1946: Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon; or How I connect to Cary Elwes (or King George VI)

1. My grandfather is Arthur Lubinski.
2. Grandpa had a brother named Paul.
3. The head of the SOE recommended Paul for commendation for bravery in 1946 for events in the spring of 1945.
4. King George VI approved the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct medal to my uncle, and it was presented to Paul in 1948.

... and 76 year later ...

5. Cary Elwes plays the head of the SOE in an upcoming movie

The upcoming movie is The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, directed by Guy Richie and stars Henry Cavill. It's a movie version of the SOE's Operation Postmaster (link at the end, but warning - spoilers).  Anyway at the 4 second mark in the preview below, Cary Elwes says, "Gus March-Phillips, I have a mission I want you to lead."  

Here's the character, so you can get more than a short glimpse of him:

Cary Elwes as Brigadier Gubbins

IMDb states that Elwes's character is named Brigadier Gubbins "M."  Well...as it turns out, that's Major-General Colin McVean Gubbins, the head of the SOE.  This guy:

The real Colin Gubbins.

I don't know if Uncle Paul knew Major-General Gubbins personally or not, but in 1946, Gubbins did sign the paperwork recommending Paul for the commendation for bravery (click on the next two images to enlarge):

And in 1948, the British ambassador to Belgium awarded the medal to my uncle on behalf of King George VI:

Amusingly, the award ceremony took place on April Fools' Day, 1948. 

Links:

• Operation Postmaster (spoilers!)
• Colin Gubbins