*** That Winslow Boy historical background








George Archer-Shee: That Winslow Boy


Figure 1.--

George Archer-Shee is better known to history as 'That Winslow boy'. His story touches on the English monarchy, the Rioyal Nvy, cadets, Osborne, and the Edwardwian era in general. There are a few cases in Anglo-American jurisprudence that should be known by all, Rex vs. Winslow is certainly one of them. George was a 13-year-old cadet at the Osbourne Naval College on the Isle of Wight. (The Naval College was established at Victoria and Albert's estate after the Queen's death.) School authorities accussed George stealing a 5 shilling postal note from another cadet's locker in 1908. Authorities charged that George signed his name to the postal order and cashed it. George claimed that he was innocent, but was expelled from the College. George came from a very conservative Catholic family. Unlike the situation presented in the 1999 film, there was no strong sufregette feeling in the family. The film also down play's the possible impact of the family's catholocism and the still strong prejudices against Catholics in England. George's father was Martin Archer-Shee, a respected Liverpool bank manager. He believed his son's professions of innosence and attempted to approach the school authorities. He failed to get satisfaction, first from the Commander of the College, and then from the Admiralty which refused to reopen the matter. Archer-Shee was constrained by the legal system in pursuing his son's case. He couldn't file a legal suit directly against the College, as it and the Admiralty were technically part of the King's domain. The King and therefore the Royal Navy was immune from such actions. The King could legally do no wrong. Many English people when they learned of the incident in the newspapers felt that George, as a Catholic, was a victim of religious prejudice. There still was a great deal of anti-Catholic sentiment in England. Catholics had for centuries been deprived of their civil rights which has only been fully restored in the late 19th century. The Royal Navy was not imune from the still string anti-Catholic sentiment. It became known that several cadets at Osborne had been suspected of the crime, while George, the only Catholic, was expelled and charged. George's father asked noted barrister Edward Carson to take his son's case. Carsom was known to about every newspaper reader in England. He was the man who opposed Oscar Wilde during Wilde's notorius libel suit against the Marquis of Queensberry. Carson agreed to take George's case. Carson's legal options were limited because of the Admiralty's immunity as part of the King's domain. It seemed impossible that a 13-year old boy could take on the most rspected institution in Britain--the Royal Navy. Carson's only option was to make use of a "Petition of Right", which if the Home Office and the Attorney General accepted, could be given to the King. The King then had the option, if he so desired, to grant the Petition. Only then could George's case go to court. King Edward VII in May 1909 received George's Petition and signed it, writing "Let Right be Done."

Individual Liberties

There are a few cases in Anglo-American jurisprudence concerning individual liberties that should be known by all. An American decission Brown vs. Topeka was one of several cases involving the desire of Black children to be treated as equal citizens and get a decent education. The Miranda decission concerning making civil rights available to all is another key decission. One of these key court cases which has to be included is Rex vs. Winslow, actually Rex vs. Archer-Shee, the King versus 13-year old George Archer-Shee.

The Incident

The real Ronnie Winslow was George Archer-Shee, a 13-year-old cadet at the Osbourne Naval College on the Isle of Wight. (The Naval College was established on Victoria ans Albert's estate after the Queen's death.) School authorities accussed George stealing a 5 shilling postal note another cadet's locker in 1908. Authorities charged that George signed his name to the postal order and cashed it. George claimed that he was innocent, but was expelled from the College.

George's Family

George came from a very conservative Catholic family. Unlike the situation presented in the 1999 film, there was no strong sufregette feeling in the family. The film also down play's the possible impact of the family's catholocism and the still strong prejudices against Catholics in England. George's father was Martin Archer-Shee, a respected Liverpool bank manager. He believed his son's profession of innosence in part because George's elder brother was so sure of the boy's innonsence. This wa no trivial matter. Itmight be forv theRoyal Navy, but not for George. In the structconventions of the Edwardian Era, such a stain on a boy'sc reputation could seriously affect his entire dult life. The father attempted to approach the school authorities. He failed to get satisfaction, first from the Commander of the College, and then from the Admiralty which refused to reopen the matter.

