Prince William visits Gosport naval museum
He is the future of the armed forces, but it was the past that impressed Prince William most during an emotional visit to Gosport.
The second in line to the throne, in the middle of an eight-week attachment with the Royal Navy, looked visibly moved as he opened a memorial for thousands of lost submariners at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum yesterday.
During an afternoon visit, Sub Lieutenant Wales, as he will be known until August 1, spent an hour touring the site and seeing the Second World War sub HMS Alliance.
Before he unveiled the memorial, the future king met the families of the two last British submariners to die serving in the navy.
Antony Huntrod and Paul McCann died under the ice of Alaska in March last year when there was a fire inside HMS Tireless.
After meeting the families, he met the granddaughter of Chief Petty Officer Albert Fleming who died in Portsmouth Harbour in the submarine HMS A1 in 1904.
Gillian Haimes, 69, who was born in the Isle of Wight said: 'It was great to have Prince William down here because submariners are often overlooked. My grandfather was one of the first submariners to die in the last century and it is comforting to have a place where I can see his name.'
Since he began his time with the navy, Prince William has been training flat-out at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, and is learning as much as possible for his future role as head of the armed forces.
At the museum, that included seeing the names of 5,300 submariners who have died in service since 1904.
And he saw the Royal Navy's first submarine, the Holland 1.
Before the prince arrived it was revealed that he will be a patron of the multi-million- pound appeal to conserve HMS Alliance. A two-year campaign was launched in October.
William, 25, who is Commodore-in-Chief, Submarines, said: 'I am delighted and honoured to become patron of the HMS Alliance appeal.
'It is of great importance that such heritage is safeguarded to help future generations understand the past heroism and sacrifice of Britain's submariners.
'I wish the appeal every success in its crucial efforts to preserve this historic submarine for the nation.'
Vice-Admiral Sir Tim McClement, chairman of the appeal, said: 'HMS Alliance is the only surviving Second World War submarine and needs to be maintained as a lasting memory to those who served during the war.'
Next week, the Prince will join the Portsmouth-based frigate HMS Iron Duke for anti-drug smuggling missions in the Caribbean.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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