A
WEEK BEFORE THE START OF WORLD WAR I:
“I HAVE BEEN DOWN HERE WITH MY FATHER FOR THE WEEK END
TO SEE THE MOBILISED FLEETS”
EDWARD VIII, KING OF GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND.
Autograph Letter Signed “E” as Prince of Wales
to Archie Ritchie, H. M. Yacht Victoria & Albert, Portsmouth Harbour,
20 July 1914. 2½ pages, 7" x 4½", on the yacht’s
stationery.
Just a week before the outbreak of World War I, the 20-year-old future
monarch writes a light-hearted letter to a friend, but his description
here of a review of the fleet hints at the seriousness of events in
Europe. At this date, Edward, Prince of Wales, had just completed two
years of study at Oxford, where he had been in residence at Magdalen
College. He was spending the summer of 1914 attached to the 1st Life
Guards, an Army cavalry regiment, working on improving his riding skills.
His correspondent here had evidently been a fellow student at Oxford.
“My dear old Archie,” Edward writes, “Thanks
so much for yr. ripping letter; it was good of you to write like that,
& I shall always remember what you have said.... It is awful to
think you wont be up next term; but don’t forget you are coming
to stay with me in my spare room!!
“How I envy [you] up in Scotland, & oh! that I could be walking
with you,”
he continues, “how one does long for a wild life when stuck
in London, as I am all July in the lovely hot weather. I’m pretty
fed up with being attached although its doing me worlds of good; it
is such a monotonous sweat!! However I’ve done over ½ &
have been to 5 good dances which I enjoyed.”
Writing from the royal yacht, Edward notes, “I have been down
here [in Portsmouth] with my father for the week end to see the mobilised
fleets which has been a glorious chance for me. Over 200 ships, including
all the latest ones, were assembled in Spithead till 9:00 this morning
when this yacht led them out to sea & they steamed past us. It was
a marvellous sight & took nearly 2 hrs. It makes one think, don’t
it?
“We have just got in & return to London to-night after dinner.
I go to Cowes on Aug. 1st & I hope abroad about 15th getting North
by Sept. 20th. But my plans are very vague indeed!!”
He closes, “Best of luck. Yrs. ever E.”
The fleet review that Edward discusses here was a naval mobilization
in preparation for World War I. England entered the conflict on August
4, and two days later, Edward, who was anxious to serve, received a
commission he wanted in the Grenadier Guards. Throughout the war, however,
he was forced, against his wishes, into a non-combatant role. He did
manage to spend most of the war abroad as a staff officer, and he performed
useful service by visiting troops, frequently on the front lines, and
working to raise morale.
The letter is accompanied by two small, candid photographs. One snapshot
shows Edward standing outdoors next to another young man, possibly Archie
Ritchie, his correspondent here; the two are evidently taking a cigarette
break during a golf game. The other photo shows four men walking through
a field, with their backs to the camera. Also present is the original
envelope, addressed by Edward; this is soiled and worn.
The
letter is written on four-page notepaper that has a crown and “H.
M. Yacht Victoria & Albert” printed in blue at the head.
It has slight marginal fold breaks and is a bit soiled, but is in very
good condition overall.
For information on Edward at this time, see Philip Ziegler, King
Edward VIII, revised edition (2001), pages 46-50, and Edward, Duke
of Windsor, A King’s Story, pages 103-08. $875.00
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