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Prince Philip Reveals His Role In Royal Navy's WWII Battle Of Cape Matapan For First Time (PICTURES)

Huffington Post UK  |  By Posted: 17/04/2012 11:28 Updated: 17/04/2012 11:34

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Prince Philip
Prince Philip during WWII

The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip, has revealed the moment "all hell broke loose" during the Battle of Cape Matapan in the Second World War, in a rare recollection of his time as a serving navy officer.

The Duke of Edinburgh reminisces about the chaotic three day onslaught off the Greek coast in a foreword to Dark Seas: The Battle of Cape Matapan which documents one of Italy's worst defeats at sea.

Only 19 years old at the time, Prince Philip was given a military award for his service on board HMS Valiant, and recalls how he was ordered to operate the search light, finding enemy ships in the darkness.

"I seem to remember that I reported I had a target in sight," he writes.

"I was ordered to 'open shutter'. The beam lit up a stationary cruiser, but we were so close by then that the beam only lit up half the ship.

"At this point all hell broke loose, as all our eight 15-inch guns, plus those of the flagship and Barham's started firing at the stationary cruiser, which disappeared in an explosion and a cloud of smoke.

"I was then ordered to 'train left' and lit up another Italian cruiser, which was given the same treatment."


HMS Valiant

"The next morning the battle fleet returned to the scene of the battle, while attempts were made to pick up survivors. This was rudely interrupted by an attack by German bombers.

"The return to Alexandria was uneventful, and the peace and quiet was much appreciated," the Duke wryly finishes.

His exciting account of life on board HMS Valiant should be treated as 'faction' (a blend of fact and fiction) however, as he warns: “all theses events took place 70 years ago, and, as most elderly people have discovered, memories tend to fade.”

Prince Philip, now 90, joined the Royal Navy in 1939 as a 17-year-old cadet. Although he rose through the ranks quickly, at the time of the Battle of Cape Matapan he was only a lowly midshipman, a position he terms "the lowest form of life in the navy."

Awarded the Greek Cross of Valour for his courage in the battle, the young Prince was also mentioned in Despatches, by his Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham.

However rising quickly through the ranks, by the time Prince Philip became engaged to Queen Elizabeth, in 1947, he was a Commander, after being promoted aged 21 to a Lieutenant, one of the youngest officers in the Navy to be second in command of a ship.

Dark Seas: The Battle of Cape Matapan, is the first book in a series documenting the great naval campaigns of the Second World War.

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The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip, has revealed the moment "all hell broke loose" during the Battle of Cape Matapan in the Second World War, in a rare recollection of his time as a serving navy of...
The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip, has revealed the moment "all hell broke loose" during the Battle of Cape Matapan in the Second World War, in a rare recollection of his time as a serving navy of...
 
 
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Mr Pedro
56 Fans
10:16 on 18/04/2012
Prince Phillip is one of the good guys.
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Electrastar
66 Fans
04:21 on 18/04/2012
Only a lowly midshipman, a position he terms "the lowest form of life in the navy."

