WHITTINGTON, V.C.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20182, 26 June 1928, Page 8

WHITTINGTON, V.C.

LEGEND QUOTED WITH HIS CAT AT ZEEBRUGGE A modern Dick Whittington was described by Sir Frank Benson, who during the war served a a a private soldier, at a luncheon given in his honour by the City of J_.ondon Livery Club recently. Mr Charles A. Knight, who preskied, in a tribute to Sir Irauk s long and distinguished career us an actor, to the repertory company tiiat bore his name (the “nursery” ol many famous actors and actresses), and to his great contributions to the productions at Stratford-on-Avon from time to time, said bis name always would be associated with the highest traditions ui the British drama. “1 suppose,' said Sir Frank, in re- ■ “you will expect me in this had say .'orueihing about Dick Whittingion. (Laughter). Some people say that the story is not true, anti. that there was no Whittington. But 1 can tell you that it is true and that there was a Whittington. He was a young fellow—his name well known in banking circles in the city—who rather shirked school. He had headaches which kept him at .home a lot. Anything unpleasant in life to him gave him a . headache. <, Laughter). ••His friends said he was a good « hap, anti a friendly chap, and a brave chap. But still there was always some disability. When the war broke out his friends said. : ‘We are going to the war. Why don’t you join us? He said: ‘l’m agraid the gnus would give me a headache.’ But he heard the call of England, the call of the sea and he turned up at Zeebrugge, in a minesweeper, whose duty was to set up a smoke screen and carry off the wounded from the Mole. ‘rf With a little cat seated on his shoulder he carried out his job, and lie was the last man to go down with his ship. But they just hauled him out in time and saved his life. After recovering from his wounds Dick Whittington received the V.C. and when the King asked Dick what was his profession before he went to the war, he replied: ‘I am sorry to say I was a professed invalid!’ ” Asked io disclose the identity of hrs Dick Whittington, Sir Frank replied that he must not, because he was a relative.