DUKE’S PARTNER

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1934, Page 6

DUKE’S PARTNER

HOBART STATE BALL. WOMAN’S ROMANTIC LIFE. The Duke of Gloucester sought a dance at the State ball at Hobart on Wednesday night with a charming young woman. She . was such an excellent partner that he danced with her again and again. She was the embodiment of grace—fair, pretty and a splendid dancer. But the Prince does not know her story of romance, horror and courage. The young woman is Mrs. Lesley Davies, wife of Mr. T. H. Davies, Minister of Lands, Works and Mines in Tasmania. When war broke out she was Lesley Wedmore, a schoolgirl at Ghent, Belgium. Sse is the daughter of the Director of County of London Schools, a B.Sc. of Cambradge. Germans roused the ‘schoolchildren from their beds in the middle of the night. They were placed on a train for Ostend. Lesley Wedmore changed carriages with her particular chum. There was an explosion, the train was wrecked and the four girls in the other carriage killed. The English girl threw her coat over the mutilated body of her friend, but a soldier pulled it from the body. The girl flung it back, and the soldier flogged her. When she reached England, Lesley Wedmore’s back was a mass of weals, and she was suffering from curvature of the spine. For 16 months she was paralysed. Then, she managed to exercise her limbs, and was at last able to take up physical culture, and recovered —a miracle. She became a Blue Cross worker and then met Major Davies, Tasmanian D. 5.0., M.C., and the wearer of a couple of Russian orders as well. , -

A romance developed and the couple married. Mapor Davies went on the land in Tasmania. Shooting, fishing and riding became the pastimes of his wife. She can shear sheep as well as any man and the bush has not hardened her. She is still young and has two fine

children—an exquisite dancing partner for a Prince. / ' :<

In the course of the Duke’s third dance with Mrs. Davies, he stooped to pick up a bracelet which Miss Gwen Smith had dropped. He sought out Miss Smith for the next dance.