Diary And Letters Of A World War I Fighter Pilot, The (28 page)

 

DIARY Saturday 17th August

Faber came, took away “Snipe”. Flew all day. Lee washed out and I carried on. Indigestion better. Did nothing much.

 

DIARY Sunday 18th August

No Church in morning. Flew all day. Pretty hot day. Nothing in partic. happened.

 

DIARY Monday 19th August

Early flying. Did 1 hr 40. Washed out at 12.30. Met Dad at Station and lunched at Club. Man had a fit in middle! awful! There got cig. holder. To Cinema in afternoon, Dad left by the 6. I to meet Shone but he didn't drop up. Met Major Hague, a lad and he stood me dinner and a show – B.B's. Don't like him much. Down with Nick and some Yank nurses by 10.55.

 

DIARY Tuesday 20th August

Flew in morning and afternoon. Did two hours. Started at 3.45 and washed out at 6.30. To dance at American Hospital in evening. Very great rag indeed. Big Ball and “bookoo bon” memories!! Met Miss Cavo an' ah! Stopped at 10.30. Great show.

 

DIARY Wednesday 21st August

Pretty hot day. Did a good deal of aviation. Harvey quite good. Very few foul ups most of mine sick. Read in afternoon. Dropped note to Miss Cavo. at American. Then to forced landing with Nick in morning. Nick to dinner at Dettering with Tubbs. Flew back in moonlight at 9.15. Lovely up. Got into searchlights and field lights. Nick and I did night landings. Trés posch!

 

DIARY Thursday 22nd August

Early flying at 6 a.m. did 1 hour 5 mins with Harvey, v.hot day. Went around in shorts and shirt. Did no flying in afternoon. Met Miss Cavo. at the Station at 5.5. Up town. Dinner at Frascatis – iced Anjou! Then to see the “Bing Boys” on Broadway. Trés bien! Down by 10.55. Estelle is a great girl, v.good fun. Spanish to boot!! [?]!!

 

DIARY Friday 23rd August

Flying in morning did 1 3/4 hrs dual. Down to Croydon in Pup in afternoon. Tea with Nickie Rowsell in Y.M.C.A. Quite a different place now. Flew till dark on return.

 

DIARY Saturday 24th August

Inoculated in morning. Flew in afternoon. Sgt Drew forced landed at Cobham. I flew Lee over river and landed in field. To Bexley to see House, no bon at all. Back, played Bridge, lost 2/- to Douglas. Good game but bad hands.

 

DIARY Sunday 25th August

Collected Lee in morning then went to Cobham with him after Drew, v bumpy and no good fields around at all. To concert at America in afternoon, not too bad at all.

Miss Cavo and two others came round here to tea after. Good fun. Did 15 mins flying and then rained. Talked to nurses in ‘accif' till 8. Read in evening.

 

DIARY Monday 26th August

Flew early and did 2 hrs 5 before brekker. Flew after and arranged about new flight. Washout at 12.30. Bridge in afternoon lost 5/- to Mac! Up town with Duggie at 5-6. Met Thews, Drummond, Peacock and Withers at Carlyle Club. Dinner at Savoy, v.good, sat and listened to band after. Great time. Then to dance at hall, v.poor £1's worth. Jenkins is a prisoner, thank God. 65 has done v.well. Slept at Charing Cross Hotel.

 

DIARY Tuesday 27th August

Flew in morning but didn't do much. Low clouds and rain at intervals. Got office fixed up. Two Camels only left!

 

DIARY Wednesday 28th August

Flew all day. Nothing much doing. Leading formation of Camels – wind up ‘orrid'. Recapture of Bapaume, splendid. Eric Coates has been killed – found shot in head 3 months after.

 

DIARY Thursday 29th August

Early flying. Washed out at 12.30. Up town and met Quinn at 3.20, 40 mins late – rotter – confound Potter. Tea at Callards, then to Cinema. Saw Quinn off by tube. Down by 6.20. Enormous dance in evening! All America here, Estella Cavo trés bon! Danced almost every dance till 1. The girls left. We danced together till 3 and so to bed. Damn good show. Winchester killed at Eastbourne – rolled his wings off, R.I.P.

 

DIARY Friday 30th August

Flew in morning at 12. Pretty dead after yesterday but feel v v.fit. Instructed in evening. Played auction, won 6 /- off Adams. Billiards after dinner. Bailleul captured by U.S. Topping, Hooray!!!

