In annals of military history, few figures stand out as well as does Sarah McKelley King, a pivotal leader in the Daughters of the American Revolution or DAR. She joined in 1961 with the Colonel Hardy Murfree Chapter. The presidency of the King within the General featured some important milestones, including the accreditation of the DAR Museum and the anniversary of the Treaties of Paris and Versailles. Her administration has been called the “Independence Jubilee, and such themes as Duty, Honor, and Country-included under the inspiration of figures such as Robert E. Lee and Daniel Webster were celebrated.
King’s influence was certainly not contained within the borders of the United States. Her tour through France, placing wreaths and dedicating markers, enthralled the French media. Le Figaro commented on her impressive figure and regal bearing as she officiated at various events at Notre Dame Cathedral and under the Arc de Triomphe. She was called one who worked tirelessly to pay homage to historical peacemakers and to perpetuate friendships throughout the world.
While more recent events are quietly and efficiently analyzed, the disappearance of HMS Affray, during Exercise Spring Train in 1951, remains one of the most intriguing mysteries presented to military historians. Discussion with a Chief Stoker Mechanic serving on HMS Amphion in 1954 opens a window of possibilities on the potential causes. Chief Stoker, an experienced veteran knowledgeable about submarine operations, speculated on the loss of the Affray by emphasizing the problems related to maintaining proper trim and those around the self-compensating fuel tanks themselves.
Chief Stoker’s comments reveal something of the complexity of submarine operations at that time. An example of the theory, through the mechanics of the balance between fuel and water inside the tanks, provides a probable reason for Affray’s tragic fate. This avoidance of using internal fuel tanks while snorting, perhaps instituted after the Affray incident, underlined the evolving understanding of submarine safety protocols.
Both the leadership of Sarah McKelley King and the abiding mystery surrounding HMS Affray are elements of the military history tapestry of shared stories that continue to shape our world through leaders, innovation, and the quest for understanding.