Diary And Letters Of A World War I Fighter Pilot, The (17 page)

Thanks so much for your ever welcome letter. Another cold day. Morning mist & no early show. We are down for a show this afternoon & as it has practically cleared up I think there will be one.

We love going to do another whole Squadron show – commonly known as “tea parties” but I don't think there will be one of those as we haven't got a full complement. I went up on the Patrol from 3 – 4 yesterday afternoon after all as there was a rumour that a lot of Hun two-seaters working but we only saw one & he hove off & there were no Scouts & so we didn't have a scrap after all.

We ought to have a pretty merry time here on Xmas Day – I hope Heaven sends dud weather!

We have a pond near the Mess which is frozen hard & we amuse ourselves by sliding & giving the puppies slides! By the way with reference to our mighty scrap on Tuesday General Webb-Bowen the Brigade Commander sent the Squadron a wire “Your fighting today was splendid, congratulate all pilots”. Pretty good, what!

The fellows in “C” Flight at present are Capt. Gilmour, Balfour [Lieutenant B. Balfour], myself, Eaton [Lieutenant E.C. Eaton], Darlington & Boyd [Lieutenant J. Boyd, Scottish Rifles].

“A” Flight: Capt. Higgins, Bill [2nd Lieutenant G. Bremridge], Wigg, Matthews, Capt. Sydall [Captain C.B. Sydall, Canadians], Peacock.

“B” Flight: Capt Withington, Cocks, Hall [Lieutenant W.H. Hall, G.L.], Baker, Symons [Lieutenant, later Captain H.L. Symons, Can. Eng.], Shanks [Lieutenant D. Shanks].

Well no more now – as the hour for Patrol draws nigh!

DIARY Sunday 23rd December

Dud weather in morning, no patrols. Up on Squadron O.P. in afternoon – very quiet. Balfour leading my 3, no ‘tea party'. One two seater seen and 5 Albatri – no scrap. Gorringe [Lieutenant F.C. Gorringe] shot down Hun in flames at Hollebeke, shot trenches at Armentières from 50 feet.

[Note: This aircraft had observed the 11/Warwicks concentrating on the Reserve Lines before relieving the Front Line but fortunately Gorringe got him before he could lay on the batteries. The Warwicks were much relieved.]

Church in evening. Saw Madame.

 

65 Squadron.

“Marley was dead to begin with – dead as a door nail” – & so on!

I wonder if you are reading that this year – I hope so – carry on the good work! I couldn't get a copy out here I wish you would send one.

Well the gods have decreed a dud day with low clouds & fog & no flying – loud applause! I hope it stays like this tomorrow!

Yesterday from 3 – 4 I was on Off. Patrol with two others we saw 5 Hun Scouts above us but they didn't attack us. One rash Hun two-seater ventured up to about 200 yds of the Lines & nearly every formation in the sky dived on it – eventually it was shot down by Gorringe of No 70 – it fell crashing & then burst into a large sheet of red flame – & that's that! These little things teach the Hun not to come near the Lines. At about a quarter to 4 I went off to shoot up the Hun front line trenches. I went very low, lower than I have been before, in fact just above the wire, & fired both guns at the trenches hard, I don't know if I hit anyone – I hope so!

No news of any import so I guess I'll stop. I wish all you dear people the merriest of Christmases.

Bunsoy.

 

DIARY Monday 24th December

Dud all day. Thick clouds and mist. Nothing doing at all.

Down town with Cocks in afternoon. Saw Madame and Marie! Kissed the latter! To dinner at the Club. All 70 Squadron there – Huge show! Stood on table and sang songs – A.M.'s [Air Mechanics] sang carols at 12.30 till 2! Awful noise. Cold and thick at night.

 

65 Squadron.

Thanks awfully for the wrist watch curl [?], it is a wee thing too big & I am getting it altered at the Flight Workshop.

Well I hope you dear people are having a jolly good time at Home today. I guess we are going to have a pretty merry time. Some people are beginning now! This morning we were all horrified to see a beautiful day as we were down for two Squadron Offensive Patrols – we went up in the morning but to our huge joy it came over very dud & so we came back & it has stayed dud ever since. Last night Cocks & I went down to dinner at the club & there we found all 70 Squadron having a dinner, we joined them & had no end of a time! Most people finished up standing on the table singing songs. Then when I was in bed about 12.30 a lot of fellows started singing carols. Please excuse more as the Mess is in an awful state everyone crashing about singing! Bestest love to you all dear folk at Home & the most ripping time & luck to you all from the very own

 

Bunsoy

DIARY Tuesday 25th December – Christmas

Clear in morning. Up on patrol at 10.30 but came over cloudy and it was washed out.
BON!!!!!!
To lunch with No 1 and in afternoon slid on the pond.

