From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] HOW SICK KING GEORGE MANNED THE GUN TURRET 161305 SEP 10 By Peter Archer, Court Correspondent, PA News King George VI's military service records, containing comments on his stammer and ill health, have been released by the Public Records Office. The documents show that his general conduct aboard HMS Collingwood was regarded by senior officers as merely "satisfactory". The ship's captain noted that the future king, then Prince Albert, "promises well". He was said to take charge, assume responsibility and handle men well. However, the captain added that the Prince was "nervous of speech". In August 1914, it was recorded that he was making "favourable progress", but there were a number of sick leave entries, including a month spent at Balmoral in September 1915. On the eve of the First World War Battle of Jutland, he was in the sick bay aboard the Collingwood, suffering from a surfeit of soused herring. Despite this, he manned his gun turret, fighting throughout the engagement - the last British monarch to see action in war. He was commended in the London Gazette for his part in the battle. After his time on HMS Collingwood, where his general conduct was regarded as only being "satisfactory", he spent some time on the staff of the Commander in Chief, Portsmouth, Sir Stanley Colville, who described the future king as "very zealous and hardworking". Earl Mountbatten of Burma's records show that in 1920 he was a midshipman in the Royal Navy. Rear Admiral Halsey noted he "will make a good officer, plenty of common sense if he would use it, but is too casual". Kenneth Pantling Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny. (Edmund Burke�1729-97) Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
