1914 (British Ace) (22 page)

At fifty yards I opened fire and gave him a twenty shot burst.  His tail disappeared and the
bus became unstable.  I had no time to see the effects of my shooting for the second aeroplane was in my sights.  I was slow to fire and I hit his engine.  Nothing appeared to happen.  I only had ten shots left and I fired them all at the leading German Albatros. I was lucky and I saw pieces of wood fly from the propeller.

I quickly changed the magazine as the captain climbed once more.  He banked and I saw that the three Germans were heading home. I wondered if we would do the same and then I heard in my ears. “I think we can bag one of these.  Let’s get after the one with the damaged tail.”

The one I had struck first was finding it hard to fly in a straight line. The observer had a rear facing machine gun and he began to fire at us.  I realised how exposed I was.  Perhaps that gave me an incentive to be accurate.  I gave a short burst at the tail and then fired along the fuselage towards the gunner.  I saw the gunner slump in his cockpit.  They were at our mercy. I watched as the pilot turned and saw his imminent death. He began to descend. I shredded his tail but his wild movements stopped me from finishing him off and I saw him land close to the German trenches. Land is probably a generous term for his wheels broke and he shattered his propeller.  We headed home.  It was not a kill but we had forced one down and it would not fly soon; if at all.

Because of our foray east we were the last to land and we had a welcome party.  The major pumped his lordship’s hand.  “Well done my dear fellow. Did you get any of them?”

“We forced one down.  Harsker here got the gunner and he pranged his kite.”

“Well done both of you.  That is our first victory.  We’ll celebrate tonight!”

Gordy was effusive in his praise.  “You have an eye for this young, William.  That was fine shooting.”

For the first time I felt a success.  No one had died and I had not risked anyone’s life.  This was better than charging machine guns with horses.

Major Brack’s sergeant came over to the three of us in the mess.  He slipped us a bottle of rum, “With the compliments of the major.  Well done you lads.”

Ted said morosely, “It was his kill!”

I laughed, “Listen we are the three musketeers.  All for one and one for all.” I turned to the major’s sergeant, “Care to join us?”

“A generous offer, but no thanks.  We are up again tomorrow. You lads get to stand down.”

That was even better news. I poured us all a generous slug. “This could be my best night in France, ever!”

We did not finish the bottle but we were all more than a little tipsy as we made our way back to our tents. The next day we were woken by the sound of the major’s patrol taking off and we had the luxury of a leisurely breakfast and then repairs on our aeroplanes.

Our elation only lasted until the three planes returned.  They had all been damaged but the one which led them in was pouring smoke
from its engine.  We dropped what we were doing and raced to the runway.  The damaged aeroplane landed and then did a cartwheel. We saw the gunner cartwheel from this cockpit and land with a sickening and lethal sounding crack. The aircraft was upside down. The pilot was restrained only by his belt and already flames were flickering and licking around the engine.  I ran to the stricken aeroplane and leapt towards Captain Dixon.  I had no knife and I tore at his seat belt.  It must have been damaged in the crash for, to my relief it ripped. I grabbed him and we fell out of the cockpit.  I felt Gordy and Ted grab us and we ran away.  Suddenly there was a mighty crump and we were thrown to the ground as it exploded.

I was dazed but alive. I turned
over the pilot, Captain Dixon.  His hands were burned but his eyes opened. “Good show Flight Sergeant.  I thought I was going west for a moment.”

Major Brack ran up and looked at the captain. “That was damned close
, George.”

“It certainly was.”

He turned to me.  “Thank you Flight Sergeant, that was brave, not to say foolhardy.  I’m damned glad that James brought you along as his observer.”

I nodded and just stared at the inferno that had been a serviceable aeroplane.  The only parts which remained were the engine block, the wheel hubs and the Lewis gun. Captain Dixon wandered over the body of his observer.  It was obvious he was dead.  He was our first casualty. As I looked Gordy put his arm on my shoulder.  “It was quick, at least. If you hadn’t got the pilot out imagine him being burned to death.” He looked at me in all seriousness.  “If I am ever in that situation Bill, shoot me.  I don’t want to burn to death.”

It was a horrible thought but I knew he was right I nodded slowly and Ted tutted, “And you call me the miserable bugger!”

There was nothing more we could do and we returned to our own aeroplanes. Even though we were certain that they had been serviced well we had to check. The fire which was dying behind us was a reminder of how close to death we could come flying in fire traps made of wood and canvas.

After the evening meal I returned to the wreck.  It was still warm but you could approach it. To my amazement the Lewis gun was still largely intact.  The magazine had disappeared but otherwise it looked repairable. I pulled it from the wreck.  It was not too hot to touch and I took it back to my tent. I was not certain what I ought to do.  Then I remembered what a stickler the colonel was for rules and regulations.  I went to the mess tent where the sergeants were playing cards and chatting. I sought out the armourer. He was watching a game of dominoes.

“Percy, can I have a word please?”

“Certainly.  That took bottle today son.  Well done. What can I do for you?  I still haven’t got a spare Lewis.”

I smiled, “No
, but I have.”

“Where the hell did you get one from? You haven’t nicked one have you?”

“No, I took it from the wreck.  I reckon I can repair it.”

That satisfied him.  “Well you are resourceful.  If you can repair it then you can have it.  I had written it off the books anyway.”

“Will it be all right with the colonel?”

“Good question.  I’ll tell you what I’ll officially scrap it and send a copy
of the report to the adjutant.  How’s that?”

“You’ll do for me.”