The Legal Situation

Archer-Shee was constrained by the legal system in pursuing his son's case. He couldn't file a legal suit directly against the College, as it and the Admiralty were technically part of the King's domain. The King and therefore the Royal Navy was immune from such actions. The King could legally do no wrong.

Public Opinion

Many English people when they learned of the incident in the newspapers felt that George, as a Catholic, was a victim of religious prejudice. There still was a great deal of anti-Catholic sentiment in England. Catholics had for centuries been deprived of their civil rights which has only been fully restored in the late 19th century. The Royal Navy was not imune from the still string anti-Catholic sentiment. It became known that several cadets atOsborne had been suspected of the crime, while George, the only Catholic, was expelled and charged.

Edward Carson

George's older brothr who was an MP asked noted barrister Edward Carson to take his son's case. (This is one of many differences between the actual events and the film.) Carsom was known to about every newspaper reader in England. He was the man who opposed Oscar Wilde during Wilde's notorius libel suit against the Marquis of Queensberry. Carson after questioning George himself agreed to take George's case. Carson's involvement consiuderably uped the anty.

Petition of Right

Carson's legal options were limited because of the Admiralty's immunity as part of the King's domain. It seemed impossible that a 13-year old boy could take on the most rspected institution in Britain--the Royal Navy. Carson's only option was to make use of a "Petition of Right", which if the Home Office and the Attorney General accepted, could be given to the King. The King then had the option, if he so desired, to grant the Petition. Only then could George's case go to court. King Edward VII in May 1909 received George's Petition and signed it, writing "Let Right be Done." This allowed George's case to proceed. The Admiralty was still opposed to reopening the case and challenged the petition. They won the first court test, but that ruling was subsequently overturned on appeal by Carson.

Clothing

HBC at this time does not have a photograph of George. The cadet uniform he wore is well documented and accurately represented in the films. We believe that given his age, the time, and his conservative family that he almost certainly wore an Eton collar with his civilian suit. Without an actual photograph, however, we can not confirm this. We wonder if his dress in court might not have been discussed by his barrister as to the impression on the jurors. I assume that since he was expelled that he could not wear his cadet unifirm, but again I am not positive about this.

Court Case

The trial began on July 26th, 1910. Sir Rufus Isaacs represented the Admiralty, but naval officials by this time realized the emense damage that was being done to the reputation of the Royal Navy by the publicity involved as well as the weakness of their case. Four days into the trial, Isaacs announced that on behalf of the Admiralty and the Crown, he accepted George's claim of innocence. Newspaper accounts of the trial reported that members of the jury literally climbed over barriers in an effort to congratulate the Archer-Shee family.

Subsequent Debate

George's case became the subject of heated political debate in England. It was widely held that the first Lord of the Admiralty, Reginald McKenna, tainted the image of British justice, by refusing to pay damages to the Archer-Shee family. George's brother, who had just been elected a Conservative and Unionist Member of Parliament, brought the issue to Parliament. The family was eventually paid �3,000 in addition to legal costs.

Aftermath

The conclusion of the George Archer-Shee story is bittersweet. While cleared of the charges, the Admiralty and school officials never sent George a formal letter of apology or ever withdrew the charges. He was never able to rebter the Navy. George Archer-Shee joined the Army on the outbreak of World War I. Like so many of his generation was killed in the fighting. He died at the beginning of the War in 1914, just a few years after the legal proceeding. He was killed in the disastrous Ypres offensivde--one of the great killing fields of the War. An order to retreat from an exposed position did not reach George's platoon in time.

Play

The reson that Georgev is better known as 'that Wislow boy" is that The Winslow Boy is that Terence Rattigan wrote a play based on the incident involving George Archer-Shee and the Royal Navy during the Edwardian era --That Wislow Boy. It was also made into a movie by the same title. .






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Created: October 31, 2001
Last updated: 5:44 AM 2/9/2024