SIR JOHN DE ROBECK.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 August 1924, Page 10

SIR JOHN DE ROBECK.

ENTERTAINS FARMERS ON FLAGSHIP. The following account of the visit of Lanarkshire tenants to Sir John de Robeok’s flagship, the Queen Elizabeth, taken from the North British Agriculturist of June 26, is of interest in view of the reports that the Admiral may be New Zealand’s next GovernorGeneral.

The tenantry and employees on the estates of Lee, Carnwath, and Dryden (Roslin), on the invitation of Admiral Sir John de Robeck, Bart., Commander-in-Chief of the First Battle Squadron, visited his flagship, the Queen Elizabeth, at Laiiilash Bay, on Thursday of j last week. Sir John de Robeck, who has been nearly fifty years afloat, i s to retire from the service in the course of the next two months or so, and he was very anxious that before then lie should have an opportunity of extending hospitality to his “friends and neighbours” on board the Queen Elizabeth, and giving them a glimpse of the famous flagship before going over the side for a well-earned retirement. The arrangements for the outing were carried j out by Mr W. W. Philip, factor for Lee, J Carnwath gnd Dryden, and it proved' a great success. The party, numbering nearly 100, left Lanark‘in the early morning, the journey being by train to Ardrossan, and thence by the s.s. Glen Sannox to Lamlash Bay, where the Queen Elizabeth, along with the Warspite, Malaya, Baron, and Valiant were lying at anchor. Even the short sea trip was a new experience for some of the party, and in the brilliant sunshine which prevailed throughout the most of the day the sail by way of Brodick to Lamlash Pier was delightful. The picturesque Arran shore, with the mistcapped Goat Fell in the distance, asthe Glen Sannox steamed on to the lpvely Lamlash Bay, opened out quite a fresh and fascinating prospect for the men from Lanarkshire. The party were conveyed from Lamlash Pier to the flagship by steam craft belonging to the Queen Elizabeth, and on arrival about midday they had a characteristically cheery welcome from Admiral de Robeck as they stepped aboard, the Admiral being attended by his Chief of Staff, Rear-Admiral Fisher, and Captain Forbes. After a casual look around, luncheon was served, with the Admiral in the chair. A KINDLY GREETING. Luncheon concluded, Admiral Sir John de Robeck, addressing the tenantry as his “friends and neighbours,” said he was extremely gratified to be able to welcome them there on board the Queen Elizabeth. It was a sign, he said, of good friendship and good fellowship; and, moreover, it was a sign that they as members of that great Empire wanted to know j something about the NavV. He need not- say that the Navy was of importance to them, for if they could only realise that if anything had gone wrong with the Navy even for a fortnight during the war this country would have been in an extremely difficult position. (Ap--plause.) They would have an opportunity of going over that ship, which had seen considerable- service under many officers, and getting some idea of what a modern battleship was, and the complicated machinery it contained. He had been at it now for nearly fiftv years, and he always felt that lie was beginning to forget the very little he did know, so that it was really about time he was poleaxed and moved off. (Laughter.; Then he hoped he would have the pleasure of coming to live amongst them. (Applause.) He might mention that Lady de Robeck—then in London—had been most anxious to be with them there that day, but he had dissuaded her from coming so far, but they knew her far better than he did —(laughter)— and their devoted kindness to her in days of great stress and trial, he could assure them, could never be forgotten. (Applause.) And if that little outing did anything towards bringing them together and building up a feeling of good fellowship amongst them, it would be all to the good. (Applause.) He again welcomed them on board, and he .hoped they would not feel any the worse for their long journey. (Applause.) • Mr Andrew Barr, Dunsyre; Mains, said they had been highly privileged in being asked to come there to see the Queen Elizabeth. He had been round about her, outside, before, but he felt that she was much better . inside. (Laughter and applause.) He wished to propose a hearty vote of thanks to Sir John de Robeck for his great kindness. Sir John had told them that he had been nearly fifty years on the sea; he hoped when he came off that he might live for fifty years on land. (Laughter and applause.) He was quite sure they could never have a

finer gentleman coining amongst them. (Applause.) The call was honoured with “three times three’ and the singing of “He’s a jolly good fellow,” followed by equally hearty cheers for Lady de Robeek. A TOUR OF THE FLAGSHIP. The visitors were then divided into parties of ten, and conducted over the battleship, a petty officer taking charge of each party and explaining the main features of equipment and the marvellously intricate machinery. The great 15-inch guns, which, it was explained, could fire a shell weighing nearly a ton a distance of sixteen miles, made an impressive appeal to the imagination of this interested group of countrymen, as did the -wonderful machinery involved in their laying, loading and firing. The mechanism of the motor car, the thresher, and tractor, with which many of them were familiar, paled into insignificance compared with this. The paravane, with its wonderful device for setting free submerged mines, the searchlights, the steering and signalling arrangements, the compasses, and the thousand and one mechanical details all working into each other, were a remarkable lesson in perfect co-ordination. Probably the one and only familiar sound that fell upon the ears of the country visitors on their tour of inspection was the clang of the hammer on the blacksmith’s anvil; for it must be remembered that this huge warship embraces within its bounds a workshop complete in its equipment and ready to meet all contingencies. It is almost unnecessary to recall that the. Queen Elizabeth, with its complement of some 1400 officers and men, played a notable part in the operations at the Dardanelles, and a number of ragged “wounds” up aloft were vivid reminders of the hot work encountered in that Near Eastern war area.

At the close of the inspection the party, with the ever cheery Admiral seated in the centre of the group, were photographed by Mr William Brown, Lanark. Subsequenlty, as the farmers were leaving the flagship for Lamlash Pier to rejoin the s.s. Glen Sannox, rousing cheers were given for Admiral Sir John de Robeck, and on the call of Mr W. W. Philip cheers were also given for the officers of the flagship who had acted as guides and instructors on the tour .of inspection. RearAdmiral Fisher, at the rail, threatened the Leen and Carnwath factor with immediate arrest for daring to make such a call, but. the imperturbable Mr Philip, feeling n doubt tolerably safe with the wavelets lapping between the cutter and the great ship’s side, was quite indifferent to the order, and the gallant officer’s protestations were drowned in the lusty cheer which followed. The Lee, Carnwath and Dryden tenants will long remember their visit to Admiral Sir John de Robeck’s flagship.