1950 Birthday Honours

The King's Birthday Honours 1950 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of King George VI to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The appointments were made to celebrate the official birthday of the King, and were published in supplements to the London Gazette of 2 June 1950 for the British Empire,[1] Australia,[2] Ceylon[3] and New Zealand.[4]

At this time honours for Australians were awarded both in the United Kingdom honours, on the advice of the premiers of Australian states, and also in a separate Australia honours list.[2]

The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour.

British Empire

Baron

  • The Right Honourable William Watson, Baron Henderson, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs since 1948. A Lord-in-Waiting to The King, 1945–48.

State of Victoria

State of Western Australia

Colonies, Protectorates, etc.

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB)

Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB)

Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)

Military Division

Civil Division

  • Dennis Walter Bartington, Under-Secretary, Ministry of Supply.
  • Harry Augustus Roy Binney, Under-Secretary, Board of Trade.
  • Charles Kingsley Johnstone-Burt, MICE, Principal Deputy Civil Engineer-in-Chief, Admiralty.
  • John Irvine Cook, OBE, Second Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Northern Ireland.
  • George Harold Curtis, Chief Land Registrar, H.M. Land Registry.
  • George Sangster Dunnett, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
  • Percy Faulkner, Under-Secretary, Ministry of Transport.
  • Charles Morrison Fife, Under-Secretary, War Office.
  • Charles William Hardisty, Commissioner, Board of Customs and Excise.
  • Eric Henry Edwardes Havelock, CBE, lately Administrative Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council. Secretary of the Development Commission.
  • Noël Kilpatrick Hutton, Parliamentary Counsel.
  • Egbert Joseph William Jackson, M.C, H.M. Inspector of Schools (Chief Inspector, Ministry of Education).
  • John Cecil Wilson Methven, MRCS, LRCP, Deputy Chairman, Prison Commission.
  • Douglas Archibald Porteous, Deputy Government Actuary.
  • Terence Robert Beaumont Sanders, MICE, MIMechE, Assistant Controller of Supplies, Ministry of Supply.
  • Algernon Paul Sinker, Under-Secretary, H.M. Treasury, serving as Chairman of the Selection Board, Civil Service Commission.
  • Harold Ross Smith, Assistant Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office.
  • William Rees-Thomas, MD, FRCP, Medical Senior Commissioner, Board of Control.
  • John Walley, Under-Secretary, Ministry of National Insurance.
  • Colonel William Talbot Woods, DSO, MC, TD, MIMinE, JP, DL, Chairman, Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association of the County of Carmarthen.

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)

Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

  • Brigadier Edward Riou Benson, CBE, Deputy Director, Military Government, British Element, Berlin.
  • Neville Blond, OBE For services as United Kingdom Trade Adviser in Canada and the United States of America.
  • James Carmichael, DSc, MRCVS, Member of the Colonial Advisory Council on Agriculture, Animal Health and Forestry.
  • Herbert Frederick Collins, H.M. Inspector of Schools (Staff Inspector, Ministry of Education).
  • Henry Howard Eggers, OBE, Assistant Secretary, H.M. Treasury.
  • John Marcus Fleming, Deputy Director, Economic Section, Cabinet Office.
  • Frederick Richard Howard, Assistant Secretary, Air Ministry.
  • Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Osbert Eustace Vesey, CBE For services to the Government Hospitality Fund.
  • Colonel John Skinner Wilson, OBE, Director, Boy Scouts International Bureau.
  • Robert Hall Chapman, ME, MIE (Aust.), Railways Commissioner, State of South Australia.
  • Walter James Garnett, OBE, Deputy High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in the Commonwealth of Australia.
  • William Keverall McIntyre, MC, MD, FRCOG, of Launceston, State of Tasmania. For voluntary services at the Queen Victoria Hospital and the Launceston General Hospital.
  • The Honourable Walter Eric Thomas, OBE, MC, Judge of the High Court, Southern Rhodesia.
  • Edwin Porter Arrowsmith, Colonial Administrative Service, Administrator of Dominica, Windward Islands.
  • Ernest William Barltrop, CBE, DSO, Labour Adviser to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
  • Cyril George Beasley, Economic Adviser to the Comptroller for Development and Welfare, British West Indies.
  • Frederic Charles Courtenay Benham, CBE, PhD, Economic Adviser to the Commissioner-General for the United Kingdom in South-East Asia.
  • George Digby Chamberlain, Colonial Administrative Service, Chief Secretary, Western Pacific High Commission.
  • Moroboe Vincenzo Del Tufo, Colonial Administrative Service, Deputy Chief Secretary, Federation of Malaya.
  • Brian Joseph Hartley, OBE, Colonial Agricultural Service, Director of Agriculture, Aden.
  • George Arthur Jones, OBE, Principal, Colonial Office.
  • Hugo Frank Marshall, Colonial Administrative Service, Administrative Secretary, Nigeria.
  • Charles Mathew, KC, Colonial Legal Service, Attorney-General, Tanganyika.
  • William Bonnar Leslie. Monson, Chief Secretary, West African Council.
  • Bryan Justin O'Brien, Colonial Administrative Service, Colonial Secretary, Gibraltar.
  • Bryan Evers Sharwood-Smith, ED, Colonial Administrative Service, Senior Resident, Northern Provinces, Nigeria.
  • William John Vickers, MRCS, LRCP, Colonial Medical Service, Director of Medical Services, Singapore.
  • Roger Allen, Head of the African Department of the Foreign Office.
  • George Lisle Clutton, Counsellor at the United Kingdom Liaison Mission in Japan.
  • Reginald Davies, Assistant Director-General, British Council.
  • Harry Maurice Eyres, Minister at His Majesty's Embassy at Ankara.
  • Brigadier Geoffrey Massey Gamble, OBE, ADC, until recently Chief British Administrator, Somalia.
  • Ronald Johnstone Hillard, General Manager, Sudan Railways.
  • Commander Clive Loehnis, RN (Retired), employed in a Department of the Foreign Office.
  • Douglas MacKillop, His Majesty's Consul-General at Frankfort.
  • George Humphrey Middleton, Head of the Personnel Department of the Foreign Office.
  • Norman Stanley Roberts, OBE, Counsellor (Commercial) at His Majesty's Embassy at Stockholm.
  • Robert Heatlie Scott, CBE, Head of the South-East Asia Department of the Foreign Office.

