THE CHINA MAIL,
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1957.
STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO GET
A GOOD PRESENT FOR
His Happy Christinas
JUST PART OF THE
MACKINTOSH'S
SERVICE
OPEN, UNTIL 6 O'CLOCK EACH EVENING UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE EXCEPT ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 14th AND 21st WHEN WE WILL CLOSE AT 5 P.M.
Say "Merry Christmas". Your friends with
Wanted gifts.
THE IMPROBABLE KING So shy, he sent a
with his proposal
BY A.J.P.
A.J.P. TAYLOR
EORGE V became King. Somewhat reluc- tantly, he transformed David into. Edward Prince of Wales. David left the Navy, never to return, and enjoyed two gay, carefree years at Oxford.
Bertie was left alone in his anyat service. He dutifully qualified as a midshipman, though usually near the bottom of the lists in examinations. Afloat he with- drew happily into obscurity as "Mr Johnstone," a quiet figure popular alike with officers and men. But the harsh training had its revenge. It opened the way to Berlle's worst enemy: Iẞ-health.
1016.
two
He described the battle his younger brother, Prince in a letter to his father, Henry, later Duke of Glou-
cer. cester. ending up: "It was
But where David thinly a great experience to at Oxford had lived in col- have been through, and it lege and belonged to uni- shows that we are at war." versity life, the Hardly a remarkable dis- younger Princes were lodged covery to make in May in a suburban house and
merely appeared for Tec tures. "Mr Jolinstone's" naval
Bertie welcomed this carear soon drew to a close.
Unlike David, In November 1917 he had seclusion, an operation for duodenal we never hear that he mado university friends. ulcers and was invalided any run Into ench
.out. He was still intent to Perhaps a few ideas on IT WAS THE BATTLE serve and managed to find civics and economics re R.A.F. nained with him. But con OF JUTLAND. PRINCE employment in the ALBERT WAS THE FIRST Here he won one of his few aldering the level of these MEMBER OF THE ROYAL combats with his father. studies at Cambridge then,
He wished to qualify as a this is not likely. EXPERI. WHEN war came he was FAMILY
commissioned to the ENCE SERIOUS FIGHT. pilot, and, despite parental
FINAL STEP great battle-cruiser Colling- ING SINCE THE EIGH. disapproval, finally got his way. Soon after the war wood. But again he missed TEENTH CENTURY.
He was in charge of a gun his wings.
ended Prince Albert gained IN 1920 came what seemed much active service.
the fmal step. George V in the forward turret and
created Bertie Duke of
He was down time and German, again with influenza, gastic other. troubles, pneumonia.
AT JUTLAND
21
TO
On one occasion he had sat unconcernedly in the The Great War con- York. to be carried ashore and top, despite bursting shells, vinced even George V that This was the title tradi- operated on for acute in- until superior officer his sons must have some tionally reserved for the flammation of the appendix, shouted: "What, the hell's education beyond the range second son,
a rule broken May 1916, however, found the matter with you?" "Mr of a naval officer,
only by Queen Victoria from him fit and at sea. The two Johnstone" hastily tool:
Albert was given a year dislike of an earlier Duke, great fleets, British and cover.
at Cambridge along with
The Monarch and his Premiers-with Mr. J. A. Lyons, Australian Prime Minister
and Mr. Stanley Baldwin at a conference in 1937.
one of her Wicked Uncles. Before the new Duke of York there seemed to open exactly the life he wanted, a life of modent service, al- ways in the second place..
His elder brother, the Prince of Wales, was eager enough to take the lime light! and, physically much tougher, was likely to live longer. Bertie would remain Duke of York to the end of the chapter.
It was his task, he felt, to be the quiet, domestic member of the family. For this he needed a wife. And he was fortunate in his chotec.
COURTSHIP
LADY ELIZABETH BOWES- LYON had been on the lat of possible, brides approved by George V and Queen Mary for the Prince of Wales. It was the Duke of Yoric who fell in love with her. He is said to have met her first when she was five and he 11. This is perhaps legend. At any rate, nów clad ki plusfours and a tweed cap, he was assiduous in attention at her country home.
Courtship had its difficulties. Hopelessly tongue-tled at the crlical moment he sent a friend to propose for him.
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