Post by Diarist on Feb 27, 2017 12:07:12 GMT 1
When I told Sally about the possibility of us travelling to Hamburg at the weekend I asked her if she had been there before. Only once when her family left Germany for England. I informed Louis and Wilfrid too and my decision to ask John Gort to run the FCD operation within MCD. We also talked about the general strike in Syria but nothing has been reported from Palestine. At home John Gort had supper with us and afterwards we talked for about an hour. It was agreed that he would transfer to MCD the first Monday in February, (03 Feb 1936.) That gives us a couple of weeks to rearrange the office space. I had asked if it would be possible to build a spiral staircase to the floor above us. It's under consideration.
My half-brother John Mitchell telephoned and we discussed the R-2600 and Merlin problems. He promised to be at RAE on Thursday and will ensure that all their subsidiaries will cooperate.
We stayed at home this evening and retired early but in then night the telephone rang. I looked at the clock and it was just after two o'clock. It was GEN Cyril Deverell who informed me that King George V passed away just before midnight. Edward is now King.
"He asked me to call you because of the special arrangement discussed last month."
"Yes. Where is King Edward now?"
"At Sandringham with the rest of the Royal Family. He intends flying to London for his Accession Council at St. James's Palace."
"Will he be wearing uniform or civilian clothes."
"He intends wearing uniform."
"Then please ensure that he wears his best Service uniform. He is now COL Windsor and is commanding the Royal Parachute Regiment and that means his maroon beret is the correct headgear. Tell him that Sally will accompany Wallis Simpson. She can't be seen with him today. Has she been informed?"
"Yes, she has."
"Then I can presume that she's awake. I'll have my wife call her. Please tell King Edward that if he has any questions about the instructions we can talk at St. James's. I'll be leaving for there. Give him my condolences too, please."
"I'll do that, Bob."
"Thank you, General."
Sally was already awake and I told her what had happened. She immediately called Wallis. After a few minutes I talked to her and ensured she knew what had been arranged. "I'll be driving Sally to Belvedere then you and her stick together this morning. King Edward has to take a care of a few things without you at his side. After his Accession Council we'll be going to 10 Downing Street to get Cabinet approval of our plans. It's all very delicate. You do understand, don't you?"
"I do, Bob."
"As soon as I have instructions I shall telephone you at Belvedere."
"I understand. Thank you." Then hung up.
"Did you get all that, Sally? You might want to pack clothes for a few days."
"Give me ten minutes then I'm ready to leave."
I've put on my Service uniform too complete with ribbons but packed my medals if I'm allowed to wear them then woke Mum to tell her what's happening. I packed some civilian clothes and left for Fort Belvedere."
My half-brother John Mitchell telephoned and we discussed the R-2600 and Merlin problems. He promised to be at RAE on Thursday and will ensure that all their subsidiaries will cooperate.
We stayed at home this evening and retired early but in then night the telephone rang. I looked at the clock and it was just after two o'clock. It was GEN Cyril Deverell who informed me that King George V passed away just before midnight. Edward is now King.
"He asked me to call you because of the special arrangement discussed last month."
"Yes. Where is King Edward now?"
"At Sandringham with the rest of the Royal Family. He intends flying to London for his Accession Council at St. James's Palace."
"Will he be wearing uniform or civilian clothes."
"He intends wearing uniform."
"Then please ensure that he wears his best Service uniform. He is now COL Windsor and is commanding the Royal Parachute Regiment and that means his maroon beret is the correct headgear. Tell him that Sally will accompany Wallis Simpson. She can't be seen with him today. Has she been informed?"
"Yes, she has."
"Then I can presume that she's awake. I'll have my wife call her. Please tell King Edward that if he has any questions about the instructions we can talk at St. James's. I'll be leaving for there. Give him my condolences too, please."
"I'll do that, Bob."
"Thank you, General."
Sally was already awake and I told her what had happened. She immediately called Wallis. After a few minutes I talked to her and ensured she knew what had been arranged. "I'll be driving Sally to Belvedere then you and her stick together this morning. King Edward has to take a care of a few things without you at his side. After his Accession Council we'll be going to 10 Downing Street to get Cabinet approval of our plans. It's all very delicate. You do understand, don't you?"
"I do, Bob."
"As soon as I have instructions I shall telephone you at Belvedere."
"I understand. Thank you." Then hung up.
"Did you get all that, Sally? You might want to pack clothes for a few days."
"Give me ten minutes then I'm ready to leave."
I've put on my Service uniform too complete with ribbons but packed my medals if I'm allowed to wear them then woke Mum to tell her what's happening. I packed some civilian clothes and left for Fort Belvedere."