List of knights and dames commander of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by George VI

The Royal Victorian Order is an order of knighthood awarded by the sovereign of the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth realms. It is granted personally by the monarch and recognises personal service to the monarchy, the Royal Household, royal family members, and the organisation of important royal events.[1][2] The order was officially created and instituted on 23 April 1896 by letters patent under the Great Seal of the Realm by Queen Victoria.[3] It was instituted with five grades, the two highest of which were Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) and Knight Commander (KCVO), which conferred the status of knighthood on holders (apart from foreigners, who typically received honorary awards not entitling them to the style of a knight).[4][5][6] Women were not admitted until Edward VIII altered the statutes of the order in 1936; those receiving the highest two awards were styled dames and those grades, when conferred on women, are Dame Grand Cross and Dame Commander (DCVO).[7]

The embroidered star of an English order of Knighthood, with radiating silver rays, topped with a white Maltese cross and royal cypher in the centre
The star of a Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order

No limit was placed on the number of appointments which could be made.[8] King George VI (reigned 1937–52) appointed 102 Knights Commander and nine Dames Commander of the order.

Knights and dames commander appointed by George VI edit

The list below is ordered by date of appointment. Full names, ranks and titles are given where applicable, as correct at the time of appointment to the order. Branch of service or regiment details are given in parentheses to distinguish them from offices. The names, dates, offices and occasions listed are those given by Peter Galloway in his 1996 history of the order, Royal Service.[9]