To sleep in afternoon not revving very well. Dinner in evening, not much of a show, nearly everyone, except me very tight. Too tight to be amusing. Snowing. May it be dud tomorrow!

 

65 Squadron

Thanks so much for your letters received today.

Well it was very dud all yesterday with no patrols after the effort in the morning. I had lunch with No 1 & congratulated Capt Rodgers – who got the Gotha – on his M.C. We had a very successful dinner last night but I went to bed fairly early as I was rather tired & most people were a trifle too merry to be amusing! It snowed most of the night & the snow is thick on the ground now. We were due for patrol this morning but this was washed out as there was more snow coming up & we are down for another patrol after lunch but this will probably not be on as there is lots more snow where this came from. There were no air fights on this front yesterday at all & only one Hun was seen.

Well I have such a lot of letters to write today that I must stop now. Bestest love from

 

The Bunsoy

DIARY Wednesday 26th December

No patrols in morning – snowing hard. Patrol from 2-3, saw a few Albatri and dove on one from quite close but he got away.

Dinner at Mess, not revving very well. Perfectly mad show coming off tomorrow. Round the back of Lille! May it be dud!

 

65 Squadron.

No news of any import to give you today. I was up on patrol yesterday from 2 – 3 but had no scrap – although an Albatross appearing, as is the habit of Albatrii, from nowhere in particular, saw us & dived away hell for leather! We followed but – what a hope – Old Man Fritz can out dive you every time!

We have a Cinema show in Camp now; I went last night – quite a good show too.

We were down for an early show this morning but awaking at 6.30 were vastly cheered to see a layer of clouds. However we got up – saying to ourselves “quite impossible for patrol”. However the weather, in its stupid way chose to clear up at this moment & we set forth muttering imprecations at the grisly hour of 7.30 “and a sunny morning, sir!”

It was very thick up & there were no Huns at all (The Hun is a wise man & does not go up needlessly. ) so to quote a song which is all the rage out here

Have wasted several gallons of Government Petrol & got really [?] chilly we got us home for brekker! We were down for another show from 12 – 1, a Squadron Show led by the C.O. & we all knew what that means, however the weather was really dud & it was washed out.

I went up for a joy ride this morning in the snow & cheered up the troops by diving on them! It was a wonderful sight flying over the Lines yesterday. All the world is snow covered & this more or less effaces the signs of war except for the black lines of the trenches where there are any. The view was marvellous! Well no more now.

 

DIARY Thursday 27th December

Up on 7.30 show, dud at first but cleared up. Very thick and no Huns at all seen, cold as ****. No ‘tea party' on thank heavens! Dud properly in afternoon up for a dice fight with Matthews. Very thick – contour chase.

Tea, cinema and dinner in town Bon! Lovely moonlit night, very cold, two shows tomorrow not so bad.

 

65 Squadron.

No letter from you today but I guess I'll get two tomorrow. The chief object of this letter is to wish you Dad many very happy returns of the day. I will send you a pipe if I can get a decent one, to add to your collection.

It's a lovely clear day today with frost & snow on the ground, we were on patrol this morning & had a scrap with a very sporting two-seater, I don't think we got him but I fired a lot of rounds into him & so did the others. This East wind is very bon for us aviators.

I went to tea in the town yesterday & to a Cinema & then had a very good dinner at the club. Higgins came back from leave yesterday & is feeling very fed up about it – I don't wonder! It's not quite so cold here today, pretty chilly but not so bad as it might be!

Bunsoy.

DIARY Friday 28th December

O.P. in morning attacked D.F.W. over the lines but he got away – very bad show. “Reuters” show in afternoon. East gale blowing and we did not go past Houthulst and only one archie up at me!

Jack went home with a dud engine.

 

65 Squadron.

So sorry that I can't catch the post today but I was up on patrol. I was on patrol from 10 – 11 but about half way through my engine went dud & so I came back – anyway there were no Huns about so it didn't matter.

