214 Crossing the Line 



J 952, continued 



in the Port of London" at Headquarters of our naval forces in Europe, and the "Raikoaders' 



Union, the Exclusive Society of Korean Railbusters," this latter being confined to Marines. 



Page 22 of the October issue tells the story of how "Shellbacks become Mossbacks on Cape 

 Voyage." USS Oriskany, too large to go through the Panama Canal, was shifted from the Atlantic 

 to the Pacific Fleet and made the voyage round the Horn in May, 1952, with USS William C. Lawe 

 and USS Power as escorts. A halftone shows some of the crew of the Oriskany dressed in cere- 

 monial garb on their way to the performance. 



1953 



Royal liner crosses the equator, Ceremony on escort. Aboard the Gothic, 

 Friday the 4th [of December 1953]. 



The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on their Pacific voyage to the Fiji 

 Islands crossed the equator at about 11:30 a. m. today. 



On a cloudy, overcast morning with a slight drizzle the Royal couple 

 watched through binoculars the traditional crossing-the-Hne ceremony on 

 the fore-castle deck of the escort cruiser Sheffield, two cables length (quarter 

 of a mue ) away on the Gothic's starboard beam. 



The Sheffield's crew crowded on to her two sis-inch gun turrets on the for- 

 ward deck to watch "King Neptune," with his consort queen, "Aphrodite," 

 dressed in red and white robes and wearing golden crowns, hold their coiurt. 



King Neptune, holding a trident, read a proclamation which was followed 

 by the traditional "shaving" and ducking of those who had not crossed the 

 line before. — Reuter. 



( The Scotsman, Edinburgh, December 5, 1953. p. 7, col. 5. ) 



On Board the Liner Gothic, Dec. 5, ( AP) — The Duke of Edinburgh, togged 

 out in a butcher's apron, cut capers as assistant ship's barber in traditional 

 ceremonies when this royal liner crossed the equator. 



Queen Elizabeth II watched the antics yesterday from the bridge as King 

 Neptune came aboard to hold coturt. Neptune — Inspector Frank Kelley, 

 the Duke's personal body-guard — was quickly doused in the swimming 

 pool, long white beard and aU. But his green-robed Queen fought aU attempts 

 to snatch her cabbage bouquet. 



Charges were read against more than a dozen members of the royal house- 

 hold and staff. The Queen and Duke were exempt from the shellback initia- 

 tion, however, because they had crossed the equator before. 



( Daily News, Greenboro, North Carolina, December 6, 1953. ) 



The Times of London seems to have chosen to pass over this incident, but it is a real pleasure 

 to find at least one American newspaper judging it worth a stickfull or so. New York City news- 

 papers were silent because of a strike. 



