Record

RefNoKHINCH/7/E/68
AltRefNoHINCH 7/68
TitleScrap Book
DescriptionPress cuttings and photographs of Rear-Admiral the Hon. Victor Montagu, his yacht "Carina", and yacht races in which he took part in Britain and Germany.

The inside front cover is inscribed Mary Montagu. Lady Mary Montagu (1870-1946) was a daughter of Admiral Victor Montagu, and therefore sister to George , 9th Earl of Sandwich. A spirited independent woman she joined her father during the yacht racing seasons of 1894 and 1895, and this scrapbook is her record of the various races and meetings in which her father’s yacht, “Carina” , competed.

The importance of this scrapbook lies not so much in the exhaustive press cuttings, but in the peripheral details and photographs. There is some historical importance in her collection.

Mary Montagu was a noted correspondent with Kaiser Wilhelm II, both before and after the Great War. The Montagu Family have a depository of the letters between the two, as yet unpublished and translated from the German. Rumours persist that she may have been the Emperor’s lover. ( John C. Bohl “Into the Abyss of War and Exile, 1900–1941”, CUP 2013, Chapter 20 “Kings are only human after all.” ).

One or two articles highlight the relationship between Admiral Victor Montagu and Kaiser Wilhelm II, which was close and affable ( K.M. Wilson & A. Goodearl “ Most Obedient and Devoted Servants-…” The Society For Nautical Research, Feb. 1986.)

The articles are largely taken from “The Yachtsman” and the “The Times”, with accompanying notes and comments. There are also two published letters from the Admiral on Yachting matters.

Pasted into the scrapbook are a telegram from Wilhelm II, a copy of a telegram sent by Queen Victoria and a card from Princess henry of Prussia to the Montagu’s accepting a luncheon invitation.

Photographs: The Majority of the photographs are of the “Carina” Yacht, but there are others of extra interest. Namely, a signed photograph of Kaiser Wilhelm II; Admiral Victor Montagu and two crew on deck; the emperor’s Yacht, “Hohenzollern” at Cowes; Kiel Harbour prior to building of the canal.

[Description by Richard Meredith]
Date1894-1895
CreatorNameMontagu family, Earls of Sandwich of Hinchingbrooke
RepositoryHuntingdonshire Archives

Show related Persons records.

Persons
CodePersonNameDates
F/0009Montagu; family; of Hinchingbrooke House; Earls of Sandwich11th Century-Present
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