KING EDWARD VIII - MILITARY APPOINTMENT SIGNED - HFSID 285902

EDWARD VIII
Four months before his abdication from the throne, the King of the British Empire appointed a second lieutenant by signing this official document
Rare Partly Printed DS: "Edward R I" as King of the British Empire, which included the United Kingdom, India, and numerous semi-autonomous states. One page, 16x12. Our Court at Saint James's. Dated August 11, 1936. In part: "Edward the Eighth by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India &c. To our Trusty and well beloved Hugh Holmes Greeting! We, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage, and good Conduct, do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you to be an Officer in Our Land Forces from the twenty-seventh day of August 1936. You re therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your Duty as such in the Rank of Second Lieutenant…". When King George V died on January 20, 1936, his eldest son acceded to the British throne as King Edward VIII. On December 11, 1936, King Edward VIII abdicated the throne when neither the government nor the dominions would accept his desire to marry American divorcée and socialite Wallis Warfield Simpson. He was succeeded by his brother George VI, who created the title of Duke of Windsor for his older brother. In 1937, Edward and Wallis married. Edward, Duke of Windsor, was 77 when he died in 1972; Wallis, Duchess of Windsor, died at 89 in 1986. Edward VIII's reign was one of the shortest in British history. Folds, lightly creased, not at signature. Lightly foxed and soiled on verso (no show through). Otherwise, fine condition.