OFFER TO STOKE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 119, 4 May 1934, Page 12

OFFER TO STOKE

Prince George on Steamer The “Daily Express’’’ says: “When two days out from Lobito Bay, Portuguese West Africa, where the Windsor Castle called specially to land Prince George and his party, the heat was so intense that a number of stokers were overcome, leaving a mere skeleton staff in the stokehold. The position came to the knowledge of the, passengers, and Major Butler, the Prince’s equerry, Lieutenant Tyrwhitt, son of Admiral Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt, and Sir Malcolm Campbell, the racing motorist, who was returning home after a gold hunt, in Africa, and 30 other men volnn teered for duty. They took two-hour shifts in the stokehold. “Prince George decided tn join them, but the members of his staff, who more than once had been alarmed at the risks the Prince had taken in Africa, persuaded Tiim to desist, pointing out that sufficient volunteers were available. Prince George was disappointed, but accepted the advice. “Within two days the regular stokehold staff resumed duty. “The two incidents which gave the Royal staff the most anxietv in Africa were the Prince’s insistence on walking in country infested with lions and his imperviousness to warnings that a bat was essential nnder the tropical sun. Prince George loathes hats, and in Africa he wore them only on offiefe! occasions. ’’