7 June 1939: a Royal Visit and The RCR

To commemorate the first royal visit to Canada, the Royal Canadian Mint struck a series of three commemorative medallions, identical in design, but different sizes. Designed by Percy Metcalf, the obverse features the conjoined profiles of George VI and Elizabeth; the reverse, designed by Emanuel Hahn, shows the itinerary of the royal couple on a map of Canada.

The commemorative medallion in our collection is a 25 mm tombac medallion, the variety distributed to school children.

DATE: 1939
DONATED BY: Unknown
OBJECT ID: RCRM2008.005.0060i

Many local souvenirs were created on the occasion of the 1939 royal visit to London and Stratford, Ontario. The three shown here are a clear manifestation of affection for the monarchy, to a point where even a piece of wood used to build the platform where Their Majesties recieved the citzens of Stratford, was worth saving for... marketing purposes.

The photographic records of the 1939 Royal Tour offer great insights of the actual encounter with King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth. Some of the photographs taken by reporters assigned to the task, depict "C" Company, The RCR preparing to welcome King George VI, in the parade square at Wolseley Barracks. Others  depict the actual ceremony, held in the square facing CNE Station, where the royal train arrived in London, on 7 June 1939. The memorable occasion was immortalized not only in black and white, but also in colourized pictures.

These photographs may have been produced by Perfect Pictures Studios of London, Ontario, however the photographer is unknown. Most likely, they were avaialble for sale at Cairncross and Lawrence Drugstore, located at 216 Dundas Str.

This is a colourized photographs depicting a sequence during the troops' inspection by King George VI upon arrival in London, Ontario, on 7 June 1939.

DATE: 7 June 1939
DONATED BY: Brian Duncan
OBJECT ID: RCRM2017.030.0002

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