KREW KUTS: An obscure photo enlightens
By Bernie Krewski
The dedicated volunteers who compiled the first series of local history books in the 1970s and 1980s deserve our unconditional praise. Without the benefits of well-established libraries and archives, they relied on fading memories and whatever resources were available to document events of the early days. To them I will be forever grateful!
A case in point is an inexplicable photo in “Captured Memories: A History of Alsask and Surrounding School Districts.” Two historical events are cited on pages 121-123. One was a day in the 1920s when Wop May, the famous bush pilot flew over Alsask, dipping his small open plane “over the school grounds to acknowledge the cheers of the 100 or so school children.” The other event featuring five photos occurred in the 1930s – the subject of a forthcoming article in the Echo. That involved Lord Tweedsmuir, Canada’s Governor-General, visiting a “college chum” who lived in Alsask.
The caption beneath one photo reads: “The Prince of Wales waving goodbye to Alsask School children.” Obviously historical, but it doesn’t fit with the Governor-General’s visit. Further research led to the discovery of an equally interesting story.
The Prince of Wales in the photo was the eldest son (1894 – 1972) of King George V. He was honored with that title at age sixteen by his father in July 1911. Some people may remember him as the man who later abdicated the British throne in 1936 to marry the twice-divorced American, Wallis Simpson, and later becoming the Duke of Windsor.
My initial question was: why was he travelling on the Goose Lake Line in September 1924 and photographed during a brief stopover in Alsask? As I soon learned, he was doing so in a rather unusual manner for a member of the Royal Family.
In 1919 the Prince had previously toured Canada on his father’s behalf to thank Canadians for their contributions during WWI. While visiting southern Alberta, he bought what became known as the E.P. Ranch (Edward, Prince) south of Calgary. A prodigious traveler (sixteen trips throughout the British Empire), he came to North America once again in 1924, spending two months in the United States, Eastern Canada and the West.
As reported in The Oyen News, the Prince planned to leave England on August 25, 1924, with four or five friends in an unofficial visit. “No elaborate arrangements are being made for the trip, and the Prince, at his request, will travel as an ordinary first-class passenger.” After spending close to a month in New York and the northeastern states, he was welcomed to Canada by Prime Minister Mackenzie King.
His trip to the West was on a special train provided by Canadian National Railway. This was the former Canadian Northern Railway that built the Goose Lake Line. Encountering severe financial difficulties during WWI, it was acquired by the federal government and “nationalized” through an agreement on October 1, 1917.
The Prince’s special train arrived in Saskatoon during the early morning of September 25 devoid of any welcoming reception. At 10:15 it stopped at Kindersley for ten minutes where the Prince was greeted by a troop of Boy Scouts and then headed for Alsask. There “E.P. [was] Greeted by Alsask Citizens” during a two-minute stop.
“All the people of Alsask with the school children were awaiting the Prince who stepped down from the observation car and shook hands with Mayor Shaw (the grandfather of former Oyen resident Dean McKelvie), Mr. and Mrs. Spicer (village councillor), Mrs. Whaley (wife of the local doctor), Miss Gardin (teacher?), Mr. Acheson, school principal, and Constable May.” The Prince “left the impression that he was just one of us and as pleased to see us as we were to see and speak with him.” He left the impression he was “really interested in the conversation.” The special train left to the strains of “God Save the King.” The Prince “with his famous smile, waved his cap and said good-bye.”
Arrival at Hanna occurred at 2:50. “The school children paraded to the station in a body. His Royal Highness, however, did not make his appearance until one minute before the departure.” He came out onto the platform, shook hands with “Acting Mayor Mathe, Sheriff Adames, and Rev. Mr. Pate.” “Three cheers and a tiger’ brought a smile to the face of the Prince as the train was leaving.
That moment was repeated ninety minutes later as noted in this news headline: “Prince Smiles at Drumheller Boy.” Several boys climbed on a box close to the Prince’s car and one shouted, ‘How’s crops?’” That evoked the famous smile from the Prince.
What was not ordinary about the Prince’s railway journey across the prairies is what it foretold about his future. A century later people remain fascinated by the former Princes of Wales. Two recent publications provide details.
In “Once a King: the Lost Memoir of Edward VIII” (2024), Jane Marguerite Tippett contends that his extensive travel during his tenure as Prince of Wales separated him emotionally from his family and traditional court life. Ted Powell in “King Edward VIII; An American Life” (2018) argues that the Prince’s travels made him an instant celebrity, granting him international status like Hollywood actors and sports heroes. His inner life leaned towards the U.S. He was not simply choosing Wallis Simpson over the throne, but an Americanized rather than British version of himself.
Enlightening to me and I hope to others.