1-629-665 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

King George V (1865-1936) (1936) with General Sir Henry Seymour Rawlinson and General Congreve at St George's Hill, near Fricourt, 10th August 1916. Fricourt is a little village about five kilometres from Albert, in the northern French département of the Somme. It was close to the front line for much of World War I and saw particularly fierce fighting during the Battles of the Somme and the Battles of Albert. George, the second son of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark, was born at Marlborough House on 3rd June, 1865. In 1893 he married Princess Mary (with whom he had six children) and in 1910, upon the death of his father, he became king. In 1924 he appointed Ramsay MacDonald, Britain's first Labour Prime Minister, and in 1932 he introduced the idea of broadcasting a Christmas message to the people. He died of influenza on 20th January, 1936 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward. From His Majesty the King, 1910-1935, introduction by HW Wilson (Associated Newspapers Ltd, London, 1936).