Name Date Notes
Lord Claud Nigel Hamilton, CMG, CVO, DSO 1 February 1937 Comptroller and Treasurer to Queen Mary
John Fraser, MC 1 February 1937 Surgeon to the King in Scotland
Walter Turner Mockton, MC, KC 1 February 1937 Attorney-General, Duchy of Cornwall
Edward Howard Marsh, CB, CMB, CVO 11 February 1937 Private Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Dominions and Colonies
Lady Helen Cynthia Colville 11 May 1937 Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Mary
Lady Helen Violet Graham 11 May 1937 Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Mary
James Ulick Francis Canning Alexander, CMG, CVO, OBE 11 May 1937 Keeper of the Privy Purse and Extra Equerry to the King
Sir John Atkins, KCMG 11 May 1937 Physician to the Duke of Connaught
George Nevile Maltby Bland, CMG 11 May 1937 Counselor, Foreign Office
Bertram Norman Sergison-Brooke, CB, CMG, DSO 11 May 1937 General Officer Commanding, London District
The Hon. Gerald Henry Crofton Chichester, CVO 11 May 1937 Private Secretary to Queen Mary
Sir Smith Hill Child, Bt, CB, CMG, CVO, DSO 11 May 1937 Master of the Household and Extra Equerry to the King
Arthur William Steuart Cochrane, CVO 11 May 1937 Clarenceux King of Arms
Sir Henry Walford Davies, CVO, OBE 11 May 1937 Master of the King's Music
Alan John Hunter, CB, CMG, DSO, MC 11 May 1937 Director of Personal Service, War Office
Robert Uchtred Eyre Knox, CVO, DSO 11 May 1937 Private Secretary and Ceremonial Officer, HM Treasury
George Frederic Still 11 May 1937 Extra Physician to the King
Sir Hugh Stephenson Turnbull, KBE 11 May 1937 Commissioner of Police for the City of London
Sir George Thomas Broadbridge 19 May 1937 Lord Mayor of London
Gerald Charles Dickens, CB, CMG 20 May 1937 On the occasion of the Coronation Review by the King at Spithead
Dudley Burton Napier North, CB, CSI, CMG, CVO 20 May 1937 Vice Admiral Commanding HM Yachts
The Baron Marchwood 8 June 1937 Treasurer of the Household
Frank Herbert Mitchell, CVO, CBE 14 June 1937 Assistant Private Secretary to the King
Sir Charles Patrick Duff, KCB, CVO 23 July 1937 Secretary of the Office of Works
Anne Annette Minna Cochrane 1 January 1938 Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Beatrice
Alfred Edwin Dunphie, CVO 1 January 1938 Director of Coutts and Company; formerly Assistant Treasurer to Queen Alexandra
John Berkeley Monck, CMG, CVO 1 January 1938 Vice-Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps
The Baron Templemore, DSO, OBE 9 June 1938 Formerly Captain of the Yeoman of the Guard
Lord Esme Charles Gordon-Lennox, CMG, DSO, MVO 2 January 1939 Formerly Yeoman-Usher of the Black Rod and Secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain
The Viscount Gage 10 April 1939 On relinquishing his appointment as Lord-in-Waiting to the King
The Baroness Elphinstone 8 June 1939
Alan Frederick Lascelles, CB, CMG, MVO, MC 8 June 1939 Private Secretary to the King and Keeper of the King's Archives
George Arthur Ponsonby, CVO 8 June 1939 Comptroller and Private Secretary to the Queen of Norway
Arthur Shuldham Redfern 15 June 1939 Secretary to the Governor General of Canada. Appointed on the occasion of the King and Queen's visit to Canada and the United States.
George Frederick Basset Edward-Collins, CB, CVO 17 June 1939 Appointed on the occasion of the King and Queen's visit to Canada and the United States.
Sir Ulick Roland Burke 5 July 1939 Vice-President, Royal Agricultural Society
Walter Gordon Neale, CIE, CVO 1 January 1941 Political Aide-de-Camp to the Secretary of State for India
Hon. Piers Walter Legh, CMG, CIE, CVO, OBE 1 January 1942 Master of the Household and Extra Equerry to the King
Sir Rupert Beswicke Howorth, KCMG, CB 11 June 1942 Appointed for services as Clerk to the Privy Council
Sir Alfred Edward Webb-Johnson, CBE, DSO, TD 11 June 1942 Surgeon to Queen Mary
Walter Rangeley Maitland Lamb, CVO 1 January 1943 Secretary of the Royal Academy of Arts
Harold George Campbell, CVO, DSO 2 June 1943 Equerry and Groom of the Robes to the King
Sir Eric Charles Miéville, KCIE, CSI, CMG 2 June 1943 Assistant Private Secretary to the King
Henry Hudson Fraser Stockley, CVO, OBE 2 June 1943 Secretary, Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood and Serjeant-at-Arms to the King
Sir Harold Brewer Hartley, CBE, MC 1 January 1944 Vice-President, LMS Railway Company. Appointed in connection with the Royal Train.
Sir Ernest Henry Pooley 1 January 1944 Honorary Secretary, King Edward VII's Hospital Fund for London
Charles Alfred Howard, DSO 8 June 1944 Serjeant-at-Arms, House of Commons
Owen Frederick Morshead, CVO, DSO, MC 8 June 1944 Librarian, Windsor Castle and Assistant Keeper of the King's Archives
Algar Henry Stafford Howard, CB, CVO, MC 9 June 1944 Garter King of Arms
Sir Brian Hubert Robertson, Bt, CB, CBE, DSO, MC 30 July 1944 Appointed on the occasion of the King's visit to Italy.
Lady Isobel Constance Mary Gathorne-Hardy 1 January 1945 Formerly Vice President, Queen Alexandra's Army Nursing Board
Clarence Henry Kennett Marten 1 January 1945 Provost of Eton College
Louis Forbes Fergusson, CVO 14 June 1945 Clerk of the Council and Keeper of the Records, Duchy of Lancaster
Sir Eric Robert Dalrymple Maclagan, CBE 14 June 1945 Director and Secretary, Victoria and Albert Museum
Terence Edmund Gascoigne Nugent, CVO, MC 14 June 1945 Comptroller, Lord Chamberlain's Office and Extra Equerry to the King
The Countess Granville 6 July 1945
The Earl Granville, CB, DSO 6 July 1945 Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
Lady Louis Mountbatten, CBE 1 January 1946 For war services
Sir William Stewart Duke-Elder 1 January 1946 Surgeon-Oculist to the King
Thomas Innes of Learney 13 June 1946 Lord Lyon King of Arms and Secretary to the Order of the Thistle
Dermot McMorrough Kavanagh, CVO 13 June 1946 Crown Equerry
The Earl of Radnor 13 June 1946 Lord Warden of the Stannaries in Cornwall and Devon
The Hon. Jasper Nicholas Ridley, OBE, TD 13 June 1946 Chairman of Messrs Coutts and Company
Leighton Seymour Bracegirdle, CMG, DSO 1 January 1947 Official Secretary to the Duke of Gloucester when Governor General of Australia
Sir Alfred James Munnings 1 January 1947 President, Royal Academy
Evelyn Campbell Shaw, CVO 1 January 1947 Secretary, Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
Sir Henry Charles Loyd, KCB, DSO, MC 30 January 1947 General Officer Commanding, London District
Sir Eubule John Waddington, KCMG, OBE 12 April 1947 Governor of Northern Rhodesia. Appointed on the occasion of the King and Queen's visit.
Sir John Noble Kennedy, KBE, CB, MC 14 April 1947 Governor of Southern Rhodesia. Appointed on the occasion of the King and Queen's visit.
The Hon. Sir Evelyn Baring, KCMG 23 April 1947 High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in South Africa. Appointed on the occasion of the King and Queen's visit.
The Baroness Harlech 12 June 1947 Extra Lady of the Bedchamber to the Queen
Sir Hugh Lett, Bt, CBE 12 June 1947 Honorary Secretary, King Edward VII's Hospital Fund for London
Sir Aubrey Clare Hugh Smith, KBE, CB, MVO 12 June 1947 Outgoing Chairman and formerly Deputy Chairman, King George's Fund for Sailors.
Henry Ellis Yeo White, CVO, CBE 12 June 1947 Appointed on the occasion of the King and Queen's visit to South Africa
William Gladstone Agnew, CB, CVO, DSO 12 June 1947 Captain, HMS Vanguard. Appointed on the occasion of the King and Queen's visit to South Africa.
Lewis Anselm da Costa Ritchie, CVO, CBE 5 November 1947 Appointed on retirement as Press Secretary to the King.
Roland Clive Wallace Burn, CVO 1 January 1948 Secretary and Keeper of the Records, Duchy of Lancaster
Very Rev. Alan Campbell Don 1 January 1948 Dean of Westminster.
Sir Bracewell Smith, Bt 1 January 1948 For services while Lord Mayor of London to King George VI
Denholme de Montalte Stuart Fraser, CSI, CIE 20 February 1948 Political Aide-de-Camp to the Secretary of State for India
Jameson Boyd Adams, CVO, CBE, DSO 10 June 1948 Secretary of King George's Jubilee Trust
Walter Leslie Farrer 10 June 1948 The Queen's Private Solicitor
Louis William Howard Kerr, CMG, CVO, OBE 10 June 1948 Comptroller to the Duke of Gloucester
Arthur Noel Mobbs, OBE 10 June 1948 "In connection with the Royal Albert School".
Ernest Dudley Gordon Colles, CVO, OBE 1 January 1949 Deputy Treasurer to the King and Assistant Keeper of the Privy Purse
Sir William Gilliatt, CVO 1 January 1949 For personal services to Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh.
Prof. James Rögnvald Learmonth, CBE 25 March 1949 For professional services as Surgeon to the King.
Prof. Horace Evans 3 May 1949 For professional services to the King.
Prof. James Paterson Ross 3 May 1949 For personal services during the illness of the King.
Sir John Herbert McCutcheon Craig, CB 9 June 1949 Deputy Master and Comptroller, Royal Mint.
Arthur Horace Penn, CVO, MC 9 June 1949 Groom in Waiting and Extra Equerry to the King.
Edward Daymonde Stevenson, CVO, MC 9 June 1949 Purse Bearer to the Duke of Gloucester when Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Harold Kingston Graham Hodgson, CVO 2 January 1950 Middlesex Hospital. For professional services.
Very Rev. Charles Laing Warr, CVO 2 January 1950 Dean, Chapel Royal in Scotland and the Order of the Thistle
Norman Richard Combe Warwick, CVO, OBE 2 January 1950 Clerk of the Council, Duchy of Lancaster
John Charles Oakes Marriott, CB, CVO, DSO, MC 21 February 1950 General Officer Commanding, London District
George Camborne Beauclerk Paynter, CMG, CVO, DSO 8 June 1950 Groom in Waiting and Extra Equerry to the King; Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland.
Henry Abel Smith, DSO 8 June 1950
Lady Adelaide Margaret Peel, CVO 3 September 1950 Extra Woman of the Bedchamber to the Queen
Daniel Thomas Davies, CVO 1 January 1951 Extra Physician to the King
Norman Wilmshurst Gwatkin, CVO, DSO 1 January 1951 Assistant Comptroller, Lord Chamberlain's Office
Sir Gerald Robert Stedall Hickson, CB, CBE 1 January 1951 General Secretary, King George's Fund for Sailors
Francis Hugo Teale, CVO 1 January 1951 For professional services to the King.
Michael Edward Adeane, CB, MVO 7 June 1951 Assistant Private Secretary and Extra Equerry to the King
Sir Eric Cyril Egerton Leadbitter, CVO 7 June 1951 Clerk of the Privy Council
Geoffrey Sidney Todd, CVO, OBE 7 June 1951 Medical Superintendent, King Edward VII Sanatorium, Midhurst
Geoffrey Marshall, CBE 13 December 1951 For professional personal services to the King
Clement Price Thomas 13 December 1951 For professional personal services to the King
North Victor Cecil Dalrymple-Hamilton of Bargany, CB, CVO 1 January 1952 Adjutant of the Royal Company of Archers
Robert Chaine Alexander McCalmont, CVO, CBE, DSO 1 January 1952 Lieutenant of the Yeoman of the Guard
Sydney Arthur White, MVO 1 January 1952 Grand Secretary, United Grand Lodge of England

