Today we focus on the recollections of Surgeon Rear-Admiral Robin Mussen (1248) published in his memoirs 'The Story of a Naval Doctor' published in 1983. Robin was also President of the OC Society in 1959.

After graduating from Queen's University with a medical degree, Robin joined the Navy where he served until retirement. Robin attended the coronations of both George VI in 1937 and for Queen Elizabeth II, on June 2nd 1953. Here we bring you some of his memories of both events. For the King's Coronation, Robin was on duty as Medical Officer and had a perfect vantage point to view the workings of the occasion from the rear of the Royal Box. This provides some interesting details of the ceremony so we include them here for your interest as the details for the Queen's coronation would have been similar. By the time of Queen Elizabeth's coronation 6 years later, Robin had been appointed Queen's Physician for the Queen Mother and was a guest at the ceremony. He provides fewer details since there was little for him to do other than sit with his wife Mary and enjoy the proceedings.

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, June 2nd, 1953

…The coronation of Queen Elizabeth the Second was drawing near which brought back memories of 1937. This time Mary and I had invitations on huge cards and I was to attend as a guest and not as a working hand as I had done before. This meant that I did not have the perfect survey of the ceremony which I had from the back of the Royal Box when I had been free to move about. This time, we had to remain immobile on our stools for many hours. 

We were bidden to arrive by 8 am, so on a coolish June morning we set out from Chatham in a large official motor car, Mary in evening dress with long gloves and head-dress and I in full dress uniform. On our way we ate breakfast of coffee and hard-boiled eggs. Our seats were in the Nave and we were separated by the rood screen from the sanctuary where the crowning took place, but we had an excellent view of all the comings and goings and the many stately and imposing processions.

The day was full of interest in light and colour and sound. After the Coronation in 1937, a friend had said that it was a shame that I should be privileged to listen to such music and supposed that it had been wasted on me. Actually, I got great pleasure from it, and for days after Zadok the Priest or Veni Creator Spiritus kept ringing through my ears. So it was again, with the thrilling moment when the Queen had been crowned and the drums beat and the trumpets sounded and the Peers and Peeresses all put on their coronets and everyone shouted ‘God save Queen Elizabeth, long live Queen Elizabeth, may the Queen live for ever’.

We were not released from our seats till after 4 pm and then we went to a huge marquee which was placed opposite the Abbey. Here was food and drink laid out for us after many hours fasting. We were very hungry even after minute sandwiches and malted milk tablets which Mary had secreted in her handbag. Mary had a glass of champagne but it seemed that a stiff whisky and soda might help me to regain the freshness of the morning.

The following is a link to a recording of the Coronation anthem Zadok the Priest by George Frerick Handel performed by the Choir of Westminster Abbey. Below, is a video reel of events from the ceremony.

George VI Coronation, May 12, 1937

On the morning of the great day I arrived in the Albany at 5.30 am in full dress naval uniform, with my brassard and baton of office. We had a running breakfast in Westminster Hall and after this I went to my position in the Abbey. I had plenty of time to survey my medical stores and found that a packed lunch of chicken sandwiches with a thermos of coffee as well as a half bottle of champagne had been provided for me behind the scene in the Henry the Seventh's Chapel. There were also a couple of bottles of whisky for general use.

The King and Queen arrived in the Abbey at 11am and were then conducted up the Nave in a ‘great processing’ as the procession from the West Door into the Choir was called. This procession was headed by the Abbey Beadle, followed by a large number of clergy of all degrees. After them came the great Officers of State carrying a variety of articles of the regalia, the Crowns, Ampulla, St. Edward’s Staff, the Sceptre and Cross and the Sceptre with the Dove, golden spurs, swords and the Orb, followed by three Bishops carrying the Paten, the Chalice and the Bible. This dignified miscellany was interspersed, in pleasing relevancy, with the Masters of the Robes, Ladies and Women of the Bedchamber, the Kings at Arms – Norroy, Ulster, Lyon, Clemencaux and Garter – and many other Officers with high sounding and time-worn titles.

This solemn splendour was accompanied by the anthem ‘I was glad when they said unto me, we will go into the House of the Lord’ and as the procession moved to the Sanctuary some passed to their seats or places provided for them and others who were taking part in the actual ceremony took up their positions. After this, the service began with the Recognition, when the Archbishop of Canterbury, facing the East, South, West and North in turn, made the Presentation with the words, ‘Sirs, I present unto you King George, your undoubted King; wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to so the same?’ And to this the reply was made with acclamation, ‘God save King George’ and the trumpets sounded.

The ceremony went on for the next hour or two when the King took the oath, followed by the Communion Service, anointing with holy oil and investing and presentation of the items of the regalia, followed by the crowning when everyone cried our ‘God save the King’ and the Princes and Peers put on their coronets and the trumpets were sounded and the drums beaten. It was all tremendously solemn and impressive, and made more so by the anthem ‘Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet’ sung by the choir. Then came the anointing, crowning, and enthroning of the Queen and now the Princesses and Peeresses all put on their coronets. I had a perfect view of the proceedings from the back of the Royal Box but must confess that I became weary after and a time and did slip twice to my retreat in Henry the Seventh’s Chapel, where I found my fellow Gold Staff Officers had made some depredation on the whisky.

When the crownings and enthronings had been completed, the King and Queen retired to St Edward’s Chapel and while they were there, the process was formed in the same order as on entering the Abbey, for the return to the West Door. They all slowly moved away down the Nave, Their Majesties wearing their crowns, bearing sceptres and orbs and borne down with heavy robes of purple velvet.

Many thanks to Mrs. Ann Clementson, niece of Robin Mussen and mother of Christopher Bunting (6715) who provided us with her copy of The Story of A Naval Doctor. 

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