Honorary Companion

  • Adeyemi II, Alafin of Oyo, Nigeria.
  • Dato Mahmud bin Mat, OBE, Mentri Besar, Pahang, Federation of Malaya.

Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)

Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO)

Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)

Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO)

At this time the two lowest classes of the Royal Victorian Order were "Member (fourth class)" and "Member (fifth class)", both with post-nominal letters MVO. "Member (fourth class)" was renamed "Lieutenant" (LVO) from the 1985 New Year Honours onwards.

Fourth Class
  • Commander (S) Richard Colville, DSC, Royal Navy.
  • Miss Alice Mary Horsey.
  • Thomas Leslie White

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)

Member of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)

Civil Division

  • Frederick Westbrooke Bateson, MM, For voluntary services, to returned soldiers and to their Organisation in the State of Western Australia.
  • Miss Jessie Clifton, President, Returned Nurses Memorial Fund, State of Western Australia.
  • William Robertson Coull, Assistant Manager of Works, National Building and Housing Board, Southern Rhodesia.
  • The Reverend Walter Bruce Stark Davis, a Baptist missionary at Dacca, Pakistan. For services to the United Kingdom community.
  • Mrs Cecilia Downing. For social welfare services in the State of Victoria.
  • Frederick Francis Dunn. For voluntary services to ex-servicemen and their organisation, in the State of Victoria.
  • Miss Elsie Edwards, Basutoland Nursing Service, Matron of the Leper Asylum at Botsabelo.
  • Mrs Susie May MacGillicuddy, Matron, Church of England Boys' Home Incorporated, Walkerville, State of South Australia.
  • Mrs Iris Victoria Morrow, President, Young Women's Christian Association, State of South Australia.
  • Levi Charles Moumakwa, formerly Clerk-Translator, Education Department, Bechuanaland Protectorate.
  • William Ralston, Chairman, Mining Settlement Scheme, Southern Rhodesia.
  • Marthinus Helperus Steyn, MRCS, LRCP, of the medical department, Morgenster Mission, Southern Rhodesia.
  • Ewald Seth Esser Thomas, Assistant Agricultural Officer, Swaziland.
  • Miss Eva Katherine Vulliany (Sister Eva), of the Community of the Resurrection of Our Lord. For devoted service in Parish and School in Southern Rhodesia during the past 35 years.
  • Mrs Alma Wraith. For services to the Federation of Women's Institutes, Southern Rhodesia.

Australia

Knight Bachelor

Order of the Bath

Commander of the Order of the Bath (CB)

Military Division

Order of St Michael and St George

Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)

  • Lieutenant-General John Northcott, CB, MVO, Chief of the General Staff, Australian Military Forces 1942-45 ; now Governor of the State of New South Wales.

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

  • Daniel McVey, AMIE (Aust.), formerly Director-General of Postal Services.

