VINCIT VERITAS: The Story of the real Winslow boy : Part One

The Archer-Shee family would always remember that Sunday in October 1908 with shock and dismay. Mr.Archer-Shee, agent for the Bank of England in Bristol and a man of high integrity, read the letter he had just received (letters were delivered on Sunday in those days) with increasing horror. It informed him that his son George,13 was accused of stealing and cashing a postal order worth five pounds, and that therefore his withdrawal was ordered from the Naval College he attended at Osborne. Mr. Archer-Shee, certain of his son's innocence, vowed to do all that he could to clear George's name.

George was a good little boy, but not terribly studious - his marks needed some improving. However, this could easily be rectified with a little more effort. He liked the Naval College; he was popular with the boys and happy there; he also had a promising future ahead of him. His father was determined that he should stay there.

Mr.Archer-Shee questioned his son closely on the matter and his opinion of George's innocence was confirmed. George vehemently denied his guilt. His father had known him to be naughty, but never of lying.

GEORGE'S VERSION OF EVENTS

George stated that he had asked Lieutenant Burrows for 16/- for an engine and obtained his permission. At 2.00 on the day in question he had gone to the paymaster to obtain this money which he had placed in his locker in the college reading room. He had then gone to his dormitory to change. After watching the roller-skating on the tarmac outside for a while he had asked his friend Scholes to go to the post-office with him, but Scholes said no. He then went back to collect the money. Again Scholes refused to go with him. George who had no watch and was therefore unsure about the time obtained permission to go from Chief Petty Officer Paul, and set off on his trip to the Post Office. There he asked Miss Tucker, the Postmistress for a Postal Order worth 15 shillings, six pence and a penny stamp. He questioned the change he received, but Miss Tucker assured him that it was right. When he came back he met his friend Back who was upset because his postal order had been stolen, worth five pounds.

After unsuccessfully trying to gain satisfaction from the Commander of the College and then from the Admiralty, Mr. Archer-Shee was at a loss. The ancient principle 'The King can do no wrong' applied to both the College and the Admiralty. This meant that neither a civil servant nor an officer in the armed forces could sue for wrongful dismissal.

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