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Soldier of Queen Elizabeth in World War II
Yesterday the UK marked Remembrance Day to honor those who fought in the world wars. For the first time since the death of Queen Elizabeth, it was Charles who laid the wreath at the Cenotaph. But the event did not fail to recall the heroic deeds of the late sovereign, who went into the field during the Second World War to help her nation.
On September 13, 1940, when the first bombs began to rain down on Buckingham Palace, King George VI and his wife stayed at the palace to show their solidarity with the British. The Royal Family immediately demonstrated through concrete actions that they would fight to the bitter end alongside their people and young Princess Elizabeth was no exception.
On September 3, 1939, when the war had started, however, the leaders decided to send their daughters Elizabeth and Margaret to safety. The girls were evacuated to avoid the dangers of the bombardment and sent to Windsor Castle. Like so many other children in the UK, they have lived away from their parents for a long time. For this reason, the then-Princess gave a pep talk addressed to all children and broadcast as part of the BBC’s Children’s Hour. The future Queen said: ‘Thousands of you in this country have had to leave your homes and you are separated from your fathers and mothers. My sister Margaret Rose and I feel the same way that we know from first hand experience what it means to be away from those you love most”.
Queen Elizabeth on the front line during World War II
At the time of the message, Princess Elizabeth was only 13, but the war would continue and he would see her grow into a young woman. As World War II progressed, it supported more aspects of life and resilience. In 1943, in fact, she was photographed tending to her gardens at Windsor Castle. At the time, the government launched the Dig for Victory campaign which urged people to use every free patch of land to grow vegetables to help tackle food shortages.
On the morning of her sixteenth birthday, the future Queen Elizabeth makes her first inspection of a military regiment. He had received the role of honorary colonel of the Grenadiers. When she turned 18 in 1944, she insisted on joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the women’s branch of the British Army. King George made sure his daughter was not given a special rank in the army. Elizabeth therefore started as a second subordinate in the ATS and was later promoted to Captain.
Princess Elizabeth began training as a mechanic in March 1945. She completed a vehicle driving and maintenance course at Aldershot, gaining a qualification on 14 April. Newspapers at the time dubbed her Princess Auto Mechanic. He served the army as best he could until the end of the conflict. On May 8, 1945, the war in Europe ended and everyone took to the streets to celebrate. Elizabeth and her sister Margaret also mingled with the crowd. The Queen would say many years later that, despite the fear of being recognized, it was “one of the most memorable nights of my life”.