I returned to my tent where I began to strip the gun into its component parts. I knew that Percy would have spare parts if I needed them.  I just wanted to see if it would still work.  An hour’s work bore fruit.  I just needed a couple of screws and a new magazine and it would work. As I lay down for sleep I went through the problems I might have rigging it up in the aircraft. I always found answers that way and so it proved.  I would attach a pole behind my seat and slight offset so that the captain could still see and I could fire behind him.  I just had to convince him that it was a good idea.

The next day we were all grounded as it was a wet and stormy day. There would have been little point in going up.  That was one benefit of the R.F.C. Unlike the foot sloggers rain did stop play.  The poor sods in the trenches would be up to their necks in mud and still fighting. I approached the captain and outlined my idea. I think that my actions the previous day had pleased him more than anyone. “If you think you can do it then have a go.” He paused, “By the way the major is putting you forward for a medal for what you did yesterday.”

“But I was just doing what anyone would have done.”

He laughed, “You are priceless
. Everyone else was watching but you just dived in there.  Of course it is worthy of a medal.”

I still didn’t see what all the fuss was about. In the Yeomanry we had all put our lives on the line for our comrades. I took my tool kit.  I rigged an old piece of canvas so that I was a little drier as I worked on the mounting. I was the only one working in the middle of the aerodrome.  I found it quite
challenging and yet relaxing at the same time.  I used a wooden pole to fix the gun and allow it to swivel; that saved weight.  I had salvaged the mounting from the wreck and I used that.  By the time I had rigged it up it was almost time for the evening meal.  I was filthy and, bearing in mind the colonel’s views, I headed for the wash tent. When I emerged I found the colonel waiting for me.

I saluted.

“Flight Sergeant Harsker, what you did yesterday was extremely brave and just wanted to say you are a credit to your squadron.”

It sounded awkward but I could see from his face that he was sincere. “Just doing what I had to
, sir.”

He nodded, “I took the trouble of reading your service record.  It seems you have been mentioned in despatches and were recommended for a medal after the Yser.”

There was little I could say to that.  It was still a bitter memory for me.  “I always try to do my duty sir.”

The answer seemed to please him. “Good, then, er carry on, Flight Sergeant.”

In my head I heard an unspoken apology for his initial reaction to me.  It had no effect on me;
I always did my best
.
  If I fell short of someone else’s standards then that was their problem and not mine.

We did not fly much for the next two or three weeks.  The bad weather continued.  When we did go up we managed to avoid contact with any German aeroplanes. While that was in many ways a good thing, we did not have the chance to try out our new gun.  We flew a couple of patrols but we saw nothing.  The captain was pleased that the new gun did not adversely affect the balance of the aeroplane.

Ted was the one who spotted the flaw in my plan. “How do you fire it then?”

We were on the ground and I demonstrated.  I stood with my feet on the seat and held the Lewis gun. “Just like this.”

He shook his head, “There’s nowt to hold you in lad.  If the
aeroplane moves to port or starboard how do you stay on board?”

I jumped down, “I keep my balance and hang on to the gun.”

Even Gordy was not optimistic about that happening.  “He’s right Bill.  You would need great balance.”

I shook my head.  I knew I could balance
.“If I had a horse here I could show you. Have either of you ever ridden?”

“No.”

“I have been riding since I could walk. I can ride a horse using just my knees and I can fire a rifle at the same time. I can jump a six feet high fence even when the horse is turning.  Trust me, I will be able to stay on board.”

I knew I had not convinced them but I
was convinced that, when we ran into the Germans again, I would be able to do so. However, before we could do so we were moved.  The situation around Ypres had dramatically deteriorated and German aeroplanes were ruling the sky.  We were ordered to an area east of St.Omer.  We would be less than thirty miles from Ypres. As we had the newest aircraft we were sent north. We did not have far to go and the vehicles made almost as good time as the aeroplanes.

This time we had a field all to ourselves. That was the good news. The bad news was that we would not have all the resources of the larger base we had just left.  There was a windsock and three large tents and that was it. As we flew in Captain Burscough said, “Keep your eye out for any sort of building close by.  I don’t fancy freezing in a tent over winter.”

I spied a large barn just half a mile from the airfield. I could not tell if it was occupied or not. What I did notice, however, was some familiar roads.  We were not far from the Yser where so many of my regiment had fallen. That wound would not heal.

The weather, as well as the situation, had deteriorated and it was very cold when we were erecting our tents.  We managed to get ours up quickly and the three of us were sent by Captain Burscough to scout out the barn.  We could see it from the large tents and we crossed the airfield to reach it. There were a pair of huge wooden doors but, when we examined them, we saw that they had not been opened for some time.  The metal hinges were rusted. Before we attempted to break in we looked for a farmhouse but we could not see one.

When we opened the door the smell which reached us was horrible. There had been two cows in the building and they had died.  The half ravaged carcasses lay in their stalls.

“I wonder what
happened here?”

“I’ve no idea but this will need cleaning out before we can use it.”

Ted turned and left.  Over his shoulder he said, “And I think there are some privates back at the airfield who are perfect for that job.”

For once I agreed with my morose companion. The major happily ordered the mechanics to make the barn habitable for us and we checked our aeroplanes again.  We would be having our first patrol over Ypres the next morning. 
Our first foray in this new sector would be the dawn patrol and this time we would be expecting stiffer opposition.

The captain briefed the pilots and observers of his flight.  Our task was to go in after the balloons which were directing their fire on the British trenches. The rest of the squadron would be waiting above us in case a German Jasta tried to interfere.
As we went back to our tents, Ted, the permanent pessimist, moaned, “Why us?”

“I think we can blame you, because you have the Avro and our young hero here has fitted a rear firing Lewis gun.  We are the flight which has the best chance to fight off enemy planes.”