THE PRINCE AS A SOLDIER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2120, 27 April 1920, Page 1

THE PRINCE AS A SOLDIER.

RECORD DURING WAR. EAGERNESS FOR SERVICE. WORK ON THREE FRONTS. Among tin; v;inon* names which have been applied tu the Evince of Wales, Hi ere is probably none which lie appreciates more himself than (hat of the “Soldier Prince.” By his own impatience at remaining' at home, and determinal ion lo go on service at the earliest possible moment after the outbreak of war, by his record as a stall' officer in France, by his demeanour during his visits to Egypt and the Italian front, and by his relations with the troops of I lie Empire 1 wherever he has come in contact with them, he has shown that he is a soldier at heart. The bare outlines of the military record of the Prince during the war are as follows: After a -period of, (raining with the Grenadier Guards he went to the front in November, J 1)1-1, when lie was attached to the staff of Sir John French. Served with zeal and ability, and was bearer of (lie historic despatch from Sir John French respecting the battle o! Nenve Chapellc. Arrived in Egypt in March, 191(5, on appointment as staff-captain on the stall 'of the general officer commanding' the Mediterranean .Expeditionary force. Became D.A-G.M.G. in -May. Visited Italian front during Austria’s attack in November, 1917. Appointed major in February, 1018. Received with much enthusiasm in Rome in May, 1918. Rode with the Guards on their entry into London for review by the King, March, 1919.

While that is a brief record of the various appointments held by the Prince, and the duties performed by him, the details have been filled in by very nnvfiy anecdotes illustrative of his determination to be treated in a manner in no way different from, any other junior officer on the stalf. His impatience of the restrictions with which he was at first surrounded, and the special safeguards with which it was proposed to invest him, together with his resolute breaking away from them, have been described too often.

Of his career as a soldier the following has been written: —'“His war record proves that he is imbued with high courage and a strong sense of duty. Many pleasant incidents are related by returned soldier;- of his kindly disposition, hi.-- sympathy and consideration, his good comradeship

with brothers-in-arms 'irrespective of rank. . . . With soldierly instinct he declined to let himself be safely and comfortably assigned a position at headquarters, and insisted on field service, so that he might share in the arduous duties, the risks and responsibilities of his brother officers. AViihoul being foolhardy he showed a philosophic indifference to danger.” What the Prince himself thinks of his war experiences is best told in his own words. When being presented with the freedom of the City of London he referred to some remark which had been made to his war service, adding: “The part I played was, I fear, a very insignificant one, hut from one point of view 1 shall never regret my periods of; service overseas. In those four years I mixed with men. In those four years I found my manhood. When ! think of (he future and the heavy responsibilities which may fall to my lot, I feel that the experience gained since I!)14 will stand mo in good stead.’'