Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh . . ROYAL NAVY SERVICE . He joined the British Royal Navy in 1939, aged 18. During the Second World War he served with distinction in the Mediterranean & Pacific Fleets. . 🇬🇧 Promotion to lieutenant followed on 16 July 1942. In October of the same year, he became first lieutenant of HMS Wallace, at 21 years old one of the youngest first lieutenants in the Royal Navy. . 🇬🇧 During the invasion of Sicily, in July 1943, as second in command of Wallace, he saved his ship from a night bomber attack. He devised a plan to launch a raft with smoke floats that successfully distracted the bombers, allowing the ship to slip away unnoticed. In 1944, he moved on to the new destroyer, HMS Whelp, where he saw service with the British Pacific Fleet in the 27th Destroyer Flotilla. . 🇬🇧 He was present in Tokyo Bay when the instrument of Japanese surrender was signed. Philip returned to the United Kingdom on the Whelp in January 1946, & was posted as an instructor at HMS Royal Arthur, the Petty Officers’ School in Corsham, Wiltshire . . . . #RoyalNavy #Naval #Worldwartwo #secondworldwar #Mediterranean #Valour #battleship #lieutenant #ships #HMS #HMSWallace #Tokyo #Tokyobay #PrincePhilip #Mountbatten #HMSWhelp #PhilipMountbatten #hrh #DukeofEdinburgh #Prince #consort #RoyalFamily #RoyalHistory #history #historyinpictures #Navy #thequeen #Royalty #Monarchy #Britishmonarchy (at United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_5la6ojYhc/?igshid=1wgvtsur00cdl