The Man who heard the King speak.

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My Father was born on this day, the 14th of September 1898 and so it is fitting to remember that he had the great honour of hearing King George VI speak and reply to him. The letter from the Lord Chamberlain explains how this came about in June 1944 and the Ticket is the one issued to my Mum so she could be there at Buckingham with Grandma Hogan and see this ceremony. I am not sure how my Dad came to be decorated, he was kind of embarrassed by it all but it did involve an act of bravery as the following describes:

From 1940, the British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service could again be awarded for gallantry, but now for acts of bravery (not in the face of the enemy) which were below the level required for the George Medal and to the same classes of people awarded the BEM for other services (with more senior people receiving the Order of the British Empire).


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