I Asked the Future Queen for a Date
by Captain Billy Bingham, 34th Inf. Div.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
by Captain Billy Bingham, 34th Inf. Div.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 1942, I was a 2nd Lieutenant stationed in Crewe, (Cheshire), England. We had a military parade for the
old King George and the Queen of England. Officers were selected from the Honor Battalion to have 'tea
and crumpets' with their Majesties.
The old King George had a terrible speech impediment and as you were introduced by a Brigadier the
King would mispronounce your name. The Queen had a good ear and would pronounce it correctly.
As I was going through the Royal line, I noticed two young girls about 12 and 17 years old at the end of
the line dressed in Scottish Kilts with a tartan. Since I had been to Scotland, I wanted to impress the King
and Queen's daughters with how much I knew about kilts.
I asked them if they belonged to the Macintosh Clan. The only one I knew at the time. Both of the girls
shook their heads, "no." The tartan tells you what 'Clan' they belong to. At the time, I didn't know.
I was about to run out of time, so I told the older girl, Elizabeth, the present Queen of England, that they
were having an officers dance at the home of the Earl of Crewe that night. I asked her if she would like to
go.
About that time, a British Field Grade Officer grabbed my arm and squeezed it more than I thought he
should. He said, "You're not supposed to speak to a member of the Royal Family without proper intro-
duction."
I didn't particularly like his attitude. Since I thought I was in England helping to save the British tail, I
replied, "The hell you say." The officer took my name, army serial number, and my military unit (outfit.)
I had almost forgotten about this episode until about a couple of weeks later. I was summoned to bring
all my records and report to GHQ, London, England (Eisenhower's Headquarters.) When I got there, I
had never seen so much Colonels and Generals in my life. I saluted every S.O.B. that out ranked me, and
they all did.
I was installed in my beautiful quarters. I began to wonder, "WHAT SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT AM I
GOING TO GET?" Right then, a broken down Major (J.A.G. Lawyer) came to see me and said, "Young
Lieutenant, if I were you, I'd wipe that smile off your face. You are in serious trouble. Let me read the
charges: You are charged with being TOO MUSHY and TOO PUSHY with a member of the Royal Family,
and conduct unbecoming an officer."
I told the Major that I would like to speak with Larry Allen, of the Associated Press, and let him report
this. Naturally, I wasn't permitted to do so.
I was confined to quarters and escorted to the Mess Hall by a guard. After about a week, wondering
what would happen to me, I was given the option of a Court Martial or Reprimand. Quite naturally, I
chose the reprimand.
I was escorted to General Bedell Smith's Office (Chief of Staff, GHQ) and was reprimanded. A copy of
the reprimand was enclosed with my other records.
I figured my career as an officer was over, but when I returned to my outfit in Northern Ireland, every-
body thought it was a big joke.
The next year, 1943, we were at Kasserine Pass in North Africa. We were surrounded by the Germans.
Colonel Drake, our Regimental Commander, ordered that all records be burned. That was when I lost
my reprimand.
After World War II, I began thinking what a neat thing a copy of that reprimand would be if I had framed
it and hung it on my office wall. I checked with the Officers Records Branch in St. Louis, Missouri and they
found nothing. I then checked with the British Officers Records in London, England, with the same result.
However, the Princess did not forget me. When she became Queen of England, married and had her first
son, she named him after me, PRINCE WILLIAM.
old King George and the Queen of England. Officers were selected from the Honor Battalion to have 'tea
and crumpets' with their Majesties.
The old King George had a terrible speech impediment and as you were introduced by a Brigadier the
King would mispronounce your name. The Queen had a good ear and would pronounce it correctly.
As I was going through the Royal line, I noticed two young girls about 12 and 17 years old at the end of
the line dressed in Scottish Kilts with a tartan. Since I had been to Scotland, I wanted to impress the King
and Queen's daughters with how much I knew about kilts.
I asked them if they belonged to the Macintosh Clan. The only one I knew at the time. Both of the girls
shook their heads, "no." The tartan tells you what 'Clan' they belong to. At the time, I didn't know.
I was about to run out of time, so I told the older girl, Elizabeth, the present Queen of England, that they
were having an officers dance at the home of the Earl of Crewe that night. I asked her if she would like to
go.
About that time, a British Field Grade Officer grabbed my arm and squeezed it more than I thought he
should. He said, "You're not supposed to speak to a member of the Royal Family without proper intro-
duction."
I didn't particularly like his attitude. Since I thought I was in England helping to save the British tail, I
replied, "The hell you say." The officer took my name, army serial number, and my military unit (outfit.)
I had almost forgotten about this episode until about a couple of weeks later. I was summoned to bring
all my records and report to GHQ, London, England (Eisenhower's Headquarters.) When I got there, I
had never seen so much Colonels and Generals in my life. I saluted every S.O.B. that out ranked me, and
they all did.
I was installed in my beautiful quarters. I began to wonder, "WHAT SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT AM I
GOING TO GET?" Right then, a broken down Major (J.A.G. Lawyer) came to see me and said, "Young
Lieutenant, if I were you, I'd wipe that smile off your face. You are in serious trouble. Let me read the
charges: You are charged with being TOO MUSHY and TOO PUSHY with a member of the Royal Family,
and conduct unbecoming an officer."
I told the Major that I would like to speak with Larry Allen, of the Associated Press, and let him report
this. Naturally, I wasn't permitted to do so.
I was confined to quarters and escorted to the Mess Hall by a guard. After about a week, wondering
what would happen to me, I was given the option of a Court Martial or Reprimand. Quite naturally, I
chose the reprimand.
I was escorted to General Bedell Smith's Office (Chief of Staff, GHQ) and was reprimanded. A copy of
the reprimand was enclosed with my other records.
I figured my career as an officer was over, but when I returned to my outfit in Northern Ireland, every-
body thought it was a big joke.
The next year, 1943, we were at Kasserine Pass in North Africa. We were surrounded by the Germans.
Colonel Drake, our Regimental Commander, ordered that all records be burned. That was when I lost
my reprimand.
After World War II, I began thinking what a neat thing a copy of that reprimand would be if I had framed
it and hung it on my office wall. I checked with the Officers Records Branch in St. Louis, Missouri and they
found nothing. I then checked with the British Officers Records in London, England, with the same result.
However, the Princess did not forget me. When she became Queen of England, married and had her first
son, she named him after me, PRINCE WILLIAM.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
