KING IN THE NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 813, 10 May 1910, Page 9

KING IN THE NAVY.

CRAPHIC RECOLLECTIONS. BY A NEW ZEALANDER. (By Telephone.—Special Correspondent.) • Chrlstchurch, May 9. The Rev. Walmsley Sedgwick, vicar of St. Luke's, Christohurch, was at one time a chaplain in the Navy. While engaged in that capacity he came into frequent oontact with the new King, then Prince George. In the course of an interview wjth a "Press" representative Mr. Sedgwick gave an interesting account of his impressions and recollection of our new Sovereign. Mr. Sedgwick said that Prince George joined the Thunderer on March 9, ISSB. King Edward was a great friend of tho commander (Captain IT* E. Stephenson) who is now Sir Henry Stephenson, principal naval A.D.C. to the late King. Being sent to the Thunderer he joined tho vessel at Malta, and after being brought on board by the captain, was introduced to the officers and mess.. The Prince was on the Thundorcr until the following September, when he left to join th(} old Dreadnought, of which Captain Stephenson had been given tho command. ■ : "The Princo's cabin on the Thunderer was just like our cabins," said Mr. Sedgwick, in support of a statement that King George got no preferential treatment from tho captain. "The cabins wero below tho waterline, with no ports, and in perfect darkness. Tho air was pumped down to us through a perforated tube from tho upper deck, and tho conditions wore! frightfully trying. Wo did a summer cruise that year along tbo coast of Syria, and tho heat was intense. You can imagino what it was like in theso dark cabins, getting this, hot air pumped down."

"Tho Prince was an exceedingly smart officer—everyone acknowledged that, and ho was popular with tho men on that account; He was always keen, and on the alert, and did the ivork which every other officer had to do. "Tho day after ho joined wo coaled 1 ship at Malta. X had gono ashore to got out of tho unpleaaantncao usually

associated with this operation, and when I came back, tho Prince was the officor of tho watch, and his face was as black as my coat. "1 think a great thing about him was his sense of humour," Mr. Sedgwick continued. "I remember, on one occasion, wo had a Malta burn boat man on board, and held a court-martial on him. Ho was sentenced to be 'hanged,' and _ was strung up to one of tho derricks. Tho wholo thing made a good joke, into which tho Prince entered as heartily as anyone. Tho troublo was that the rape slipped, ami tho bumboat man was very nearly hanged in real earnest.

"Tho Princo was always in the thick of any fun that was going, and was very popular with his brother officers, 'l'be captain or tho Thunderer had been requested by the late King to treat the young Prince as ho would any other officor, and to. give him as much experience as possiblo. Captain Stephenson carried out his instructions faithfully, and, as a matter of fact, gave hin. extra wort rather than spared him.

"Tho Princo took these extra tasks in a very sportsmanlike way," said Mr. Sedgwick. "For, instance, on one occasion, after big-gun practice and a nasty choppy sea was running, Prince Georgo was ordered out to bring tho targets in. It was not nearly his turn, but ho carried out the order without a suggestion of' complaint. Tho captain frequently messed with the officers, but the Prince was not invited any moro frequently than the others.

"The Prince," Mr. Sedgwick continued, "made a most efficient officer! After leaving the Dreadnought ho joined a torpedo craft, and roughed it tremendously, going through somo strenuous times in tho servico. Sometimes the crew' on the torpedo . boat would not get out of their sea boots for a week at a time,' and they had ample opportunity to find out what manner of man their .commander was. To siim up (Mr. Sedgwick said) Prinoo George was like his uncle, tho Duke of Edinburgh—a fine officor."