Two ageing war heroes - one a prince, one a grandfather from Surrey.

Two ageing war heroes were reunited yesterday.

One a member of the Royal Family and the other a grandfather from Surrey.
But when the Duke of Edinburgh first encountered former Grumman Avenger gunner Norman Richard, as he plucked the stricken aviator from heavy seas off the coast of Sumatra in January 1945, they were just two ordinary men fighting for their country.

Prince Philip smiles as he chats to veterans. Later he was reunited with former Grumman Avenger gunner Norman Richard, who he plucked from heavy seas off the coast of Sumatra in January 1945

Philip was First Lieutenant of HMS Whelp, on active service in the South Pacific towards the end of the conflict, when Petty Officer (Airman) Richardson and two colleagues were shot down by the Japanese during a dog fight. 
Wearing only lifejackets after their dinghy failed to inflate, the men, who has been flying with 849 Naval Air Sqn off HMS Victorious, were facing certain death when Whelp appeared on the horizon.
The destroyer struggled to get a launch boat out to them because of the swell but eventually, after about 20 minutes in the water, managed to haul the men to safety.
As the tiny boat bobbed alongside Whelp, First Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten appeared at the rail and helped them aboard.
He then took the shivering group down to his cabin where he leant them towels to dry themselves and arranged for some clothing to wear.
It was only then that Mr Richardson and his fellow servicemen noticed the framed photograph of their rescuer’s ‘sweetheart’ on the table in his cabin – one Princess Elizabeth.
Asked about his royal rescuer in an interview a few years ago, Mr Richardson said: Prince Philip is very much maligned by people today. I think very few people realise that as a serving officer out with the British Pacific Fleet, and before that in the Mediterranean, he did a great service for the country. He was a very brave man, a great example to all of us.’
Meeting again yesterday at the Royal British Legion’s Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey, both men had vivid memories of the incident, despite it being more than 68 years ago.

Prince Philip (second from left in front row) with fellow officers on HMS Whelp, 1944-46. Philip was First Lieutenant of HMS Whelp, on active service in the South Pacific towards the end of the conflict, when Petty Officer (Airman) Richardson and two colleagues were shot down by the Japanese during a dog fight

Now aged 90 to Philip’s 92, Mr Richardson, of Weybridge, Surrey, said: ‘We had a joke about Prince Philip giving me a set of his clothes when I was picked up off the coast of Sumatra. The Duke still remembers it, and I told him they weren’t really his clothes, they were the property of the purser’s store.’
Philip joined the navy as a cadet after leaving Gordonstoun school in 1939 and was mentioned in dispatches in January 1941 as he took part in night action on HMS Valiant off Cape Matapan.
He was well thought of by all he served with and many believe he could have been First Sea Lord, the professional head of the Royal Navy had he not been forced give up his own career when he married the Queen, by which time had been prompted to Commander.
Asked in an interview to mark his 90th year, the royal was asked how he felt giving up his job as a Royal Navy officer.
‘I don't know how difficult it was, it was naturally disappointing,’  he replied .
Yesterday the Duke, who was wearing Royal Navy day ceremonials and a great coat in his capacity as Lord High Admiral of the Navy, an honour given to him by his wife on his 90th birthday, also met Telegraphist Ronald Harrison, 91, who spent two years as a prisoner of war when his motor torpedo boat was sunk off Sicily.
Mr Harrison, of Bexleyheath, south London, said: ‘I told the Duke we Second World War veterans are a very thin line now, and he said: ‘All of us are like that now’.
culled from: Daily mail news.