Order of the British Empire

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)

Military Division

Civil Division

  • Douglas Berry Copland, CMG, DSc, LittD, Prices Commissioner, Commonwealth of Australia, 1939–45; Vice-Chancellor, Australian National University, Canberra.
  • Neil Hamilton Fairley, CBE, MD, FRCP, FRS For services to tropical medicine.

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Military Division

Civil Division

  • Giles Tatlock Chippindall, Director-General of Postal Services; was Director-General of the Department of War Organisation of Industry.
  • Gilbert Dowling Henderson For services to the Plastic Surgery Unit, Heidelberg Military Hospital, Victoria

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Military Division

  • Surgeon Commander (D) John Ellis Richards, LDS, BDSc, Royal Australian Navy.
  • Commander (Acting Captain) Ross Valdar Wheatley, ADC, Royal Australian Navy
  • Lieutenant-Colonel John Edward Barrett, Australian Military Forces.
  • Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Alexander Goyne, Australian Military Forces.
  • Squadron Leader Cyril Arthur Greenwood (800), Royal Australian Air Force.
  • Matron-in-Chief Margaret Irene Lang, Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service (Retired).[5]

Civil Division

  • Rabbi Jacob Danglow, V.D. For services to the community, and as a chaplain in two World Wars.
  • Florence Violet, Mrs. McKenzie, For voluntary services to the Women's Emergency Signalling Corps.
  • Alfred Roy Nankervis, lately Secretary to the Department of the Navy.
  • William Andrews Perrin, MBE, a blinded ex-service man. For public services, especially to the Red Cross.
  • Miss Edna Mary Shaw, Matron, Women's Hospital, Crown Street, Sydney, New South Wales. For services to the Commonwealth of Australia.
  • Mrs. Jessie Mary Vasey. For social welfare services, especially to war widows.
  • Miss Strella Groves Wilson (Mrs. Smith), a well-known Australian singer. For voluntary services to the community.
  • Mrs. Mary Tenison Woods. For services in connexion with child welfare.

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Military Division

  • Lieutenant (E) William Arthur Cook, Royal Australian Navy.
  • Lieutenant Douglas Albert Holmes, Royal Australian Navy.
  • Mr. Alexander Edward Leo Macleod, Senior Commissioned Instructor, Royal Australian Navy.
  • Lieutenant-Commander (S) Charles Wilson, Royal Australian Navy.
  • Captain Henry George Frith, Australian Military Forces.
  • Captain (temporary Major) Rodney Charles Gabriel, Australian Military Forces.
  • Major John Martin Mills, Australian Military Forces.
  • Captain (temporary Major) Clyde Hedly Powditch, Australian Military Forces.
  • The Reverend Thomas David Beyer, Chaplain 3rd Class, Royal Australian Air Force.
  • Flight Lieutenant Charles William Butcher (1218), Royal Australian Air Force.
  • Flight Lieutenant Alan King Martin (205163), Citizen Air Force.
  • Flight Lieutenant Keith Manson Rundle (255306), Royal Australian Air Force.
  • Captain John Protheroe Williams. For marine salvage work.

Civil Division

  • Mrs. Frances Derham. For social welfare services.
  • John Finlay, General Manager of Lithgow Small Arms Factory.
  • Miss Ida Grace Francis. For services to Nursing.
  • Miss Gwendoline Hesketh. For social welfare services.
  • Miss Hilda Blanche Jackson, a clerical assistant on the staff of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General.
  • Miss Dorothy Mary Maye, a civilian nurse. For services rendered at Kaevieng European Hospital, New Island, New Guinea.
  • George Paterson, Honorary Pensions Officer, Australian Legion of Ex-Service Clubs.
  • Miss Evelyn Tildesley. For devoted service to soldiers' orphans and the Red Cross.

Ceylon

Knight Bachelor

Order of St Michael and St George

Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

  • Richard Lionel Spittel, CBE, FRCS, LRCP, Consulting Surgeon, General Hospital, Colombo.
  • George Crossette Thambyah, lately District Judge.

Order of the British Empire

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

  • Ralph Norman Bond, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication.

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Military Division

  • Major Sidney Jayawardena, ED, Ceylon Medical Corps
  • Major Leslie Pereria, ED, Ceylon Garrison Artillery

Civil Division

New Zealand

References

  1. ^ British Empire: "No. 38929". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1950. pp. 2775–2808.
  2. ^ a b Australia: "No. 38930". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1950. pp. 2809–2812.
  3. ^ Ceylon: "No. 38932". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1950. p. 2817.
  4. ^ New Zealand: "No. 38931". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1950. pp. 2813–2815.
  5. ^ Hine, Margaret, "Margaret Irene Lang (1893–1983)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 12 December 2023