PRESIDENT'S CUP 2004 The President's Cup was awarded at the Regional Meeting in Leeds, to Tony Walker, who provided this synopsis of his entry: George V was a Navy Man FPHS President, Michael Dobbs (left) presenting Tony Walker (right) with the 2004 President's Cup during the Leeds Weekend Away Introduction As I all too slowly write up my British WWI naval postal history material, collected, or rather accumulated over the last few years, I soon realised the significance of King George V, not only as the reigning monarch during the conflict, but also as a committed navy man himself. This prompted me to put together some sheets for the Presidents Cup on the theme of the Royal in the Royal Navy. The Display HRH Prince George, Duke of York as he was known in 1889, received his first command in July of that year, Torpedo Boat No 79, a modest 75 tons. In 1890 he was given a larger command in the form of a Gunboat HMS Thrush, which he sailed to the Mediterranean Sea, after putting in for repairs at Gibraltar. He subsequently crossed the Atlantic in HMS Thrush, to Jamaica in the West Indies to coincide with an Exhibition there, staying with the Governor, Sir Henry Blake. The display included the cover from the Prince's letter of thanks to the Governor, with manuscript monogram and embossed H.M.S. Thrush on the reverse. The letter itself was also displayed at Leeds. Prince George subsequently commanded HMS Crescent, from which a 'naval information request sheet' dated 11 August 1898 in his own hand and signature was shown. He reluctantly gave up this command due to the pressure of royal duties in 1902. On 7 August 1914, the day before war was declared, King George telegraphed to Sir John Jellicoe, Commander in Chief of the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow. This historic message was forwarded around the fleet from Jellicoe's flagship, HMS Iron Duke, and the Gun Room copy received by HMS Ajax was displayed. Admiral Jellicoe replied at 0125hrs on 8 August, and this telegraph message was displayed. A postcard, appropriately with a naval usage, of King George V, censored on board HMS Revenge, also showed the return address as 'Naval Post Office B, c/o GPO Edinburgh', for which naval mail cancellations are not common. Being a naval man, the King took a great interest in the Fleet Reviews, and displayed was a letter from HRH Prince George (as he was then) dated 4 June 1899 to Chevalier de Martino, thanks the artist for 'the Artist proof of the Jubilee Review which you were kind enough to bring me yesterday.' There was also an annual review of the fleet on July 18th 1914, and this took place at Spithead in front of King George V. In 1915 His Majesty travelled to Scapa Flow for a two day review of the Grand Fleet, crossing from Thurso to Scapa on board HMS Oak, from which a cover was shown. The subsequent telegraph message from the King to Admiral Jellicoe was included in the display.