ROYAL ORDER OF GEORGE I
(Basilikon Tagma toy Georgioya A)
Instituted on 16 January 1915
by King Constantine I to honour his father King George I who was
assassinated in 1913. The Order was awarded to those who had distinguished
themselves for the cause of the nation. A military division, distinguished
by crossed swords behind the cross was added in 1921. The Order was
abolished with the proclamation of the second republic in 1924, restored
with the monarchy in November 1935 and finally abolished by the military
regime in September 1973. Attached to the royal order is the Commemorative
Medal of the Royal Order of George I, shown in bronze at left. They were
primarily awarded to non-commissioned officers, soldiers and civil servants.
(Romanoff, 1987).
The Order has civil and military divisions of 5 classes:
The Commemorative Medal and has civil and military divisions of 3 classes: The badge of the Order is a
white enamelled Latin cross in gold (silver for the 5th class)
with a laurel wreath between the arms of the cross and pendent on a royal
crown. The centre bears the crowned back to back monogram of King George I
on a red background, with the legend 'Iskys Moy e agape toy laoy' (or 'the
love of the people, my strength'), the Kings motto on a white background.
The riband of the Order is plain dark red and the military badge of the
order is provided with crossed swords. The Commemorative Medal is similar
to the Knight's Cross less the enamel and is worn on the chest riband of
the Order (Hieronymussen, 1970).
Members of the 18 Battalion Body Guard for the King of the Hellenes,
received the riband of their awards from the King on parade in Egypt on 20
June 1941. These had the crossed swords emblem on them, however when the
Commerative Medals of the Order were issued in 1953 they were of the civil
division and did not have the crossed swords behind the Latin cross as
pictured. Major William Jordan also received a medal of the civil division even though his award was of the military division.
1st Class - Grand Cross (Badge on sash & Star)
2nd Class - Grand Commander (Badge on necklet & Star)
3rd Class - Commander (Badge on necklet)
4th Class - Knight's Gold Cross (Badge on chest riband)
5th Class - Knight's Silver Cross (Badge on chest riband)
1st Class - Gold (gilt) Medal
2nd Class - Silver Medal
3rd Class - Bronze Medal
GRAND COMMANDER WITH SWORDS
4006 Major General Sir Bernard Cyril FREYBERG VC
Commander of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force and General
Officer Commanding 'Creforce' May 1941. Incorrectly Gazetted in the
London Gazette 16 June 1944 as Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix.
Later General, The Lord Freyberg VC GCMG KCB KBE DSO and 3 Bars K St J,
1st Baron Freyberg of Wellington in New Zealand and Munstead in
the County of Surrey, Governor General of New Zealand and Deputy Constable
and Lieutenant Governor of Windsor Castle.
[Gazette Entry]
[Ribbon
Set]
KNIGHTS SILVER CROSS WITH SWORDS
2627 Major William Sydney JORDAN
New Zealand Divisional Cavalry attached to attached to Special Operations Executive. Parachuted into occupied Greece 17 December 1942 and served with Greek guerrillas until 24 February 1944. Award not published in London Gazette. Later Major Jordan MBE MC Mid, attached Special Operations Executive France from June to September 1944.
[Medal Group]
9426 Major Geoffery Blake PALMER
Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps, Deputy Assistant Director of Medical
Services to British Military Mission 210 November 1941 to May 1943, responsible
for organising, training and equipping the Greek Field Ambulance unit of
1st Royal Greek Brigade. Later Major Palmer Mid. Officer
Commanding, 1 Convalescent Hospital October 1944 to March 1945.
[Gazette Entry]
2608 Second Lieutenant Winton Herbert RYAN
18 Battalion, Platoon Commander of 12 Platoon of B Company, who formed the
Body Guard for the King of the Hellenes during his escape from Crete, May
1941. Gazetted in London Gazette with remainder of 12 Platoon on 24
October 1941. Later Major Ryan OBE Mid. Commanding Officer 20 Armoured
Regiment October to December 1945.
COMMEMERATIVE GOLD MEDAL WITH SWORDS
3436 Staff Sergeant James Frederick SEYMOUR
18 Battalion, Platoon Sergeant of 12 Platoon of B Company, who formed the
Body Guard for the King of the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941.
3305 Sergeant Leslie Valentine SMITH
18 Battalion, Attached as an instructor with 8 Greek Regiment on Crete,
captured and escaped from the Germans. Then joined 12 Platoon as a Member
of the Body Guard for the King of the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941. Later
Warrant Officer Class II Smith, wounded November 1941.
COMMEMERATIVE SILVER MEDAL WITH SWORDS
3060 Corporal William James PRITT
18 Battalion, Captured by Germans in Greece, escaped and rejoined 12
Platoon. Member of the Body Guard for the King of the Hellenes, Crete, May
1941. Taken Prisoner of War 15 July 1942.
3195 Private Norman Clare DUNN
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of the
Hellenes, Crete, May 1941.
3778 Private (Acting Corporal) George FRASER
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of
the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941.
COMMEMERATIVE BRONZE MEDAL WITH SWORDS
3216 Private Victor Roy BALL
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of
the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941.
3205 Private John Oswald BISHOP
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of
the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941.
29308 Private Louis John FRANKLIN
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of
the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941.
3035 Private Horace FULCHER
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of
the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941. Later killed in action 1 December 1941.
Buried Knights Bridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya.
3854 Private Frederick William HISLOP
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of
the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941.
3040 Private Alec Clifford HOLGERSON
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of
the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941. Later Sergeant Holgerson MM.
2846 Private Thomas Gilbert Herbert HOWELL
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of
the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941.
3209 Private Clifford HUNT
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of the
Hellenes, Crete, May 1941. Later Sergeant Hunt MM.
3052 Private Thomas Aubrey MANSON
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of
the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941. Later killed in action 25 November 1941.
Buried Knights Bridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya.
12236 Private Arthur Mark MEREDITH
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of
the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941.
29424 Private William Allan PETTIT
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of
the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941.
3066 Private Leonard Allan RENWICK
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of
the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941. Not listed in the London Gazette of 24
October 1941 with the other members of 12 Platoon, but did receive the
award.
3823 Private Horace Pierce SANDERS
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of
the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941. Brother of Private Ian Sanders,
below.[Certificate]
3822 Private Ian Armold SANDERS
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of
the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941. Brother of Private Horace Sanders,
above.
29451 Private William Charles SAXON
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of the
Hellenes, Crete, May 1941.
3083 Private Maurice VINCENT
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of
the Hellenes, Crete, May 1941.
29387 Private Hugh WARD
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of the
Hellenes, Crete, May 1941.
3086 Private Robert WARD
18 Battalion, 12 Platoon member of the Body Guard for the King of the
Hellenes, Crete, May 1941.