Dartmouth offered Philip an escape from family upheaval after an unsettled childhood. A brief repatriation to Greece interrupted his cadet term as war threatened, but King George II requested his return to Britain to complete training. The official claim that Philip was the best cadet remains doubtful, while the firmer evidence shows that he won a cadet prize. Graduating as the wartime fleet expanded gave his cohort unusually fast access to new ships, junior responsibility, and small-ship commands.
Chapter · 27:36-31:52
Dartmouth gave Philip structure and a wartime opening
Philip's Dartmouth experience is placed against his unsettled early life and the rapid demand for junior officers in 1940.