ON NORMAN SOIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25565, 19 June 1944, Page 4

ON NORMAN SOIL

KING’S VISIT TO FRANCE AN HISTORIC OCCASION (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, June 17. The King yesterday visited battle areas in Normandy and lunched with General Sir Bernard Montgomery. Later, he held an open-air investiture less than six? miles from the front line, where fierce fighting was progressing. His Majesty made the journey in the cruiser Arethusa, which led the line of bombarding ships on D-Day. He was met on the beach by General Montgomery. It is four centuries since a reigning Sovereign of England set foot on Norman soil to visit his armies fighting in Calvados, and, though there was no ceremonial and landing craft went on unloading men and materials on to the crowded beaches, everyone in the group around the King 'was conscious of the high significance of the occasion. . The King landed on the beach just west of Courselles, where the Canadians stormed ashore, and, while the royal party was transferring from a motor launch to a duck to go ashore, six-inch shells screamed ■ overhead from the cruiser Hawkins, which was engaging inland targets. Bo’suns piped the King aboard the Arethusa in the early morning, and she was under way within 10 minutes. The destroyers Scourge and _ Lrania escorted the Arethusa, and flights of Spitfires circled overhead. _ providing continuous air cover from the moment the King left until he returned home in the evening. The King immediately went to the bridge. He wore a “ Mae West ” life-jacket, and took a great interest in the endless stream of convoys. There was a fresh breeze blowing, and the King had “to jump for it” when he transferred to a launch about three miles off-shore, and again when he transferred to a duck for landing. A Complete Secret The royal standard flying on the motor launch and duck caused great excitement among the crowded ships. The visit had been kept a complete secret. Working parties on the beaches looked up as General Montgomery s car drove slowly past, and then recognised the King and ran alongside cheering. Everyone realised the tact that the King visiting Normandy was a commentary on the strength of our foothold only 10 days after the landlnThe King drove straight inland with General Montgomery towards the battle zone. During the drive the King was obviously keenly interested in the sight of broken villages which were in German hands only a few days previously. Files of infantrymen, laden with equipment, trudged the road to battle, many not knowing that the King was passing. His Majesty lunched at General Montgomery’s headquarters, which are established in a quiet chateau, and during the meal shells screamed overhead and shook the chateau’s walls with thuds and heavy explosions. The King, after lunch, held an openair investiture in the chateau grounds, and decorated seven officers and men, headed by Major-general Keller, commander of the Canadian Third Division, who received the C.B.E. Between 300 and 400Hroops, including many green bereted commandos, formed up in three sides of a square and watched the ceremony. General Montgomery called for three cheers for the King, in which the troops fervently joined. General Montgomery then took the King into one of his three famous caravans, and spent half an hour explaining on maps the course of the battles. The King listened intently and asked many questions. French People’s Welcome

The news of the King’s visit spread, and there were many more troops on the roadside to cheer him as he drove back with General Montgomery to the beach in an open car. Groups of French women and children gathered at the corners and waved and cheered. Tricolours appeared in doors and windows and Union Jacks were displayed. An elderly Frenchwoman, who stood in a doorway with tears running down her cheeks, waved a handkerchief and cried, “ Vive le Roi, Vive L’Angleterre.” The King acknowledged her greeting with a salute. Tanks trundling ashore held up the royal car at one point until a military policeman cleared the way. The grimy-faced, weary tank crews grinned and cheered when they discovered who was passing. Back on the beach, where another convoy was unloading, the King shook hands with General Montgomery, wished him good luck, and climbed back into the duck, which went down the beach into the water.

There was a fair sea running, and transferring first into the launch and then to the Arethusa was a tricky business, but the King climbed the perilously swaying ladders with the ease of the trained naval officer he is and lent a hand to others of his party. The King had tea aboard the cruiser, and then went up for a last look through his glasses at France.

Although the King spent several hours in the forward areas, no enemy plane or ship came in sight.