ESCORTED THE DUKE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 50, 28 February 1945, Page 6

ESCORTED THE DUKE

INCIDENTS OF VOYAGE

Several incidents which occurred during the latter part of the voyage of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester trom England to Australia are recounted by a Wellington Air Force officer who travelled home in one of the vessels which escorted the Royal party.

xne ship in which he travelled was d cruiser, and it was fitted out to carry the Duke and his party .in the event of anything happening to the Royal party's ship. Amongst the provisions which were stored aboard for such an emergency was a quantity of baby food for young Prince Richard. Apparently, said the officer, the sea voyage gave the Prince a good appetite, because a destroyer came alongside the cruiser, and by means of a line some of the baby food was transferred to her and from her to the ship on which the Duke and Duchess arid family were travelling.

On another occasion gunnery practice was postponed for fear of spoiling the Royal baby's afternoon nap. The crew of the cruiser displayed great interest in the Royal party and would follow the Royal party's ship through the powerful range-finders to see if they could catch a glimpse of the Duke or Duchess.

The only bad incident on the voyage was when 5000 cans of beer became unfit for use and were thrown over the side of the ship. They had apparently been stored in a hot place and the wax inside the cans had melted. "There was a marine sergeant standing watching the cans going over with tears in his eyes," said the officer. "The worst of it was that we were,on the Equator at the time and could have used the beer."

The officer described the handing over of the escort duties to New Zealand ships. It was a beautiful day, he said, and when the relieving ships were in position the two destroyers steamed past the Royal party's ship in line ahead followed by the cruiser. They made a wonderful sight. The crews lined the decks, and the Marine band played on the deck of the cruiser. The cruiser went in close to the Duke's ship and the Duke was seen standing on the bridge. The ship's company gave him three cheers, and as the cruiser steamed away from the convoy the band struck up "Waltzing Matilda."