the rank of Group Captain (later Air Commodre) in the Training Command. Here he was involved in welfare and morale-raising, visiting many RAF establishments. He also toured Canada and the USA during 1941.
On 25 August 1942, the Duke was en-route to visit RAF forces in Iceland when his Sunderland aircraft crashed at the Eagle's Rock, near Dunbeath in Caithness. All 15 people on board were killed. He was buried at Windsor.
Marriage and Family
The royal wedding November 1934 |
Prince George married Princess Marina, daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece on 29 November 1934 - to mark this he had been created Duke of Kent, Earl of St Andrews and Baron Downpatrick. (Princess Marina will have her own 'Royals in Medals' post.)
The couple had three children
- Prince Edward (the current Duke of Kent), b. 1935.
- Princess Alexandra, b. 1936
- Prince Michael of Kent, b. 1942
The Kents photographed in 1934 by Dorothy Wilding |
Orders, Decorations and Medals
Orders
Order of the Garter
Royal Knight (KG), 1923
Order of the Thistle
Extra Knight (KT) 1935
Order of St Michael and St George
Knight Grand Cross (GCVO), 1934
Royal Victorian Order
Knight Grand Cross (GCVO), 1924
Most Venerable Order of St John
Royal Victorian Chain
1937
Campaign Medals
Prince George's next-of-kin could have applied for campaign medals to mark his service during World War II. As his medals have never to the best of my knowledge been on display, it is impossible to know whether any medals were issued. It is also unclear what they would have been. The following entitlement is therefore my best guess.
1939-1945 Star
Defence Medal
War Medal 1939-1945
Commemorative Medals
King George V Coronation Medal, 1911
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal, 1935
King George VI Coronation Medal, 1937
Foreign Awards
- Norway. Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav
- Denmark. Order of the Elephant
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