KING’S VISIT TO HOME FLEET

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 195, 16 May 1944, Page 5

KING’S VISIT TO HOME FLEET

Godspeed Before Battle (British Official Wireless and Press Assn.)

(Received May 15, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 14. The King visited the Home Fleet to take leave of the captains and bid them, their ships, and their ships’ companies Godspeed before the battle, says the Press Association’s correspondent with the Home Fleet. The King,_ in four crowded days, boarded 14 ships and inspected representative detachments from nearly every ship in a great fleet assembled in these cold, lonely northern waters. As a compliment to the Fleet Air Arm, the King put to sea in an aircraftcarrier and saw planes re-enact their attack against the Tirpitz in Alten Fiord on April 3. It was the first time the King had been on an aircraft-carrier at sea. He was also on the bridge of a famous destroyer and participated in a mock U-boat hunt. Then he went on a midget submarine parent-ship and inspected the tiny craft which attacked the Tirpitz and saw human torpedoes dive under the ship. Nearly every ship the King 'boarded had seen action in recent months, and in one cruiser he saw men in the furs and sheepskin clothing they wear for the Arctic, with the convoy’s “blue certificate” Signed' by Neptune, which is presented to every ship that , crosses the Arctic Circle. In another warship, the King met a captain in the Russian Navy, who is a liaison officer with the British Fleet. It was his first meeting with a Soviet naval officer since the war, and he invited the Russian down into the captain’s cabin for a talk.

Impressive Ceremony. After a dinner party to the admirals and senior officers on the first night, the King came on to the quarter-deck to see the impressive ceremony- of - “sunset.” Naval officers from the Dominions and India stood at attention with a British officer as the King stood at the salute on deck and watched the five Empire ensigns of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India sink slowly from the yard-arm with the White Ensign following from the .peak. The blue and gold Royal Standard broke from the peak asthe band played the National Anthem. The King boarded a cruiser which has been converted into a training ship under the Admiralty’s new scheme for the selection of men for commissions. One was Ordinary .Seaman Erskine William Gladstone, a great-grandson pf the famous Prime Minister. “My great-grandmother used to'see a lot of your great-grand-father,” said the King. “Meeting you here is history. I wonder what they would think of it?” Another officer candidate is a 43-year-old former rag-and-bone man. The King was told he is doing very well. ' Before the end of his visit, the King attended Admiral _ Fraser’s staff conference in the flagship and took part in a highly secret discussion on impending operations. . In a signal to the commander-in-chief, the King said: “The last few days have given me an opportunity once more of seeing for myself in what a high state of efficiency the Home Fleet always maintains itself, and how ready it is to take any measures necessary either for the discomfiture of the enemy or the defence of these islands'. Much has been asked of the Fleet in the past, and it is certain to be called on for an even greater undertaking in the near future. In whatever enterprises that may be entrusted to you, you have my unshakeable confidence that you will discharge them well and faithfully, and you have my prayers for your success.” ,™. l . The commander-in-chief replied: W itn our humble duty and from our hearts, we thank Your Majesty for your gracious message and the visit which, we haie ■all so immensely enjoyed.”