World One War: The Tragedy of Prince John
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The Windsor's Tragedy
One of the least known indirect fatalities of the First World War was Prince John Charles Francis who died in 1919. The young Prince John was a member of the British Royal Family, and the youngest son of George V and Queen Mary.
The Prince’s short life was movingly dramatized in a BBC drama titled “The Lost Prince” in 2003, the drama starred Gina McKee, Michael Gambon and Miranda Richardson.
HRH Prince John was born on the 12th July 1905 at York Cottage, on the Royal Sandringham Estate, located in Norfolk. The son of George V and Queen Mary, John was the sixth in line of succession.
The Prince was baptised on the 3rd of August 1905 at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Sandringham, incidentally the same church where he would be buried in 1919.
Despite being a healthy baby, John had his first epileptic fit at the age of four. When George V was coroneted, John did not attend his father’s ceremony in 1911.
As John aged, his condition and its effects became more apparent and worse. From the age of 12, John was settled in Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate. The Prince was assisted by his nanny Charlotte Bill, who was known as “Lalla” in the Royal Family. Further to this, Thomas Haverly was assigned as the Prince’s coachman as he was known to be reliable. Haverly often took the prince out on outings or to the ‘Big House’ (Sandringham House) when members of the Royal family were in residence.
Although it is often commented that John was a lonely child, this has often been discredited. John’s companionship came in the form of Winifred Owen, a Yorkshire girl, who had been sent to live in the country with her aunt and uncle, due to suffering from asthma. Soon after Winifred arrived close to Sandringham, Queen Mary and Charlotte Bill visited Winifred who, knowing of her delicacy, recommended John and Winifred be friends. When John was ill, Winifred often sat by his bed. They often went out on walks and worked in the garden which was attached to the house.
Winifred became close to John during the First World War. In later years she recalled John’s excitement at seeing Zeppelins pass overhead and his joy at meeting a real life soldier, Winifred’s father, Sergeant Frederick Thomas, who visited in 1916. In the same recollections, Winifred remembered John’s mother, Queen Mary, as being a very loving mother who spent a lot of time with her son.
It is evident that Queen Mary cared for her son deeply, as shown by the passages in her diary. The Queen wrote, shortly after John’s death
"Miss the dear child very much indeed."
"Tuesday, January 21st 1919. Canon Dalton & Dr Brownhill conducted the service, which was awfully sad and touching. Many of our own people and the villagers were present. We thanked all Johnnie's servants, who have been so good and faithful to him."
Queen Mary was truly moved by the loyalty of those who knew John very well. Queen Mary gave Thomas Haverly’s daughter John’s blackboard, whilst Winifred was given a number of John’s books. Queen Mary also treasured photographs of John, diary notes and letters between herself and her son.
Sadly, neither King George V nor Queen Mary was present at Wood Farm when Prince John died in the early hours of the 18th January 1919. Charlotte Bill rang Sandringham house unexpectedly at 5.30am and told the Queen that John had had a severe seizure and couldn’t be awakened. Both the king and Queen drove immediately to Wood Farm and found Miss Bell grief stricken.
An entry in Queen Mary’s diary wrote
“Lalla Bill telephoned from Wood Farm, Wolferton, that our poor darling Johnnie had died suddenly after one of his attacks. The news gave me a great shock, though for the little boy's restless soul, death came as a great release. I brought the news to George & we motored down to Wood Farm. Found poor Lalla very resigned but heartbroken. Little Johnnie looked very peaceful lying there… For him it is a great release as his malady was becoming worse as he grew older and he has thus been spared much suffering. I cannot say how grateful we feel to God for having taken him in such a peaceful way, he just slept quietly… no pain, no struggle, just peace for the poor little troubled spirit, which had been a great anxiety for us for many years ever since he was four.
Prince John was subsequently buried on the 21st January 1919 at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene.
It has becoem apparent in later years that neither George nor Mary fully recovered from John's death. Following the armistice of 1918, George V was a markedly changed man. During ther course of the war, the British Royal family cahnged its German name to Windsor to avoid anti-German reprisals. Further to this by 1920, most of the reigning houses which had been in power in 1914, were either dead or had abdicated. In particluar the Romanov's i.e. Tsar Nicholas II who was George V cousin had been murdered.
In terms of Queen Mary, the Queen continued to support her ailing husband up unitl his death in 1936. Throughout the inter-war period, Queen Mary was diligent and resourceful in taking physical care of George V. When one of George V doctors in 1928 was asked 'who saved the King?' he replied 'The Queen'
Hi, I'm Simon, a History graduate. I have had a passion for history since I was a child. One of my most passionate interests is "World One War". If you would like to find out more about the Royal Family and World War One, click on:
Wooded 14 months ago
This is a very well written article. I look forward to reading more of your information. Thank you.