THE KING'S VISIT TO FRANCE AUGUST 1918 [Main Title]

Patchy review of King George V's visit to the Western Front, August 1918.

The King, in Field Marshal's uniform and unaccompanied by other members of the Royal family, arrives at Calais on HMS Whirlwind on 5 August. Three days later he inspects British and US pilots of RAF 1st Brigade at Izel-les-Hameaux with General Plumer. On 6 August he reviews US 30th Division at Biezen (Belgium) with their commander, Major-General Lewis. At Blendecques he presents the Victoria Cross to Captain J T Crowe of 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, Second-Lieutenant C L Knox of 150th Field Company, Royal Engineers and Sergeant C L Train of 2/14th Battalion, London Regiment (2nd London Scottish), and the GCB to General Plumer. On 7 August at Bouin he watches trees being felled by Number 365 Forestry Company, Royal Engineers. He meets Field Marshal Haig at his headquarters, Château de Beaurepaire, Montreuil, on 7 August with President Poincaré, and inspects the honour guard of Royal Guernsey Light Infantry. Back at Izel-les-Hameaux on 8 August, with General Horne, he meets pilots of 203 Squadron RAF beside their Sopwith Camels. At Sautrecourt on 10 August he watches a tank and Infantry demonstration with Brigadier-General Elles, and at Mametz on the same day meets Colonel A Barbosa, commanding 1st Portuguese Division. At Cassel on 11 August he watches a marchpast by Second Army troops, including US forces, and gives Americans of 30th Division some British decorations (the caption identification of General Rawlinson is not correct). At Australian Corps headquarters, Bertangles Château, on 12 August, he knights General Sir John Monash, the Corps commander, and Major-General M W O'Keeffe, Fourth Army Director of Medical Services. Finally he leaves Calais on board HMS Whirlwind on 13 August.

35mm