Footman for a day in the convoy for King George V and Queen Mary, May 1917
"I then got involved in something I didn't think very much about at the time.
I was stationed at Chester - we were doing our training at Sandycroft
Barracks adjoining Chester Castle. While on parade one evening we were lined
up and Corporal Nelson started numbering us off, 1 to 10. I was number 1. 8
of us were chosen and put in the charge of a Corporal and were marched off to
the Quartermaster Stores and given new uniforms. They were very fussy about
poshing-us-up, with great attention given as to the fit. We were then taken
to a separate small room in the barracks at Sandycroft nearby and sworn to
secrecy.
The next day it was up early and we marched to Chester Castle, where 9 Rolls
Royces turned up and were lined up with very smart drivers. We were detailed
off to each car. I happened to be in No. 1. I was introduced to the chauffeur
then we were given our drill: we would be acting as footmen. We were given
instructions as to how to open the doors and salute!
We were soon off in convoy to Chester Station where there were two Daimlers
waiting. There were just a few people waiting around [but] there was great
to-ing and fro-ing of the railway staff and many police and military police.
And soon the Royal Train arrived.
Then out came King George V and Queen Mary with two attendants. Then the Duke
of Connaught and G.o.C. Western Command. They rode in the two Daimlers, and
the two civilians got into mine. We then returned to the Castle but first
stopped opposite the Rows where the city dignitaries were all lined up. Then
there was a great deal of talk and hand shaking. After all that it was off to
Chester Castle with 3 private detectives and red tabs [staff officers] galore
and civic dignitaries in the other cars.
We travelled in convoy to Chester Castle and parked in a semicircle where a
large number of wounded NCO’s and Tommies were lined up in a half-moon row
either seated in bath chairs or on crutches etc. The King and Queen plus all
the others got out of the cars, and their Majesties commenced shaking hands
and chatting right along the row. Some of the men were without a leg, or an
arm, and several were decorated with medals. The King and Queen chatted to
most of them.
Then back into the cars again and the convoy moved off to Eaton Hall, the
Duke of Westminster’s home. The same drill, but all wounded officers here sat
in a half-circle some on crutches, and others with a leg or arm missing, or a
head wound - decorations and chat. In fact the King and Queen passed all
along the lines, shaking hands and chatting. Many were decorated with a medal
- those had a little longer chat!
Again into cars and off to Hawarden Hall - the lovely home of Mr Gladstone
and more wounded Tommies and a repeat procedure again.
Afterwards we drove to Queens Ferry [Queensferry] to the large TNT
factory.The King and Queen and Col. Alencaster went into the head office for
a short visit. They were shown around the factory with Col. Ironmonger. Most
of the factory workers were women. We were brought a nice assortment of
refreshments from the canteen. When their Majesties came out we were lined up
by Corporal Nelson and the King inspected the 8 of us - spoke to one or two
and had a smile for Corporal Nelson and then back in the cars and straight
off to Chester Station. [The King and Queen got] into the Royal Train and off
to Liverpool. The chauffeur told me they were going by road to Birkenhead. We
saw in the paper the next day that the King had gone to the shipyard to
launch a cruiser.
We all returned to Chester Castle and said goodbye to our lovely Rolls Royces
and drivers.
A lovely day and one to remember."
Title |
Footman for a day in the convoy for King George V and Queen Mary, May 1917
|
---|---|
Author |
Powell, Walter
|
Notes |
Transcription of Walter Powell's notes dated 8th Nov. 1985 (scribbled on the backs of envelopes) about his part as an A.S.C. driver in the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Chester, Eaton Hall, Hawarden Hall, Queens Ferry, May 1917. Apparently although he rarely spoke to most people about his war experiences, this one was something Walter Powell shared with anyone who would listen. In this collection there are also postcards of this visit photocopied by Walter Powell's family in the 1980s, as well as studio portrait photographs of him in his "poshed-up" uniform.
Part of a collection relating to Walter H. Powell, Llandrindod Wells, (private / driver M2-267205 Mechanised Transport Army Service Corps). Born 1898, Walter tried to join up under-age on a number of occasions, finally succeeding in 1916. He served many months - (more than 2 years?) - in different army units in Britain, before going over to France. He served as a despatch rider for an anti-aircraft battery in 1918-1919. Walter was gassed "suffering the effects all his life". He was a founder member of Toc-H in Llandrindod, and a keen footballer - he died in 1994 aged 96. However Walter's older brothers (Cliff and Percy Powell) and his uncle (Humphrey Powell) died of wounds sustained during the war. |
Item date |
May 1917
|
Creation place |
Chester
|
Item source | |
Item medium | |
Content | |
Cataloguer |
Alun Edwards
|
Filename |
GWA_6678_Footman_for_a_day_in_the_convoy_for_King_George_V_and_Queen_Mary__May_1917.txt
|
Copyright |
The Great War Archive, University of Oxford / Primary Contributor
|
Digital repository | |
Contributor name |
Alun Edwards (Powys Archives submissions day)
|
Contributed on the behalf of |
Bryan and Liz Edwards
|
Collection
Citation
“Footman for a day in the convoy for King George V and Queen Mary, May 1917,” by Powell, Walter. The Great War Archive, University of Oxford / Primary Contributor via First World War Poetry Digital Archive, accessed May 7, 2024, http://ww1lit.nsms.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/gwa/item/7603.
Permitted Use
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