KING IN THE NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 391, 17 May 1910, Page 3

KING IN THE NAVY.

(UIALUIIC UEI'OLLia'TIONS 131 A NEW /EALAXDEII. The ltev. "Walmsley Sedgwick, vicar of bit. Luke's, Christchnrch, was at one time a chaplain in the Navy. While engaged in that capacity .he came into frequent contact witli tone new King, then Prince George. In the course of an'interview with «. Press representative, Mr. Sedgwick gave an interesting account of his impressions and recollection of i.ur new Sovereign. Mr. Sedgwick said that Prince George pined the i iaimlerer on March !), ISSti. King Julw-ard was a great friend of the commander (Captain H. R Stephenson), prineipial naval' A.D.C. to t'lie late Kiiig. lieiilg neilii to tihe Thunderer, .he joined the vessel at Malta, and after "being brought on board the captain, was introduced to the officers and mess. The Prince w:i.- on the Thunderer until the foi;»wsit» September, wilien he left to join tile 01-.l Jji'eaunoiigilt, ot wiiiiuii Captain Stephelison liad been given the command. "The Prince's cabin on the Thunderer was just like our cabins, said Mr. Sedgwick, in support of a statement tluit King George got no preferential treatment fro-m the captain. "The cabins wore .below the \vate;r-line, with 110 ports, and in perfect darkness. The air was .pumped down to us through a perforated tube front the tipper deck, and t-h« conditions were frightfully trying. Wn did a summer cruise that yuix along the coast of Syria, and the heat was intense. You can imagine what it was like in tlliese dark cabins, getting this hot air pumped .down. "The Prince was an exceedingly .-mart officer —everyone acknowledged thai, ana he was .popular with the men on that account, lie was always kee:i and on the alert, and. did the worn which every other officer had to do.

"The day after ihe joined we eoaleu ship at Malta*. I had gone ashore to get out of the unipkasantnes-, usually associated with this operation,, and when 1 tame back the Prince was the ollicer of the watch, and diis face was as black a.s my coat. '•'l think a great tilling iahoiu him was his sense of 'humor," Mr. Sedgwick continued. ''l remember, on one occasion, we had a. Malta bumhoat man 011 lw;<ird, and held a court-martial on him. He was sentenced to be '.hanged,' and was strong up to one of the derricks. The ■whole .tilling made a good joke, into whicti the Prince entered as heartily as anyone. The trouble was that the rope slipped, and the bumboat man was very nearly .hanged ia real earnest.

"The Prince was'always in the tiuck of any fun that was going, and was very popular with his brother officers, The captain of the Thunderer had been requested .by' the kite King to treat the young Prirre as he woind any other oihter, and 10 give him as much experience as impossible. Captain Stephenson carried 'out 'hi-, instructions faithfuwy, and, as a matter of fact, gave him extra work naibher thin spared him.

"The Prince took the.se extra tasks in a very sportsmanlike way," said Mr. Sedgwick. "For instance, 01; one occasion, after big gun practice and a nasty, chappy sea was running, Prince (ieorge wais ordered out to bring the targets in. It was not nearly ihis turn, hut ilie -carried out the order without a suggestion of compliaiint. The cia.ptain frequently messed with the officers, hut the Prince was not invited any more frequently than the others.

'■' The Prince," Mr. 'Sedgwick continued, "made a most efficient officer. After leaving the Dreadnought he joined a torpedo craft, and roughed it tremendously, going through some strenuous times in 'the service. Sometimes the crew 011 the torpedo would not get out of their sea .boots for a week at a. time, and they had anvple opportunity to find out what manner of mail, their commander was. To sum u.p (Mr. Sedgwick s.iid) Prince George was like his uncle, the Duke of Edinburghfine officer."