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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, JANUARY 27, 1936.
On succeeding to the Throne I desire that the Royal Navy and all my other Naval Forces throughout the Empire should know with what gratitude I recall the distinguished service rendered by them during the reign of the King my beloved father and how much I cherish the recollection of the intimate personal association so long subsisting between my family and that profession to which my father devoted his youth and early manhood and in which I and two of my brothers received our early training.
My visits to many parts of the Empire have enabled me to note with pride that loyalty and devotion to duty remain the watch-words of the Royal Navy whenever it is called upon to serve and that the same great traditions are guiding the development of the Naval Services of the Dominions and of India, and of all other Forces sharing in the naval defence of the British Commonwealth of Nations.
Conscious as I am of the great trust reposed in you and confident of your determination never to disappoint that trust I shall always regard your efficiency and well-being as matters of the highest importance and shall take a deep interest in everything which concerns them.
No. 100.
EDWARD, R.I.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S DEPARTMENT.
The following message dated 22nd January, 1936, ad- dressed by His Majesty King Edward VIII to the Army has been received by telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies and is published for general information.
27th January, 1936.
W. T. SOUTHORN,
Colonial Secretary.
I desire on my accession to the Throne to express my thanks to the Army for its devoted service to my beloved father. I recall with gratitude the noble response which the Army made during the Great War to his proud confidence in its loyalty, valour and steadfastness. Its welfare was ever in his thoughts.
My own association with the Army is now of long standing. I look back to my service as a young officer in the Great War as one of the most valuable experiences of my life. It gave me the opportunity and privilege of comrade- ship with soldiers drawn from the United Kingdom, from the Dominions, from India and from the Colonies. I learned
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