Forty years of 'Spy'

by Sir Leslie Ward

After reading the Prince's letter and being aware of Sir Reginald's feeling in the matter, and also knowing that Mr. Gibson Bowles was the owner of the drawing I thought it diplomatic to make an alternative suggestion, which was to offer to draw a new sketch of him for presentation in full uniform and cocked hat.

The idea pleased him, and when it was completed he took it himself to Marlborough House. Not only did it meet with the approval of the royal recipient, but the Duke of Edinburgh, who happened to be there at the time, was so pleased with it that he wanted one done of himself like it, and this led to the invitation for the cruise of which I am writing. To quote Sir Reginald's letter to me he says, "The Duke of Edinburgh considers your sketch the best drawn, and without exception the most wonderfully like he ever saw, and in consequence he will be very glad indeed if you will come for a cruise as his guest during the following dates, etc...."

Previous to making a start I received instructions from Captain Le Strange, A.D.C., who was to pilot the Duke's guests to Bantry Bay on H.M.S. (despatch boat) Lively. In his letter he informed me that Admiral Sir William Hewitt, Admiral Hardinge, and Mr. Wentworth-Cole would be of the party on the Hercules; that he thought it would be a most jovial one, and that if I were a fair sailor I should enjoy the trip very much. He also said that H.R.H. had just taken his fleet of eight ships out for the first time, and that they seemed to work very well.

On July 10th, I started from Paddington by the afternoon train for Plymouth, and discovered in my vis-à-vis of the railway carriage, Mr. Wentworth-Cole. Captain Le Strange met us at Plymouth, and we dined at Devonport, and were escorted on board at 11.30 p.m. Shortly after we weighed anchor, the wind got up, and the yacht Lively did full credit to her name. Through Sunday and Monday it blew a big gale, and Admiral Hardinge did not show up on deck until we steamed into Bantry Bay, where I was relieved to see the ships coming in with us for I hoped for steadier boards to tread. On Monday evening, the two Admirals moved to the flag ship and Wentworth-Cole and I followed shortly afterwards. It was the first time I had boarded a man-of-war and the formalities of the quarter-deck were not less striking because I was still feeling somewhat rocky. However, the sound of the bugle seemed to pull me together, and the Duke, having received me most cordially escorted me to his state cabin to which my own was adjacent. It was evident that the comfort of his guests was to be well considered, as by this time I knew that a picked marine had already been selected to valet me, and information had leaked out that the services of an experienced cook from Gunters' had been obtained.

By degrees I became acquainted with the Captain and Commander and officers of the ship and I soon settled down.

On the following morning a trip had been arranged by H.R.H. for us to steam to Glengariff on the Lively. The weather was very fine and after an early breakfast on board her we set out (Mr. Mackenzie of Kintale joining us). It must have been quite three o'clock before we reached Glengariff, and sat down to lunch in the hotel. During our meal a young American visitor anxious to see if royalty ate like ordinary beings seated herself at a table adjoining ours, and fixed her eyes steadily upon the Duke. She even ordered marmalade to make believe it was her midday meal, but we were informed afterwards that she had lunched. Evidently her interest had not diminished, as when seeing us seated on the lawn drinking coffee, she refreshing herself in a similar way, drew up close to our party with the same inquisitive intention whilst taking it for granted that she also was a centre of interest to us. The proprietress gave her a hint and she vanished.

By this time we were replenished, and, after a stroll to Cromwell's Bridge, the owner of the hotel brought her book out for us to sign our names in, and on our departure presented not only the Duke, but each of us with a bouquet. Our host, Mr. Mackenzie, with his friends, proceeded to Killarney, while we returned on the Lively to Bantry.

The officers on board the Hercules were most friendly, and willing to help in giving me a good time. Every one was pleasant, and the chaff came readily, especially when I was supposed to discover from the stern walk where the rudder was. In time I became more accustomed to the routine, and learned to know when I might venture on the Captain's bridge, or pace the deck without getting in the way. Among the many interesting men whose acquaintance I made on the cruise was one Cole, a paymaster in the Navy and quite a character. He was a very clever amateur draughtsman, and had accompanied the Admiral on several of his cruises. His drawings brimmed over with humour, especially in a kind of log-book in which he sketched the event of the day which was greatly appreciated by H.R.H. He was full of fun and the favourite of all, but owing to a peculiarly deep-pitched voice, and a somewhat serious expression exaggerated by the fact that he wore blue glasses, some one had christened him "the Sepulchral."

Whilst the Reserve Squadron was anchored at Bantry waiting for the Channel Fleet to join us, much of the time was spent—when the Admiral was not engaged on duty—in taking trips on the Lively to various places, or on fishing excursions. There was the inspection of the coastguard station in the vicinity of Ballydonogan, and afterwards we went on to a place called Killmakillog to fish for trout on Glanmore Lake.

It was on the occasion of our trip to Waterville that a tramp, a rough looking customer, approached the Duke with a letter which H.R.H. passed on to me with the directions to give him half a crown.