NAM.1994-01-256-27

Message from King George VI, 27 Jun 1937, to ‘Old Comrades’ after a gathering. From a collection of papers of Bessie Mould MBE (1895-1988), Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps and Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps, 1909-1981. BUCKINGHAM PALACE/ I am very pleased to see so many Old Comrades here to-day/ I appreciate your having come, both men and women, in such large numbers/ many of you from long distances, and I hope that you will take away lasting/memories of the great gathering./ I am happy to think that, as Patron, I am in the future to be associated with/ the work of some of those Bodies which make up the great Brotherhood of/ Ex-Service Men. Being one of the Brotherhood myself, I have always followed/ their progress with real interest and sympathy. I have especially welcomed/ the interchange of visits between the Ex-Service Men of other countries and our/ selves. Those of us who have seen War know what a great calamity it is for/ victors and vanquished alike, and if, with the united weight of our experience, we/ can convince the world of this fact, then I feel we can render no greater service to/ the human race./ Some among you have not known the tragedy of War, and, I pray God, never/ will. For you, too, there is a task to perform. It is not only in times of common/ danger that we need the fellow-feeling so lavishly outpoured during those dark/ years. The spirit of unselfishness and sympathy is just as necessary now for the/ welfare of mankind in our daily life, and it is up to you, and to all of us, to see/ that this spirit is never allowed to fade. These are not easy tasks, but we must/ all do our best to carry them out; and by setting this example to our fellow-men/ we shall win honour and glory for the proud name of Ex-Service Man/ The Queen and I wish every one of you prosperity and happiness. For us/this gathering will always remain one of the most outstanding events of our/ Coronation Year./ George RI / 27th June 1937.

World War One (1914-1918)