THE PRINCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1920, Page 12

THE PRINCE.

AS A SOLDIER SAW lIJM. (By Rifleman in the Auckland Herald.) I well remember the first occasion on which I saw the Prince of Wares, Jt was early in March, IDlli, while the New Zealand Division was camped at Moasea a camp without shade or relief, dreary beyond expression. There in vain we sighed for the flesh pots of Egypt; it had been irony for the "padres" to warn us ngainst them. One afternoon a brother rifleman and myself obtained leave to go into Ismailia. The heat on the road made us wonder whether the excursion was worth while, hut anon we reached the grateful shade of the trees planted by the French canal oflieials.

We were lolling along these cool avenues when my chum exclaimed with dark meaning, "Brass Hats!" Sure enough two staff officers were approaching us at a pace, which, though leisurely, was yet brisk beside our slouch. We recognised the need to stiffen up, to feel for buttons undone, to "'old up our 'eads" in short, we felt all that furl.iveness and guilt that is always the message conveyed by red staff tabs to rankers.

It was th'en that I discerned something distinctive about these two staff officers—they both wore cockades in their sun helmets, cockades that looked very like inverted varnish brushes stuck in the band of the helmet and on tlin left side. One officer looked short beside his companion. Then we both decided it was the Prince of Wales, accompanied by Lord Claud Hamilton. Being sturdy democrats, citizens of a free country, we quite logically straightened ourselves into the most punctilious salute, which was returned by the younger officer with that careless nonchalance characteristic of the English officer.

PERSONAL SKETCH. The incident was all over in (10 seconds, but observation is always keen when thp mind is interested. I propose therefore to sketch my impression? of Prince Edward, although much was necessarily added to them by later encounters. Perhaps my friend summed up with his exclamation, "Why, lie too'ca like a boy in his teens—a mere boy." I gently reminded my friend that the Prince was his senior and only junior to my mature years by some six months. Nevertheless, that was the impression—boyishness. It was boyishness of figure, of face, of expression. The figure was slight and not quite erect, the carriage not assured, although by inches the Prince is short of average height. The Prince's face was remarkable for an Anglo-Saxon com- ! plexion of pink and white, clear and unj tanned even in that land of hot sun and burning sand. The mouth was softly formed under a well-defined nose. But even before that fair, smooth skin,

it was the eyes that were remarkable —eyes of an unambiguous blue that seemed to indicate quick intelligence and bright intellect behind. -Eyes that had a hint of assurance in them, that

could convey haughty reserve to the presuming, and yet, like his grandfather of affectionate memory, could win proletariat or patrician by a gift of expression truly RoyalIt is the ladies who are asking 'What

3id he wear?" In clothes, as in everything else, the Prince is unostentatious. He wore the traditional uniform of a British officer in the tropics. Tan boots and spurs, light-colored puttees, swathing legs of undisguised' slimness. full riding breeches of cream whip-cord and a tunic only distinguished from the ordinary army pattern by the red tabs of the sta(T. The sun helmet, and Royal cockade completed a businesslike kit designed for campaigning and not for Piccadilly. In this he set an example to many English officers who were too smart for serious service and so expensive in outfit as to lie the epitome of "bad form." In France, the Prince's uniform was substantially the same, if we ejjchiinge ricliiinr boots for puttees and the regulation cap for the sun helmet. ON THE ROAD FROM FERRY POST.

It was some three weeks later when I gained another glimpse of the Prince of Wales; to be exact, it was March 20, 1010. The Rifle Brigade had been encamped on the Sinai Peninsula for a fortnight, and on that day returned from Ferry Post by the bridge over the Suez Canal. Wc rankers thought there was something in the wind from the careful inspection we received at the hands of the officers, from the precise fashion in which distances and covering were observed on the march. The whole brigade was trekking, four battalions of infantry with transport, brigade headquarters with signallers, machine-gun and brigade transport. Altogether the brigade must, have covered three miles of road, and made & fine sight, every man hein r * fully equipped with the latest weapons, and nil on a strictly service footing. Rumours of the move to France filled the air, and the completeness and efficiency of our kit after long delays seemed to confirm Dame Rumour.

