“INSPIRING MEMORY”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18761, 18 July 1935, Page 5

“INSPIRING MEMORY”

JUBILEE NAVAL REVIEW KING’S AITRGCIATION MESSAGE TO THE FLEET (British Ofiioi.il Win.'less., lice. 12 noon RUGBY, July 17. 'the King has returned to London alter watching the licet exercises. The exercises included firing at the licet target ship Centurion and at towed targets, and anti-aircraft firing at the wireless controlled aerial target Queen Bee, which was seen for the first time by the King, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, and tlre Duke of Kent. The little plane was flown oil from the cruiser Achilles and put to a turn, to climb, or to dive on its iliglit towards its supposed victim, the battleship Rodney, by wireless control. It. was soon spotted and surrounded by smoke from exploding bombs, through which it moved steadily towards its objective. When almost over the Rodney, the guns registered a hit-, and the- Queen Bee fell into t.hc sea. At the end of tactical exercises, the Royal yacht steamed back to Portsmouth through two lines- of ships, extending for several miles.

The King has sent a message to the fleet expressing his entire satisfaction with everything he had seen and congratulating all ranks and ratings. “I shall not easily forget the impressive spectacle of the review, in which I am pleased to think that the ships of the merchant iiavy have, for the first time, taken part,” lie said. “while the success with which the fleet e,xercises have been carried out 'bears witness to the traditional efficiency of the Royal Navy. These two happy days spent by me at sea, accompanied by my sons, and with the service to which I had the honor to belong for so many years, will remain one of the most inspiring recollections of my Jubilee."