[GEORGE V

The Duke and Duchess (the King's sister Louise) had been in Egypt for the Duchess' health with their daughters. On the way there on 13th December 1911, their ship, the P & O Liner 'Delhi' ran aground and had to be abandoned. The Duke and his family insisted on being the last to leave. Approaching the rocky shore they were thrown out of the rowing boat, swam to the rocks, climbed up and made their way to a lighthouse, and then rode 10 miles to Tangier, thoroughly drenched. The Duke died of pleurisy at Aswan on 29th January 1912, though he had appeared to have recovered from the ordeal.