George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War (1914–18) until his death. One of the speakers at a funeral service for the King stated: “We Jewish people have suffered a great loss in the passing of the King,” he told the mass. “We enjoyed the freedom of the land. For thousands of years we wandered, were persecuted and still are persecuted in many lands, at present under the barbarian, Hitler. But under the British Flag, reigned over by his late Sovereignty King George, we have known a freedom unthought of in other countries.

“We must remember, under the rule of his late Majesty we became equal with all, by the Balfour Declaration. Jewish people received recognition of their services to the Motherland. We seek to-day, then, to express our deepest sympathy for the loss of His Most Gracious Majesty, King George V., and hope that our new ruler, King Edward VIII, will be as tolerant as his father and as sympathetic to the rights of minorities throughout the British Empire.”