 

DIARY Saturday 31st August

Flew in morning a bit – nothing much! Rang up Miss Cavo and arranged show. Flew in afternoon till 4.30. Then washed out and took Potter's car to Station with the White Rabbit. Awful lip from Potter. Met Miss Cavo at Station up town with Quinn and Newell. Met Jack at R.P.H. To dinner at Frascatis. To see “Naughty Wife” – jolly good show. Down by 10.55. Raining. Top hole evening. Got on trés bon! On outskirts of Peronne.

 

DIARY Sunday 1st September

Duggie with v.bad throat. Up for flying in morning, v.high wind all day. Flew down to Dettering with King in morning. Had the odd spot with Northwood and Tubbs. Jack for lunch. Flew in afternoon. Morley forced landed but I couldn't get it off owing to wind. New Camel arrived. I did in a King Post taxiing out Camel. Flying washed out at 6. Duggie to hospl: my room shut up cold day – very. Kemmel retaken by us.

 

DIARY Monday 2nd September

Flew a bit in morning, then took up Jack for a flip and looped him twice. He took it very well, liked it. Lunch at Charing Cross, down home by 3.30. Arrived at 5. Girl in for tea, not too bad at all.

Read and played croquet in evening.

 

DIARY Tuesday 3rd September

Up by the 9.45 down here by 11.45. Flew in afternoon and had formation. Down to Riley's crash at Ditchling, handed on Camel and saw him in hospital. Then flew off to Shoreham to get filled up but got dark and so I spent night at Shoreham. Passed away shortly! V.good fellows there.

 

DIARY Wednesday 4th September

Left Shoreham at 9.30. Flew 110 Le Rhone in morning and did a little formation. Washed out at 12. Up town by 2.30 sat in R.P.H. till 5. Saw Varley discharged from Army with paralysed arm. Tea at Callards and then down to Putney. Music song after dinner, slept in Jacks room.

 

DIARY Thursday 5th September

Raining early and cloudy all day. Played piano at Putney in morning. Down by 11.45. Flew in afternoon, led formation to Maidstone and back. Lots of Camels now. Thunderstorm washed out at 6.30 for night. Lost 6/- to Adams at Auction.

Cold in evening and rough throat.

 

DIARY Friday 6th September

Flying in morning. Rain and low clouds in afternoon, was going to fly home but too dud. Wired Joy. Up town by 6.44. Joy didn't drop up. Caught 8.30 down home. Slept at home. Cold coming.

 

DIARY Saturday 7th September

Brekker in bed. Left by 9.49. Down here for lunch. Pretty dud in afternoon. Flew a bit. Played auction and went down 5/6 – to Adams! Rotter!

 

DIARY Sunday 8th September

Dud for early flying, to Kirk in morning. Bad cold. Flew once - formation.

Down home by 3-5 train, sat in house all day, cold awful! Trebene, hot bath, aspirin, and hot Whiskey. That fixed it all right!

 

DIARY Monday 9th September

Brekker in bed. Cold better, caught 9.49 up. Down by 11.45. Howling wind. Only flew once. To American hospl, for concert but got there too late. Small dance instead, great fun. Learnt a lot from Miss Lewbell. Raining hard.

 

DIARY Tuesday 10th September

High wind. No early flying. Up once in [?] to Biggin Hill, nearly “crashed” landing. Up town by the 1.44 with Nick. Went to Cox's £49.16.9. To exhibition of Huns. Tea at Troc. Dinner at Putney. Jack's last night at home. Katie and Charley there and Orrs. Pretty cheery evening, talked to John till 1.30.

 

DIARY Wednesday 11th September

Saw Jack off at Waterloo. God speed him and send him all the luck in the world. My v best pal and the best lad in the world.

Heres to our next meeting. Uncle and Auntie awfully brave. Down by 11.47. Did 1½ hrs flying formation. Down to Detling and climb to 11,000. Pretty high wind. Tried loop roles with poor success! Read in evening.

 

DIARY Thursday 12th September

Did 2½ hrs flying in morning. Did formation to Chingford and Shod. Then fought Suttons farmer. Then he formated with me and scared me stiff! Came home did v.good loop rolls.

Met Joy at R.P.H. in afternoon. Tea at Troc: and then to Cinema – saw Raffles Dance at Sqn: in evening. Good fun. Learnt a lot of dancing. American attack at St Michael – dash poor.

 

DIARY Friday 13th September

Brekker in bed! Went on leave in morning, met Gin and Mum. Lunch at Troc: £4.4/-! Then to see “Soldier Boy” – jolly good show. Down by 6 train. Dad with a frantic cold! My legacy. Little Eaton is a prisoner. Thank God hooray! Americans doing splendidly.

 

DIARY Saturday 14th September

Raining hard nearly all day. Down town with Mum in morning and then sat and read and smoked in front of fire. Dad in bed nearly all day. Up in evening. Played piano in evening.