He's lucky he did not start as an AB, now that is low.
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whatapalava39
87 Fans
03:22 on 18/04/2012
At least he served in real battles and war zones, unlike the stage managed nonsense we get fed about todays royals.
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gagertomkinson
5 Fans
23:18 on 17/04/2012
Prince Philip is a man I like, and I don't like many people at all.
He tells it as it is and takes no crap.
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Trenchfoot
91 Fans
22:22 on 17/04/2012
Prince Phillip put himself on the front line. He was not forced to and he stuck it out. For that alone he will always hold my respect.
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wayneparaman
20 Fans
21:50 on 17/04/2012
Its great that we have a person in the upper echelons of our society that can be proud of their contribution to our country in its time of greatest need, its a shame that we can't say the same about any of the current pretentious halfwits we have in Govt :(
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carneliancrystal
Do I believe all the propaganda of course I do
139 Fans
21:48 on 17/04/2012
Its widely reported he had a kebab shop in Greece before he joined the Navy
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alanfinddlay1
83 Fans
20:51 on 17/04/2012
Yawn yawn ZZzzzzz
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kohl
65 Fans
20:13 on 17/04/2012
I think in the "old" days many differing people of a variety of social classes had experienced going through war. That was a great leveller not that youd want it. Our Imperial past often meant that many people from all walks were from a far more international background than is taught to our kids in their ever watered down history lessons.
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Philip Roche
7 Fans
19:34 on 17/04/2012
An aquaitence of mine was attending a investiture at Buckingham Palace. Just before the ceremony was about to start he let nerves get to him. He asked a footman if there was a loo he could use, he was really desperate. The footman pointed to a door not too faraway and the man gratefully went through the door. He found himself faced by two doors but was not sure which way to go. Being in a hurry he went through one of the doors. He found a urinal and began to use it. He heard the door to the toilet open but without turning round he said "Couldn't wait any longer, needed a p..." there was a sigh and the voice said "Yes I bloody needed one too," the man turned and the Duke of Edinbrugh was stood next to him. Needless to say he had entered the private rooms by mistake. embarressed he went to leave but the Duke put him at ease. He had been in the Navy and probably heard worse. His language has been discribed as worthy of the mess deck before.Whether this story is true no idea, but my acquientance said it was.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jillblnsky
29 Fans
23:22 on 17/04/2012
Fantastic. Putting a man going for a pee at ease? What a great guy!! No wonder he has so many medals. For Heaven's sake, please can we stop treating this man as if directing someone towards a urinal is something worthy of an award? My father was in Malta, and he recalls Philip ran a ship to ground which should have been a court martial offense if it were Joe Bloggs.
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bolden
19 Fans
06:54 on 18/04/2012
really an inbred they all are the royals, the queen and phillip are related to one another they both share a common ancestor queen victoria both great great grandchildren of her, but phillips great grandmother was queen victorias daughter alice. he even said once said to a guide dog owner what ever next eating dogs for
eating disorders what a prat, more spin than my bosche washing machine.
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waddytog
97 Fans
18:13 on 17/04/2012
it's ok phil, you can come out from the engine room, the battle is over.
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jimbraid1
102 Fans
14:49 on 17/04/2012
My late father who was in the RAF met Philip when they were both stationed in Malta. The Navy and RAF officers went on the p**s regularly, my old man said Philip was a fantastic guy, very normal and down to earth with a wicked sense of humour, he had the greatest respect for him.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Fozwords
Abandon hope when you post on here
193 Fans
17:35 on 17/04/2012
And so say all of us, hip hip hooray, for Philip.
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Drg40
Representative Democracy is all we have.
65 Fans
12:12 on 17/04/2012
Prince Philip became Commander on Elizabeth's accession in 1952. He was made Lieut Commander in 1951 and Captain of one of Her Majesty's Ships. The man's excellent record of service stands scrutiny without attempting to over egg the pudding.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Altern8
9 Fans
11:46 on 17/04/2012
Quite photogenic when he was younger, I guess that's why Elizabeth fell for him.
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Lechiffre
223 Fans
13:54 on 17/04/2012
I think even at the age of 90 he is still "pretty" . He is the only royal who looked great young and even at old age. And from what I gathered he has a great sense of humour. a corrosive sense of humour.
90% of his descendants are an eye sore . Harry is obviously not one of his descendants.Madame
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Mandy Littlefield
118 Fans
 
14:32 on 17/04/2012
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But Harry is definitely Charles' son, you can tell by the closely-set blue eyes. There is a lot more Spencer in Harry - nose, mouth, red hair. William is much more Windsor, though he makes a lot of Diana's facial expressions and has her coloring.
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Southern law girl
Researching my viewpoint....
162 Fans
18:54 on 17/04/2012
Good evening

I asked you in an earlier response to a comment, where you found the following quote, you still have to let me know where it came from.

S. l. girl: "Horses are only valuable for the income they generate for their owners. The slightest injury, the merest hint of Vet fees usually resuts in the poor animal being put down."

I thought I didn't recognise that I had said that, so would you please be kind enough to let me know, just incase there has been a mix up with comments from someone else. I wonder if you sent me that by mistake:-) ?

Thank you!
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