We were going out on a huge show together with No 70 at 2 o'clock but fortunately it was dud & so it was washed out! I know what these huge shows mean!! I find that I have done more “war flying” than anyone in the Squadron up till the present – 67 hours!

Poor old Higgins is going home tomorrow with a weak heart, it is rather bad luck but in some ways he is a lucky man-n-n!

The aerial Hun has been very quiet on this front lately but I doubt he is planning some devilment; he generally is when he is quiet! Yesterday there was a howling East wind – very bon for us. We went up on O.P. but did not see any Huns as I don't think any were up in the afternoon.

Well I am so sorry that you didn't hear from me on Xmas day – I have written every day.

Bestest love from the Bunsoy.

DIARY Saturday 29th December

O.P. in morning escorting R.E.8's. My engine dud – cutting out on both mags: and so came home at half time. Show in afternoon but it was v.dud and we didn't get past Ypres.

Bed early – Fed up. Dinner at Club.

 

65 Squadron.

Thanks for yesterday's letter, today's hasn't arrived yet. I hope you get all mine eventually.

We were to go on patrol this morning from 9 – 10.30 but it is very dud at present with low clouds. We are down for an Off. Pat. at 1 o'clock in conjunction with No 19 S.P.A.D.'s They will fly above us to protect us from above while we mop up the low Huns. I don't think there will be a show as I think it will be dud, it has started thawing. No 19 did jolly well yesterday when on patrol – they met & attacked 9 Albatrii & got 7 of them! One in flames, 2 crashed & 4 out of control! Jolly hot work! I guess that Hun Squadron was feeling pretty sick with life losing 7 out of 9!

Well whatever the pessimists may say about the war at the present moment we have got the aerial Hun absolutely cold! The only times he comes over our lines are when he sends single two-seaters over at 19,000 ft. His scouts hardly ever come over whereas ours loaf about almost over his aerodromes! I am afraid he will pick up in the Spring though & simply deluge us with Albatrii. But somehow I don't think the deluging will be all on his side! However tell it not in Gath! I think the Hun peace terms are the most awful cheek I have ever heard. I am sure that if the men in the Trenches were given the choice of Peace on those terms or carrying on – fed up with the war as they are, they would all vote for carrying on!

We are just manufacturing a “suparb” fireplace in our anteroom. Wot ho!

Well dear folk I guess I'll knock off. I am ever so fit & happy.

Bestest love to you all from The Bunsoy.

 

DIARY Sunday 30th December

Down for R.E.8 escort but dud all day. Stayed in Gilmour's room in afternoon. To kirk in evening. Good service. Bed early – very tired. Thawing! Wally Higgins went home with bad heart.

 

65 Squadron.

Thanks so much for your letter & the little Book. (The Vision Splendid by John Oxenham) That was a ripping little poem wasn't it? I guess it's just about right!

It was dud all day yesterday & there were no patrols, I just read & smoked most of the day. Today we were not down for any patrols but had to stand by to protect R.E.8s going up to take counter battery photographs. Heaven however has ordained that the clouds stay at 1000 ft. Ergo na poo pilots, Ergo no patrols! Bon!!!

Jolly cold here today it is freezing again after yesterday's thaw. I went up for a short flip this morning & did a little contour chasing. There is a small hill near here & a fascinating game can be played on it. You go to one side below the level of the top & climb up the hill just above the ground. When you make the top, you switch off your engine & slide down the other side.

Parlour Games for Aviators No 1

It is an excellent game & it bucks up the troops on the ground no end – who long to see you crash!!

Jenkins has been posted to another Squadron, isn't it rotten? Cocks is going to be “A” Flight O.C. instead of Higgins. This means that I won't get my leave for about 3 weeks, rotten!

Well luncheon calls & I am full hungry & so I guess I will stop. The last day of 1917 – ! Well it has been a jolly eventful year for me _ I hope 1918 sees the end of this beastly affair.

I went to Kirk last night. The Padre is a priceless old chap. He said the Prodigal Son was “no bon” & a “bad egg”!

Well cheerio folks & the best of luck in the New Year.

 

Bestest love from the Bunsoy.

DIARY Monday 31st December

Down for protecting R.E.8's but dud all day. Did Camera gun practice with Eaton in afternoon and got lost.

Moore and Patrick to dinner. Played auction till 12.30 and lost 13 francs what a good start for 1918! Orderly officer – slept in the office.