DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49382#0112
CHARTER II.
there. At one time he went so far forward that he was able to
obtain, from a concealed observation station, a wide view of the
enemy’s position and the country beyond. Ide was initiated into the
mysteries —of transforming men into bushes and bushes
into men and rocks and buildings into grass and trees.
The Army did not by any means absorb all His Majesty’s
attention. He paid many visits to the Grand Fleet to keep in touch
with the latest naval developments. Every where the “Sailor King’’
was greeted with the greatest enthusiasm. He would be piped -over
the side of the ship in traditional fashion. 'Chen would follow a march
past of all the men on board. Afterwards might come an open-air
investiture.
His Majesty paid frequent visits to the hospitals where the
wounded soldiers and sailors were being cared for. Fie and Queen
Mary were particularly anxious about the welfare of the Indian
victims of the enemy, and visited the hospitals at Netley, New
Forest, Brighton and elsewhere specially set aside for them.
The non-combatants at home who were supplying the soldiers
and sailors with war material of all sorts were not forgotten. His
Majesty, often accompanied by his consort, paid frequent visits to
factories of all kinds where material was being manufactured. Now
he was in Birmingham, again in Lancashire, Chester and Flintshire.
He went to the Clyde country. Heinspectedthe Armstrong-Whitworth
works on the Tyne and the small-arms works at Enfield Lock, nearer
London. There were, indeed, few enterprises connected with the war,
public or private, that were not honoured by a Royal visit, which was
always made without undue pomp and ceremony.
Whereas, in peace-time, the coming of the King and Queen
would have been marked by elaborate street decorations and cheering
crowds, dressed in their Sunday best, during the war the crowds were
absent because it was impracticable to give the workers in the
factories a holiday to celebrate the occasion of a Royal visit. 1 he
only street decorations consisted of the national flag and the flags
of the Allies. The few soldiers who figured in the processions were
there. At one time he went so far forward that he was able to
obtain, from a concealed observation station, a wide view of the
enemy’s position and the country beyond. Ide was initiated into the
mysteries —of transforming men into bushes and bushes
into men and rocks and buildings into grass and trees.
The Army did not by any means absorb all His Majesty’s
attention. He paid many visits to the Grand Fleet to keep in touch
with the latest naval developments. Every where the “Sailor King’’
was greeted with the greatest enthusiasm. He would be piped -over
the side of the ship in traditional fashion. 'Chen would follow a march
past of all the men on board. Afterwards might come an open-air
investiture.
His Majesty paid frequent visits to the hospitals where the
wounded soldiers and sailors were being cared for. Fie and Queen
Mary were particularly anxious about the welfare of the Indian
victims of the enemy, and visited the hospitals at Netley, New
Forest, Brighton and elsewhere specially set aside for them.
The non-combatants at home who were supplying the soldiers
and sailors with war material of all sorts were not forgotten. His
Majesty, often accompanied by his consort, paid frequent visits to
factories of all kinds where material was being manufactured. Now
he was in Birmingham, again in Lancashire, Chester and Flintshire.
He went to the Clyde country. Heinspectedthe Armstrong-Whitworth
works on the Tyne and the small-arms works at Enfield Lock, nearer
London. There were, indeed, few enterprises connected with the war,
public or private, that were not honoured by a Royal visit, which was
always made without undue pomp and ceremony.
Whereas, in peace-time, the coming of the King and Queen
would have been marked by elaborate street decorations and cheering
crowds, dressed in their Sunday best, during the war the crowds were
absent because it was impracticable to give the workers in the
factories a holiday to celebrate the occasion of a Royal visit. 1 he
only street decorations consisted of the national flag and the flags
of the Allies. The few soldiers who figured in the processions were