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ "Royal Victorian Order", The British Monarchy (accessed 16 August 2014)
  2. ^ "Royal Victorian Order", The Governor-General of Canada (accessed 16 August 2014)
  3. ^ The London Gazette, issue 26733, p. 2455
  4. ^ McCreery, 2008, p. 29
  5. ^ Honorary Knighthood Archived 2015-03-16 at the Wayback Machine, Debrett's (accessed on 20 August 2014)
  6. ^ Knighthood, The British Monarchy (accessed on 20 August 2014)
  7. ^ Duckers, 2004, p. 38
  8. ^ McCreery, 2008, pp. 28–29
  9. ^ Galloway, 1996, pp. 125–126, 135.

Bibliography edit

  • P. Duckers (2004), British Orders and Decorations (Princes Risborough: Shire Publications Ltd, ISBN 0-7478-0580-6)
  • P. Galloway, D. Stanley, D. Martin (1996), Royal Service, volume 1 (London: Victorian Publishing, ISBN 0-9528527-0-5)
  • C. McCreery (2008), On Her Majesty's Service: Royal Honours and Recognition in Canada (Toronto: Dundurn Press; ISBN 1-77070-282-2)
  • W. M. Shaw (1906), The Knights of England, volume i (London: Sherratt and Hughes; OCLC 185192520)