PRINCE AS MIDSHIPMAN.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1235, 18 September 1911, Page 6

PRINCE AS MIDSHIPMAN.

The following appeared in tho Court Circular if August 7:— "Tho Prince of \Vales took leave of tho King and Queen this morning, and joined H.M.S. Hindustan to take up his dutioes as midshipman. His Majesty has appointed Captain Henry H. Campbell, lt..\'., A.D.C., to bo Governor to tho Prince of Wales during the timo his Royal Highness is serving on board H.M.S. Hindustan."

It was at nine o'clock, shortly before the departure of the King and Queen for Portsmouth in tho royal yacht Victoria and Albert, that the Prince joined his ship. His Royal Highness said "good-bye" to tho officers on board the yacht, and then took an affectionate farewell of tho King and Queen, Prince Albert, and-Princess Mary. In tho meantime Captain Henry Campbell, wlio oommands the Hindustan, had boarded the royal yacht, and ho took the Prince of Wales lxick with him to tlio Hindustan in one of the ship's steam pinnaces, the King and Queen, Prince Albert, and Princess Mary watching tlio departure of the Prince "from tho upper deck of the Victoria and Albert.

'l'ho Prince had his first cx'perienco of tho gun-room at Osborne and Dartmouth, but on August 7 he had his first taste of tho real thing. The mess comprises the other midshipmen, the assistant paymuster, the engineering sub-lieutenant, and, chief of all, ono or two sub-licuten-auts, wlio rule over this little community. The senior midshipman is another factor in gun-room life, and where ho happens to be considerate things go smoothly and well. The newly-joined midshipman finds himself with certain adult privileges. Ho can run a wine bill to a certain amount a month. Not infrequently a senior member kindly rims it for him, though this is forbidden by tho regulations. There are tho daily and weekly papers, just as in a club or a junior common-room, and usually a gramaphono or a piano.

'i'he newly-joined midshipman will sling his hammock in tho gun-room flats. It is possible in some ships for-him to give ono of tho ship's boys a shilling or two occasionally to sling it'and unlash it for him, and by the time the newest midshipman of tho Hindustan had turned in on tho lirst night ho had probably found that a seaman's life is made up of routine. Perhaps he is put on at once to three months' engineering—"greasing," as it is called. Then most of his time will bo spent in tho engino-room below—not doing very much, but observing a good deal.

But first of all ho will havo had his division allotted to him—tlie number of men he has to tell off at divisions. If, instead of engineering, ho is told off to run ono of tho boats, his busy time comes when tho ship gets into harbour. Ho is in charge of the boat to and from the slioto, and may make a dozen trips in tho forenoon with telegrams and letters. Coaling is another experience which tomes early in tho life of a midshipman, when he finds himself black as a sweep and working a winch. It is then that ho can easily do a lot of damage. Boatpulling is among his relaxations, whilo possibly after tho midday meal he finds timo to stretch himsrlf for an liojir along ono of tho gunroom benthes.