THE DAY PHILIP SAVED HIS CREW

IN June 1943, HMS Wallace was sent to the Mediterranean to assist in the allied landings of troops in Sicily. It was during this time that Philip saved his ship and the lives of the crew during an onslaught by a German bomber.

Crew member Harry Hargreaves recalls the terrifying events of that night: “There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that a direct hit was inevitable.

“The first lieutenant [Philip] went into hurried conversation with the captain, and the next thing a wooden raft was being put together on deck. Within five minutes they launched [it] over the side – at each end was fastened a smoke float.

When it hit the water the smoke floats were activated and…interspersed with small bursts of flame gave a convincing imitation of flaming debris in the water. The captain ordered full ahead and we steamed away from the raft for a good five minutes and then he ordered the engines stopped.

The tell-tale wake subsided and we lay there quietly...until we heard aircraft engines approaching. The sound of the aircraft grew louder until I thought it was directly overhead.

“The next thing was the scream of the bombs, but at some distance. The ruse had worked and the aircraft was bombing the raft. I suppose he was under the impression that he had hit us in his last attack and was now finishing the job.”

Hargreaves said later: “Prince Philip saved our lives that night. I suppose there might have been a few survivors, but certainly the ship would have been sunk. He was always very courageous and resourceful and thought very quickly.”