Posted on 06/01/2009 7:08:03 PM PDT by cakid1
She should just show up, in her wartime uniform and personally carrying heat! And bring along some Polish D-Day vets, since their efforts are also being dissed. Her father would have done so. Who would dare stop her?
On HBO's excellent, new "Into The Storm" movie on Churchill during WWII, Winston decides he needs to be with the invasion fleet and won't let any subordinate stop him. So they went over the PM's head... to his wife... who went to King George... who told Churchill that he agreed with his reasoning! Churchill needed to be with the troops for morale's sake and so did the Monarch! He was going in with the first wave. Winnie asked, but what if we lose you? George replied, I have a replacement, YOU don't! THAT stopped Churchill. I don't know if this really happened, but it felt true to their personalities and the truth with Churchill is generally so incredible that there rarely is need to dramatic embellishments.
They have an image that they maintain and in return they hold onto power and riches beyond dreams, we rally around the flag, contribute to the war effort and do charity work here in America as well.
In keeping with her power and status of high birth, on her 16th birthday she was appointed Colonel of the Grenadier Guards during WWII (during 1942).
The Grenadier Guards training element was stationed at her home, Windsor Castle as security and personal escorts for her.
"She was enlisted as 230873 Second Subaltern Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the ATS, [March, 1945] and sent to train as a transport officer at Camberley. The course was three weeks and Princess Elizabeth did not associate too closely with her fellow trainees.
She lunched in the officers' mess and slept the night at Windsor; 50 years later, her grandsons would eat cadet food, iron their own uniforms, polish their own boots and be shouted at on the drill square.
Despite her kid-glove treatment, Princess Elizabeth greatly appreciated her spell in the ATS, believing it gave her a confidence she had previously lacked
The war in Europe was now drawing to a close and on May 8, 1945, the two princesses were allowed out of the Palace with their Guards officer friends to mingle with the crowds in the Mall and join in the shouts of "We want the King"
The entire WWII experience as a military member for Princess Elizabeth seems to have consisted of about 6 or 7 weeks when she lived in Windsor Castle, enlisted as a Lieutenant, attended a personalized 3 week course, had some photos taken of her touching trucks, never left the house, was promoted to Captain and was finished with the entire charade by the 6th or 7th week.
"Royalty"- they live differently than their "subjects", thank God I'm not one of those "subjects".
Well, at least you can’t call her a draft dodger. LOL
She drove a truck during the war. And, she went out of her way to greet American soldiers in the clubs without ever mentioning who she was.
The Lady is a class act.
You might want to read post 24.
Good movie I thought, the “I have a spare” moment was priceless and believable. As they used to say about the gentry, they needed two boys in their brood, an heir and a spare :)
“Let’s not go overboard for a Monarchist, she doesn’t have anything in common with those men either, she was a Princess and treated as such during the war.
At least those men were elected into their positions and they will step down when the time comes.”
Maybe you should check your history before making ignorant statements. Quoting from wikipedia, “She joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service, as No. 230873 Second Subaltern Elizabeth Windsor. She trained as a driver and mechanic, drove a military truck, and rose to the rank of Junior Commander.” Her service is well documented; she did a good job even under the spotlight.
Yes it is documented in post 24.
She enlisted in March according to the ‘Women and War - Imperial War Museum’ which was just weeks before the surrender of May 8th.
The Telegraph gives most of the information in post 24.
Wikipedia is not a good source for this.
On the other hand, we have this current administration that has no concept of protocol and even less of good manners. Obumbi has shamefully dissed the Brits repeatedly in just four months.
OK. I've read it. Who says it's accurate?
I did not know that. Beautiful.
;)
In March 1945 she would have been aged 18, turning 19 the following month.
I don’t know what the minimum age for joining the ATS was at that time. . .
It is all from the Telegraph and you can run the numbers from the date of enlistment yourself.
The King of England only sent his daughter into uniform just shortly before the German surrender (she was commissioned in March, just weeks before the formal surrender of May 8th.) according to the ‘Women and War - Imperial War Museum’.
I don’t know if you are a veteran or an auto mechanic but just how much do you think she did in that three week course, do you think that she became a truck mechanic?
That's right, a few weeks short of 19 and a few weeks short of the end of the European War, I'm sure that her father the King of England thought that the time was appropriate to take her from Colonel of the Grenadier Guards to captain in transport and to get some photos, 60 years later Royalty is still benefiting from those photos.
And, we all know what a close knit extended family Obama has.
/s
LOL!
She’d win...hands down. ;o)
I remember that!
It was one of the most touching moments I can remember...ever.
I actually cried while watching it.
“Shes got more class in one eyelash than Obama has in total.”
That, D1, is an understatement.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.