HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2021 5:33 pm
It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
This article, by Rear Admiral (Rtd) Bruce Williams, editor of The Naval Review, gives an insight into his naval service:
HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
10 June 1921 – 9 April 2021
It was a number of years ago I found myself seated next to Prince Philip at dinner in Trinity House. Conversation, unsurprising settled on time at sea and what we each thought of our respective time in the Navy.
I was surprised that at the dinner’s ‘half time’, so engaged had we been reminiscing, he rejected the suggestion I was monopolising his time and wanted to talk more about the Navy. Less surprisingly, given his combat experience in the Second World War, Prince Philip’s memories of time served thoroughly trumped mine as he recounted service from battleships in the Indian Ocean to the battle of Crete to the battle of Cape Matapan, to the invasion of Sicily to escort duty to the British Pacific Fleet. But in all of that, what I thought especially poignant was here was a naval officer who, 76 years ago, was present at the signing of the instruments of Japanese surrender, in Tokyo Bay just as my grandfather was being released as a prisoner of war from Changi Gaol in Singapore. Thus, Prince Philip, as an exemplar of what is meant by duty and service to one’s country and whose mettle was proven on the unforgiving anvil of war, has spanned and influenced the lives of at least three, if not four, generations. This is the true measure of this Prince, who was always, at his core, a naval officer as he ‘crossed the bar.’
Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was born in Corfu on 10 June 1921. His lifelong relationship with the Royal Navy began just 18 months later when he was evacuated from Greece in HMS Calypso, and endured throughout the rest of his life. He joined Britannia Royal Naval College as a Special Entry Cadet in May 1939, aged 17. It was here that he famously first met the then Princess Elizabeth when he was chosen to escort her on a tour of the College. He excelled in every aspect of Dartmouth life, being awarded the King’s Dirk and the Eardley Howard Crocket prize for best Cadet of his entry.
In January 1940 he was promoted to Midshipman and was swiftly appointed to the battleship HMS Ramillies in Colombo. War had broken out, but Ramillies played only a minor part, escorting troops from Australia to Egypt. For the remainder of the year, Prince Philip remained in the Indian Ocean region, outside the then main area of conflict. He moved from the County Class cruiser HMS Kent to her sister ship HMS Shropshire, and then to the shore base HMS Lanka in what was then Ceylon.
Prince Philip’s war was not to remain this quiet, however. In December 1940 he was appointed to the battleship HMS Valiant, stationed at Alexandria as part of the Mediterranean Fleet. Here, he saw action in the Bombardment of Bardia, the Battle of Crete and the Battle of Cape Matapan. For the latter he was Mentioned in Dispatches for “bravery and enterprise” as the searchlight control Midshipman.
On promotion to Sub Lieutenant in January 1942 he joined HMS Wallace as a watchkeeper, undertaking convoy escort duties. Six months later he was a Lieutenant, reappointed to Wallace as her First Lieutenant. His rapid promotion reflected the strength of his reports, where he was singled out as “an officer of unusual promise,” noted for his seamanship skills, high intellect, good judgement, strong character, zeal, and great charm. The remainder of the war was spent as First Lieutenant of HMS Whelp, in the Eastern and British Pacific Fleets.
It was during his post-war service at HMS Royal Arthur, the Petty Officers’ training school, that he became engaged to and married Princess Elizabeth. Renouncing his own title and becoming a naturalised British subject, Prince Philip became His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich. The Prince and Princess lived together in Malta during his service in the Mediterranean Squadron, sowing the seeds of a lifelong love of polo but also culminating in his promotion to Lieutenant Commander and command of HMS Magpie.
Despite his increasing public profile, Prince Philip remained first and foremost a naval officer, neither seeking nor being awarded any special privileges for his position in the Royal Family. Only after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II took the throne in 1952 did he leave full-time naval service, having been promoted to Commander in his own right after 14 years.
Prince Philip retained his involvement in the Royal Navy throughout his life, through official visits, patronage and association with naval charities and clubs, and always enjoyed visiting Royal Navy establishments and ships, and meeting sailors and marines. He remained involved in every aspect of the Naval Service, from his roles as Admiral of the Fleet and Captain General Royal Marines to his position as Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps. It was a fitting tribute to his lifelong devotion to the Naval Service that his final public engagement was the Royal Marines parade in Buckingham Palace in 2017.
His long-standing commitment to the Naval Service was rewarded in 2011, when Her Majesty The Queen conferred the title and office of Lord High Admiral to him on his 90th birthday. His generous spirit, his delight in all aspects of the Naval Service, and his deep understanding of our values, standards and ethos made him a close friend to the Service for over eight decades.
A Naval Review member for over 69 years, his genuine empathy, affection and engagement with the Royal Navy resonated with us all. Deeply respected by serving and veteran alike, he, at the head of the Royal Navy and as a combat veteran, will be sorely missed.