But even the then attractive prospect of French battlefield could not inspire /military carriage under a beating sun and the burden of full packs. Every mam leaned heavily on his-rifle-sling, and counted each step to the tune of Rudyard Kipling's realistic poetn, "Boots, iioots, boots, boots.'' Boots were our utmost horizon, the boots of the mrfn ive covered. Then down the column came a wordless message, call it, telepa thv, and every man stirred and silffeited. All knew, without. cxpranatioVi or order, which way to look. The Prime, with Lord Hamilton, otherwise nutte unattended, was walking down the column. Wc were marching "at ease." but for dressing, covering, inIcrvais a. battalion on parade had not marched better. The effect was thai of a salute, involuntary, spontaneous, uU "eyes left."

A PRINCE OF DEMOCRACY. A buzz of talk succeeded the pa*s"n,2 of Hie Prince. Everyone wanted to be wire it was he. And then the universal fontiiri lit was. "He's a spoft." After wards, we heard unofficially bow it was. It was intended that the brigade, in full marching order, should march pn=t the Prince at. a given point on the roaii.

.vhero he was to take the salute. Yvhon om Brigadier (General H. Pulton) at. 1 lie head of the column rode out to ;.i;;e his place beside the Prince, the la.ttcV cancelled all ceremony, and a. galloper was sent to take the word to the battalion commanders. The Prince liad r.iiown a quick sympathy, truly democratic in recognisin? that ceremony 011 such a day would be an imposition havdlv to be borne by wcarv soldiers. He waived his Royal prerogative to the nalute obligatory on such occasions, a prerogative that the hundred and one general officers in Egypt at the tima "'ere not so ready to forego. His eon-

sideration earned instant recognition from the rank's, who were well aware of what was due to a Prince of tins Wood if lie cared to claim it.

It was just this quality of insight, of grasping what the situation demanded, that endeared King Edward to his subjects, and made liiin the most beloved of British sovereigns in England or on the Continent. The gift seems to have descended to his grandson, Prince Edward of Wales, and the democratic sympathies of the heir apparent are still further exemplified in Jiia expressed wish to meet the people, and not only a privileged section, during his visit to New Zealand. One tiling is assured—his welcome from returned soldiers will not be the least hearty.

THE GIFT OF INSIGHT. r lt was late in March, 1010. The New Zealand Division still tarried in the bondage of Egypt. It was impatient for the battlefields of France. One morning on battalion parade the colonel announced that the Prince of Wales would visit us on a tour of inspection. The parade would be short. He expected u», nfter our long training, to be equal to the occasion, Jt, had steadily been growing hotter on that shadeless desert, and die battalion was perhaps not overwhelmed with delight at the prospect of machine-like evolutions in full dress. For two hours we were drilled in close order behind our lines. More interesting and less exacting manoeuvres were not fo be thought of. The colonel possibly did not care to disperse his command when instant concentration for inspection might btf necessary. At last the pennants and the horsse of a large staff were seenThe battalion was about to form up when a galloper arrived. The colonel gave each company the message. It was the wish of the Prince of Wales i that there would be no formal parafle. Each command was to carry on the ordinary evolutions of training drill. It was the second occasion we had within a fortnight to bless- the Prince's gift of insight into the mind of the common soldier. By sympathy or, more probably, by personal experience when training as a private in the Grenadier Guards at Ihe outbreak of war, he knew the strain oi ceremonial, of strict attention, of ordered, simultaneous movement. A pitiless sun was beating down, ana liie heat rays were again reflected from the sands. The Prince wished to visit us, to see the troops from the Overseas Dominions, but not to exact formal compliments to his rank and blood. Truly this was ,i Christian Prince who know not the doctrines of Divine Eight, of overbears nee and tyranny,' but who, without display or plaudit, practised the Golden Rule. It is the golden rule of his present visit to New Zealand, to meet the people without ceremony, without hindrance, to meet and win all the people, even as he won the soldiers' gratitude in Egypt.

