PRINCES AT SEA

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1928, Page 1

PRINCES AT SEA

SOME STORIES ABOUT THE KING. AUCKLAND. July 30, 'The late Captain TI. Goodwyu Archer, shortly before his death, wrote some interesting .facts .regarding the system under which King George was trained in the British Navy. The late Prince Edward and Prince Georgo, at the respective ages of forteen and thirteen years, were duly installed on board tho Cadet training ship H.M.S. Brittania in 1878, and were promptly nicknamed “Sprat” and “Spud.” Captain Archer said that private apartments were erected for the use of the Princes, who were under the charge of tho Rev. W. Dal-

:on. Excepting for these separate

quarters the Princes fared exactly the same as tho other Cadets without any distinction, and partook of their meals in the huge messroom. Captain Archer, it may lie explained, was one of the lieutenants in charge •of the Cadets at the time. He was emphatic that discipline was very strictly maintained, and the Princes

had at times to undergo punishments the same as any other Cadets. Cap-

tain Archer recalled that on various occasions Prince Georgo was brought before him for some juvenile misdemeanours, and his answer was invariably, “Yes, sir, I did it,” with a happy smile. “On one occasion,” wrote Captain Archer, “I was walking on tho main

deck, when a medium-sized Cadet rushed towards me. He was promptly seized by me and proved to he Prince George. ‘Oh, please, sir, let me go,’ he said, and wriggled himself free. Next minute he was plugging the face of a fourth term boy, a head taller than, himself. A senior Cadet, now a Vice-

Admiral, shouted, ‘Go into that corner. Prince George; you’re too small to fight us vet.’ Both Princes in tho earlier stages of their service frequently had their optics in mourning, but they gave hack as much as they received.”

King Edward made it a rule that

his sons wore not to have more than 10s pocket money from home, the same as their companions. When King Edward and Queen Alexandra (then Prim e and Princess of Wales) went to Dartmouth to distribute school prizes to the Cadets, they were brought from the shore in a twelve-oared cutter, of which Prince Edward was coxswain, and Prince George pulled one of the

how oars. The other Cadets had warned the Princes that they were to observe regular discipline, and that they were not allowed to welcome their parents on the embarkation of the distinguished visitors, but directly the cutter was turned rivenvards Princess Alexandra leaned backwards to embrace lier eldest sou, whilst Prince George in the bow, bung his head and was attentive to his duty, as the eagle eye of the other bowman was fixed upon him.”

Captain Archer ended his account with tho statement: “It is well to remember the splendid handling of H.M.S. Thrush. When that ship was an most dangercous straits off the coast of Ireland in a heavy gale she was saved from loss hy the commander. our noble King, who again proved himself to be a true son of tlie sen.” *