Bruce Williams
RAdm (rtd)
This article, by Rear Admiral (Rtd) Bruce Williams, editor of The Naval Review, gives an insight into his naval service:
HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
10 June 1921 – 9 April 2021
It was a number of years ago I found myself seated next to Prince Philip at dinner in Trinity House. Conversation, unsurprising settled on time at sea and what we each thought of our respective time in the Navy.
I was surprised that at the dinner’s ‘half time’, so engaged had we been reminiscing, he rejected the suggestion I was monopolising his time and wanted to talk more about the Navy. Less surprisingly, given his combat experience in the Second World War, Prince Philip’s memories of time served thoroughly trumped mine as he recounted service from battleships in the Indian Ocean to the battle of Crete to the battle of Cape Matapan, to the invasion of Sicily to escort duty to the British Pacific Fleet. But in all of that, what I thought especially poignant was here was a naval officer who, 76 years ago, was present at the signing of the instruments of Japanese surrender, in Tokyo Bay just as my grandfather was being released as a prisoner of war from Changi Gaol in Singapore. Thus, Prince Philip, as an exemplar of what is meant by duty and service to one’s country and whose mettle was proven on the unforgiving anvil of war, has spanned and influenced the lives of at least three, if not four, generations. This is the true measure of this Prince, who was always, at his core, a naval officer as he ‘crossed the bar.’
Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was born in Corfu on 10 June 1921. His lifelong relationship with the Royal Navy began just 18 months later when he was evacuated from Greece in HMS Calypso, and endured throughout the rest of his life. He joined Britannia Royal Naval College as a Special Entry Cadet in May 1939, aged 17. It was here that he famously first met the then Princess Elizabeth when he was chosen to escort her on a tour of the College. He excelled in every aspect of Dartmouth life, being awarded the King’s Dirk and the Eardley Howard Crocket prize for best Cadet of his entry.
In January 1940 he was promoted to Midshipman and was swiftly appointed to the battleship HMS Ramillies in Colombo. War had broken out, but Ramillies played only a minor part, escorting troops from Australia to Egypt. For the remainder of the year, Prince Philip remained in the Indian Ocean region, outside the then main area of conflict. He moved from the County Class cruiser HMS Kent to her sister ship HMS Shropshire, and then to the shore base HMS Lanka in what was then Ceylon.
Prince Philip’s war was not to remain this quiet, however. In December 1940 he was appointed to the battleship HMS Valiant, stationed at Alexandria as part of the Mediterranean Fleet. Here, he saw action in the Bombardment of Bardia, the Battle of Crete and the Battle of Cape Matapan. For the latter he was Mentioned in Dispatches for “bravery and enterprise” as the searchlight control Midshipman.
On promotion to Sub Lieutenant in January 1942 he joined HMS Wallace as a watchkeeper, undertaking convoy escort duties. Six months later he was a Lieutenant, reappointed to Wallace as her First Lieutenant. His rapid promotion reflected the strength of his reports, where he was singled out as “an officer of unusual promise,” noted for his seamanship skills, high intellect, good judgement, strong character, zeal, and great charm. The remainder of the war was spent as First Lieutenant of HMS Whelp, in the Eastern and British Pacific Fleets.
It was during his post-war service at HMS Royal Arthur, the Petty Officers’ training school, that he became engaged to and married Princess Elizabeth. Renouncing his own title and becoming a naturalised British subject, Prince Philip became His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich. The Prince and Princess lived together in Malta during his service in the Mediterranean Squadron, sowing the seeds of a lifelong love of polo but also culminating in his promotion to Lieutenant Commander and command of HMS Magpie.
Despite his increasing public profile, Prince Philip remained first and foremost a naval officer, neither seeking nor being awarded any special privileges for his position in the Royal Family. Only after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II took the throne in 1952 did he leave full-time naval service, having been promoted to Commander in his own right after 14 years.
Prince Philip retained his involvement in the Royal Navy throughout his life, through official visits, patronage and association with naval charities and clubs, and always enjoyed visiting Royal Navy establishments and ships, and meeting sailors and marines. He remained involved in every aspect of the Naval Service, from his roles as Admiral of the Fleet and Captain General Royal Marines to his position as Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps. It was a fitting tribute to his lifelong devotion to the Naval Service that his final public engagement was the Royal Marines parade in Buckingham Palace in 2017.
His long-standing commitment to the Naval Service was rewarded in 2011, when Her Majesty The Queen conferred the title and office of Lord High Admiral to him on his 90th birthday. His generous spirit, his delight in all aspects of the Naval Service, and his deep understanding of our values, standards and ethos made him a close friend to the Service for over eight decades.
A Naval Review member for over 69 years, his genuine empathy, affection and engagement with the Royal Navy resonated with us all. Deeply respected by serving and veteran alike, he, at the head of the Royal Navy and as a combat veteran, will be sorely missed.
Bruce Williams
RAdm (rtd)