THE KING VISITS FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 224, 19 June 1944, Page 5

THE KING VISITS FRANCE

Historic Occasion In Normandy A GREAT WELCOME (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.* LONDON, June 17.. The King today visited battle areas in Normandy. He lunched with General Montgomery, and later held, an open-air investiture less than six miles from the front line, where fierce fighting was in progress.

The King made the journey in the cruiser Arethusa, which had led the line of bombarding ships on D-Day. He was met on the beach by General Montgomery. It was four centuries since the reigning sovereign of England had set toot on Norman soil to visit his armies fighting iff Calvados, and though there was no ceremonial and the landing-craft went on unloading men and materials .on to the crowded beaches, everyone in the group round the King was conscious ot the high significance of the occasion. The King landed on a beach just , west ot Courselles, where the Canadians had stormed ashore, and while the Royal party was transferring from a .motorlaunch to a “duck” to go ashore six-inch shells screamed overhead from the cruiser Hawkins, which was engaging inland tar”6Bosuns had piped the .King aboard the Arethusa earlv in the morning and she was under way within 10 minutes. The destroyers Scourge and Urania escorted the Arethusa and flights of. Spitfires circled overhead, providing continuous air cover from the moment the King left till he returned home in the evening. The King immediately went on the bridge, wearing a “Mae West” life jacket. He took great interest in the endless stream of convoys. - Beach-head Excitement.

The -Royal Standard flying on the motor-launch and on the "duck’ which took the King ashore in Normandy caused great excitement among the crowded ships off the beach-head. Naval vessels “manned ship” and the men cheered. Working parties on the beaches looked up as General Montgomery’s car drove slowlv past, and then they recognized the King and ran alongside, cheering. Everyone realized that the fact that the King was visiting Normandy was a commentary on the strength of our foothold only 10 days after the landing. The King drove straight inland with General Montgomery toward the battle zone. During the drive the' King was obviously interested in the sight of broken villages which had been in German hands only a few days previously. Files of infantrymen laden with equipment trudged the road to battle, many not knowing that the King was passing. His Majesty lunched at General Montgomery’s headquarters, which were established in a quiet chateau, and afterward held an open-air investiture in the chateau grounds, decorating . seven officers and men, headed by Major-General Keller, commander of the Canadian Third Division, who received the C.B.E. Three to four hundred troops, including many green-bereted commandoes, formed up in an open square and watched the ceremony. General Montgomery called for three cheers for the King, in which the troops joined. Talk in Caravan.

General Montgomery then took the King into one of his three famous caravans and spent half an hour explaining on maps the course of the battles. The King listened intently, and asked many questions. The news of .'the King’s visit spread, and there were many more troops at the roadside to cheer him as he drove back with General Montgomery to the beach in an open car. Groups of French women a/idi children, gathered at corners and waved and cheered. Tricolours appeared at doors and windows, and Union Jacks were displayed.% An elderly Frenchwoman stood in a doorway with tears running down her cheeks, waving a handkerchief and cried “Vive le Roi,” “Vive Angleterre.’ The King acknowledged her greetings with a salute. Tanks trundling ashore held up the Royal car at one point till a military policeman cleared the way. Grimy-faced, weary tank crews grinned and cheered when they discovered who was passing. Back on the beach, where another convoy was unloading, the King shook hands with General Montgomery, wished him good luck and climbed back into the “duck,” which went down the beach into the water. There was a fair sea running and transferring first into- a launch and then to the Arethusa was a tricky business, but the King climbed the perilously swaying ladders with the east of the trained naval officer he is, and lent a hand to others of his party. The King had tea aboard the cruiser and then went up -for a last look through the glasses at France. Though the King spent several hours in the forward areas no enemy plane or ship came in sight. There were no untoward incidents, which is an indication of our complete air and sea dominance in the battle zone.

He was accompanied on the visit by the First Sea Lord, Sir Andrew Cunningham, Admiral Ramsay, the supreme Allied naval chief, the Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Charles Portal, and the Chief of Combined Operations.