Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER X 1899-1900 SOUTH AFRICA The Prince started for South Africa on October 6. Just before he left Buckingham Palace, for the last time as it proved, he wrote to the Queen: --"I must apologise for not having written and thanked you for your kind letter and enclosure before, but I have not had very much time as we have been packing and sorting out things hard all day. I start from here at 11.30 in a special train from Waterloo with some other officers. Major Martin is going to Southampton with me.... I am glad to say they have allowed me to take my soldier servant with me, to his great delight.... I fear I must end, as I must put in some of my last things. With best love to both yourself and Aunt Beatrice...." His soldier servant, of whom he speaks in this letter to the Queen, was Private George Wise. He had been in the Orderly room at Dover in Xt. 32 SAILING FOR SOUTH AFRICA 301 October 1894, when the Prince came there: in 1895 he accompanied the Prince to Shorncliffe, when he went there for garrison class. From Dover, Wise went with the regiment to Aldershot, and then in 1898 to Cork, where the Prince found him again on his return from Egypt. Now, in October 1899, Wise accompanied him to South Africa, and while there kept a brief diary, which enables us to follow exactly the Prince's movements from day to day. T.R.H. Prince and Princess Christian went to see him off at Waterloo Station, but it was the first time he had allowed his mother to do so. Previously he had always insisted on going off without any leave-taking. He bid good-bye, says Miss Loch, who was at the station with the Princess, looking specially bright and cheery. Among the last to shake hands with him was his friend Colonel Mends. His ship, the Braemar Castle, which...