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Laurieton RSL secretary George Wise has been brushing up on his royal etiquette as he has been invited to partake in tea with the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles.
Laurieton RSL secretary George Wise is off to Scotland on August 1 to attend the Royal British Legion Scotland (RBLS) Mey Highland Games.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Rothesay (Prince Charles) as he is known in Scotland is expected to attend.
George said he must refer to the Duke of Rothesay as Your Royal Highness in the first instance and following that as sir.
“I’m worried I’m going to slip back into talking like an Aussie and say ‘listen mate’,” he said.
“I’m not sure that will go down too well.”
George is meant to bow on introduction but he said he’ll nod his head instead due to balance problems.
“I believe he will spend about 10 minutes talking to us (George and his wife),” he said.
George has fostered links with the Royal British Legion Scotland’s Wick branch in Caithness.
Captain Richard Otley, whose late father William was a member of the Laurieton RSL sub branch, forged links between the Royal British Legion Scotland and the local RSL.
George, Captain Richard Otley said, showed great care to ex-servicemen and women who immigrated to Australia, in particular his late father.
“As chairman of Royal British Legion Wick, Canisbay and Latheron Branch our entire membership are honoured, privileged and humbled that George has chosen to visit us over the weekend of our RBLS Mey Games,” Captain Otley said.
“RBLS Wick is very proud that George accepted to be our honorary member which was awarded to him earlier this year in recognition of his outstanding service to the RSL and veteran support.”
In December, 2016 George addressed the annual general meeting of the RBLS, Wick Branch, via Skype. The legion is similar to the Australian RSL.
Before George did his presentation the RBLS weren’t aware of the contribution that Australians had made to the war.
“In WW1 we were the wildest, undisciplined bunch,” he said.
“But on the battlefield we had the discipline and the British loved us.”
Following his presentation the members voted to make George an honorary life member of their branch.
“You are the fourth honorary member ever to be awarded membership, so quite rare,” Captain Otley wrote in his thank-you letter to George.
This relationship has resulted also in Anzac Day being commemorated in Scotland as there are Australian servicemen buried in Caithness.