ROYAL INSPECTIONS. When the Princ rode up with his staff the battalion was drilling by companies and platoons. We had drilled mueti better if our officers had contrived, to march us with face always to the royal inspecting officer. "An Englishman dearly loves a lord," and so does his democratic, cousin from overseas. We are not yet republicans, for every man's neck and eyes exhibited an uncontrollable tendency to twist to the lode-star represented by the Prince. And he, while he chatted pleasantly with the colonel, kept keen eyes on the troops, and no doubt saw more than a little. 1 cannot leave this scene without recording the comical appearance of our colonel; while the Prince tarried beside him he was all one big blush, checks, cars, and neck. Vet in France he showed himself dauntless in more formidable situations It makes me tremble in anticipation for the Mayors of some of our country townships! Five months later, on August 14, 1918, the Rifle Brigade inarched out of Armentieres salient, first of the New Zealand Division, on the road to the first battle of the Soinhie. We were to have boon inspected by the King that morning, but had almost arrived at the railhead for entraining. Then quite suddenly we were drawn up in line on the side of the road. There was no time to dress ranks for the staff cars were already approaching. The King was in the first car with General Plunier. He appeared very tired, and did not pretend to look in our direction. He wits engaged oil one of those great periodical tours of inspection in France, and had just come from inspecting the 51st Highland Division, and one of the battalions of our brigade. As he passed to his car on foot, this battalion was permitted to cheer the King. The Prince of Wales, with Generals Sir Douglas Haig and Sir William Robertson, was in the next car. The square, mature face of Ilaig, the gnarled, asperity of Robertson, were in strong contrast to the youthful freshness of the Prince. It is fair to say. of this famous trio and of General Piumcr, that they surveyed our ranks with that piercing, afl-seemg glance that belongs to great commanders, and which makes each individual ranker feel he is the object of special, and not favorable, attention. All this they contrived to convey during the passing of a slowly moving car. It was not till 1918 that I was privileged to see the Prince again. There were nmny stories of him, however, which went to show that in disposition, he was more nearly akin to King Kdward than to King George. I cannot vouch for the stories, but may be permitted to repeat one. Prince Edward had obtained leave fftrni his duties at general headquarters to visit the battlefield where every British division in turn contended. It was the Somme of September, lfllfi, while the New Zealanders were engaged. The Prince's guides had instructions to conduct the Prince over the German trench lines taken since ■lnly, but not to expose the life of their Royal charge. Tiie Prince, on the other hand, wanted to see the action itself, regardless of risk. He managed to escape his guides and penetrated to our forward lines before he was recognised. There seems no reason to doubt the slorv as it was in accord with his express iwlrh to share the ardours and dangers of campaigning with his future subjects-

THE PRTNCE AND GERMAN TANKS. Tn October, 101(1, the Rifle Brigade was billeted ill Ksnes after tlmt memorable series of victories after the smashing uf the Hiiidenburg line. One, afternoon training was being carried on outside the village when the Prince rode up. His visit had not been unexpected, but there was to be 110 ceremony. He conversed with our colonel for a time, and then sec'oiid-lieutenant was cntyd for. ;l< was an Aucklaiider, a D.C.M., and recently commissioned. He borrowed tlu company co ""'ander's horse and ambled off in hi'- n "'t'ess fashion to be presented. 'l' l he whole cavalcade rode oil'- With exception of the second lieutenant ...j Captain the Trince of Wales all were of high military rank. Their uniforms were smart, the horses

stepped with the grace of thoroughbreds, the pennants of division and corps fluttered gracefully—there wus only one graceless figure in this glittering group. Our' Aucklauder was none too expert a horseman, his horse was tlxe worst old hairy veteran in the battalion, twice wounded and unable to do more than amble amiably. Yet on this-sorry nag, and at the bead of the troop, our subaltern rode beside the Prince and apparently was engaged in brisk conversation.

The explanation of this amazing tableau cirme to my ears later/ The Auriclander had been selected to Prince to the scene of a heroic little, ac- j tion and to explain what occurred. It seemed to have been advancing with his platoon near Esnes and had been held up by a German machine-gun. He had decided to leave his- platoon under cover, creep lip, and rush the machine-gun crew. (I-Ie did not tell this part of the story, but his men did). The enterprise was abandoned on the sudden appearance of a German tank, and then another. At this stage of the' Prince arrived with his guide at the scene of the incident. "And what aid you do when you saw the tanks?" queried the Prince. "We were going to get out of the way," was- the unvarnished reply. The Prince remarked he would have been inclined to do the same. The necessity did not arise, however, because two British tanks emerged from the village and with a few direct hits put one Hun engine out of action. They both surrendered- It was to see these captured (ierman tanks and to hear the story of the action from an eye-witness that the Prince had ridden off with one of our subalterns in that easy fashion.