大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Lin Freeman of Radio Derby CSV on behalf of Roy Christian and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

My unit was twice inspected by the King (George V1). First time was in November 1940. A raw, early morning in Gladstone Dock at Liverpool when the half-dozen or so of us who were looking after our ship HMS Witherington whilst she was undergoing repairs, were ordered to abandon our breakfast and get up on the quay as a VIP was coming to inspect us. It turned out to be King George V1, heavily made up and looking ill and cold. It was 8 am and he was enjoying the event no more than us. He passed quickly down the lines, fortunately, because we were bitterly cold and wanted our breakfast.
The second occasion was very different: it was June 1941 and I was at Lancing College in Sussex which was one half of an officer training unit called HMS Alfred, the other half being a swimming bath in Hove. We were all lined up on parade awaiting the arrival of the King for an inspection that had been frequently rehearsed over the last few days. In due course the King arrived, on a pleasant sunny day, looking a little more cheerful than on the previous occasion. I happened to be the end man on the second of the two lines. He therefore stopped at the side of me having finished completing the inspection of the front line. Our very young and nervous Sub-Divisional Officer who at that point had to say 鈥渞ear rank two paces step back, march鈥�, didn鈥檛 say that. Instead he said 鈥渞ear rank two paces step forward, march鈥�. Chaos reigned. We split into three groups. One third carried out the order they had expected to hear so they trod on our toes, the second lot carried out the order given, and the rest, of which I was one, hadn鈥檛 a clue what to do and stood transfixed.
Where upon the King immediately turned to a Full Commander who stood behind him and asked 鈥渉ave you been in the Mediterranean lately, Commander?鈥� I thought 鈥榞ood lad, your training has stood you in good stead, brilliant remark in the circumstances鈥�. As it happened neither had been in the Med. for years and an inane conversation took place between the two until the King saw out of the corner of his eye that the parade had sorted itself out, and he said 鈥渟orry I am holding up the inspection鈥�.
He carried on with the inspection as if nothing had happened.

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