Here we republish an article in the Gazette & Herald from November 2002 when Prince Philip visited Eden Camp.

 

BY all accounts, Prince Philip, HRH Duke of Edinburgh had a great time at Eden Camp when he officially opened a new display.

He was hardly back at Buckingham Palace after his visit when he wrote, via an aide, to owner Stan Johnson.

In his letter the prince said: "Eden Camp is a wonderful museum and it gave me much pleasure to open the human torpedo display."

Stan Johnson said: "What an acolade for Malton and for all the staff at Eden Camp.

"Prince Philip was a lovely man. He was very, very relaxed. Even when I was

giving a speech on the microphone, he was joking in the background. He was a tease."

Prince Philip had a special connection with World War II human torpedoes.

He agreed to come to the camp after hearing that a man researching the history of his Italian father, with the help of Eden Camp, had discovered the man's father had been in one of the Italian mini subs which had attacked Alexandria Harbour. Prince Philip said he had had a close run-in there with the Italian Maiali charioteers in 1941.

 

"It's quite interesting, but I left HMS Valiant just about two months before these chaps got at her," he joked.

Prince Philip had been a sub-lieutenant on board, but had left for another ship when the Italians successfully bombed the Mediterranean harbour.

 

 

He added: "I could have been blown up," he told Stan Johnson.

Prince Philip spent some time in the escapers and evaders hut while he was at Eden Camp, sometimes talking in fluent French to a selection of veterans

brought specially from this country and also France, Holland and Spain to meet him.

Italian naval officers were there to meet him and veterans from the Escape Lines Memorial Society as well as museum staff.

Veteran Dorien Freeman, who now lives in Pocklington, and was in 158 squadron 4 bomber command, said he and Prince Philip had talked about the many RAF bases around York during the Second World War.

And Eliane Guerin, from Normandy,

said the Duke had chatted to her in French about the risks she had taken helping British airmen to escape.

  

Mme Guerin, who was with veteran Ronald Riding, from East Yorkshire, said she had enjoyed the chance to

meet up with old friends for the special occasion.

"I helped Ronald in 1944 and then I did not find him again for another 32 years," she said.

"Since then, we have visited each other and it is very special."

Since visiting Eden Camp, Prince Philip has contacted North Yorkshire's Lord Lieutenant Lord Crathorne, said Stan Johnson.

"He wanted to know how many POWs who were at Eden Camp have since been back."

Stan Johnson raised a smile on the day when he told veterans: "I am sorry to say that the Duke sneaked by the gate box today.

"I am giving him an invitation to bring his wife and kids but they pay at the box on the way in next time!"

Updated: 10:18 Wednesday, November 13, 2002