 

DIARY Sunday 15th September

Fine day. To Kirk in morning. Stayed to HC. Vicar v.poor. Saw Milford after. Dad up after brekker, better. Bowls with Dad after tea. Phoned for extension of leave and got it granted till Tuesday. Bon. Stayed at home with Dad in evening, not to Kirk with Dad and Mum. Long talk with Mum in afternoon, bless her.

 

DIARY Monday 16th September

Fine warm day. Down town with Gin in morning. Then came home and took house to bits. Took up carpets and rods and rolled carpets and packed pictures. Crashed in W.C. and nearly broke my back. Down town after tea and ordered cab. Sang and played after dinner.

 

DIARY Tuesday 17th September

Up by 9.47. Arrived for lunch. New Major here, seems rather a hot air Wallah! V high wind. Did a little flying and fired at Chingford. Rain at intervals.

Great dance in evening. On till 2.30. Danced a lot and enjoyed it awfully much. I am mad on dancing. Bed at 3.30. May it be dud tomorrow.

 

DIARY Wednesday 18th September

Alas no! A cloudless day. Up at 6.15, awful!! Feel v tired. Flew a bit and led formation. Flew after brekker. Led formation to Chingford. Engine cut out, piston broken. Landed at aerodrome at Chingford. Came back in a 1½. Flew in afternoon but engine dud.

To ‘America' with Houseley after a dinner at the Cont. Good time. Bed 11 v.tired.

 

DIARY Thursday 19th September

UP at 9.40. Missed brekker. Had bath, v cold day. Flew to Orsett [?]. Gowans crashed. Only one Camel left!! Hardly flew at all, v high wind and rain at intervals. Collected Gowans at 7. Read after dinner. Feel at peace with the world!

 

DIARY Friday 20th September

Flew in morning. V high wind. Washed out in afternoon.

To town with Houseley after tea. To see a ‘girl' of his but she was out. Dinner at Frascatis. “[?]” at Bing Boys. Down by 10.55. Pretty cold.

 

DIARY Saturday 21st September

Up late. Down to drome at 12. Flew a bit. High wind. Flew bit in afternoon. Painted Camel red and white, trés bon effort!

Bed at 11 slept rottenly. Down to Detling after lunch good show!

 

DIARY Sunday 22nd September

On at 9. Flew to Chingford with Gowan where he landed and crashed after lunch. Formation in morning on new Camel.

Home by 4.30 from here. Arr: 7.49. House upside down. Read and talked and smoked. Last visit to Homeland. Bed, slept rippingly.

 

DIARY Monday 23rd September

Up by 9.49. Flew in afternoon. Formations etc. Flew over to Dunton. Got Sgt Henderson off. Landed in ploughed field and couldn't get off. Rushed about in rain and finally
got
flown back from Orsett.

To binge at Aussie in evening. Quite good fun on the whole. Danced a bit v.cold.

 

DIARY Tuesday 24th September

Did 3½ hrs flying. Up early. Everything went wrong in afternoon. Very bad up and wild generally.

Dinner at Bull with Houseley. Tried to find P. Baker but failed. Loafed about Dartford after dinner trying to find car. Bed 11. Dashed cold.

 

DIARY Wednesday 25th September

Did 2½ hrs flying, misty day. Flew to Hainault farm after tea, v.bumpy. Talked philosophy to Houseley after dinner and then bed. Cold.

 

DIARY Thursday 26th September

Flying hard in morning. Down to Detling for lunch with Houseley. High wind. Back in afternoon. Houseley feeling rotten and I with a cold. Fire in room.

Talked and went to bed early, v cold day. To Aussie Hpl after tea. Saw Robbie.

 

DIARY Friday 27th September

High wind. Flying at 11. Formation or [?]. Flying in afternoon. Washed out at 6pm. To see “Bat” at Orsett.

Read in evening in front of fire. Duggie back from leave.

 

DIARY Saturday 28th September

Early flying at 7.30. V high wind. Didn't do much. Flew off 1574 for Sgt Henderson from field across Creek. V.little room. Got flying start and got off in 15th. Up to town after lunch. Down to Putney. Walk (route walk) with Uncle, Gin and Mum before tea. Up town with Gin and Vi. Dinner at Frascatis – not a great success. To see “Roxana” jolly fine show. Back by tube, awfully full. Jolly cold and tired. Saw Baker in morning. Poor old Forsyth killed.

 

DIARY Sunday 29th September

Down by 11 train. Raining. Sgt Henderson spun 1574 into Ground this morning. Choked – same as yesterday – tried to turn. Killed at once.