Prince Philip saved several lives during his military service, it has been revealed.
- Prince Philip's heroic acts during World War II have been revealed following the news of his death this morning.
- The Duke of Edinburgh saved several lives during his military service with the British Royal Navy.
- In other royal news, will Prince Philip have a state funeral due to COVID-19 restrictions?
Prince Philip saved the lives of several fellow veterans throughout his service in World War II, military insiders have revealed.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who died aged 99 today, had a flourishing career in the British Royal Navy in World War II, climbing the ranks to the position of lieutenant at just 21 years old. His accomplishments during this period are now being hailed as nothing short of heroic, reminding the nation of the prince's deep-rooted loyalty to his country.
At the age of 22, Prince Philip pulled off a life-saving mission in Sicily in 1943 when his ship came under attack by the Germans. He managed to trick the incoming enemy into redirecting their aim by throwing a smoky wooden raft into the sea to create the impression of flaming rubble in the water.
Prince Philip as a Navy Lieutenant in 1947
According to Harry Hargreaves, a Navy yeoman on Philip's ship, the genius idea was instrumental in saving the lives of everybody on board. The Luftwaffe planes were minutes away from successfully blowing up the Allies when the duke thought of the ploy. Instead of bombing their ship, the Germans struck the raft.
"The ruse had worked and the aircraft was bombing the raft. Prince Philip saved our lives that night," Hargreaves recalled.
This wasn't the only time Prince Philip demonstrated his sharp problem-solving skills in the military. Two years later, he helped save two fellow Allies after their plane was struck by Japanese troops. The frightened men were desperately trying to inflate their life rafts in the Pacific Ocean when Prince Philip arrived on the scene in his Whelp ship. After helping them onboard, he ensured they were fed and clothed.
"As they clambered up the scrambling nets, Philip peered anxiously over the side, having already alerted the sickbay and ordered hot food and dry clothes for the men," wrote royal author Philip Eade in his biography, Young Prince Philip: His Turbulent Early Life.' The duke later met the two men again, who were oblivious at the time to the regal status of their savior.
He was later awarded the Greek War Cross of Valour, by George II, in honor of his indomitable courage.
