When King George the V was in the navy, he associated on terms of
perfect equality with his messmates, among whom he was known. As an
illustration of the indifference of his messmates to his royal birth,
and of the spirit of equality with which he was treated by them while
at sea, an incident may be related.
One night he declined to turn out, as he should have done, to go
on watch. His fellow middy, whom he was designated to relieve,
and who wanted to turn in, endeavored to arouse the prince. The
latter, on receiving two or three shakings, opened his eyes,
swore picturesquely, but refused to turn out. He hit the man who
had called him one blow on the eye and went to sleep again.
The young fellow made no response, but returned to his post,
resumed his watch, and thus did duty for the prince. Now, if
there is one offense that is heinous, according to midshipman
ethics, it is the shirking of a watch.
On the following day, the lad who had done double duty,
reported the case to his comrades. It was immediately decided
to hold a drumhead court-martial in the gun-room. Prince George
was brought before it, found guilty by unanimous count, and
sentenced to be spanked by the middy who had done his work.
The royal culprit was seized by four of the seniors and held
face downward, while the middy with the disfigured eye, his
sleeves rolled up to his elbows, carried out the sentence of the
gun-room court. When the prince was released he was furious with
rage and mortification, and threatened all sorts of things. But
a few hours after he thought better of it, came to his messmate
who had spanked him, and apologized for the blow he had given
him, as well as for making him do double duty.
(2731)