shipped another stripe. He is now Wing Captain and acting Captain.
Yesterday I flew to Chingford in a B.E. 2 C. with Blanch [N. C. Blanch,
Flt. Sub-Lieut., R.N.] as passenger. It was awfully cold. It took 2½
hours going, _via_ Ashford, Redhill, Brooklands and Hendon. Blanch took
the B.E. back, and I took a new Bristol Scout and did the return journey
direct (east of London) in an hour. Saw the Pemberton-Billing
quadruplane at Chingford.
Best love.
Ever your loving son,
HAROLD.
[Illustration:
A B.E. 2C BIPLANE]
[Illustration:
A NIEUPORT BIPLANE
(_Commonly known as a "1½ plane" owing to the small lower plane_)]
[Illustration:
A BLÉRIOT MONOPLANE]
XLIX.
_To his Father._
Hotel Burlington, Dover.
11th February, 1916.
DEAR DAD,
Had hopes of seeing you for a few minutes to-day. Had the weather been
fine, Husky and I were motoring to Town in the morning with Capt. Lambe
in a Rolls, and both bringing machines back in the afternoon from
Chingford. As it is, of course, the weather is impossible.
I was away first, in under three minutes, the other day when the Germans
were reported over Ramsgate. I was over the North Foreland in quarter of
an hour at 6,000 feet. Was just turning, when I sighted a seaplane miles
below me, so cut off my petrol, and did a spiral vol plané towards it.
At 4,000 feet I ran into mist and lost him temporarily, but picked him
up again and chased him up the mouth of the Thames almost as far as
Herne Bay. Then he turned and shot under me, and I'm blessed if it
wasn't a Schneider Cup, one of our own machines from Westgate! I did not
hear that bombs had been dropped until I saw it in the papers the
following morning. I thought the scare was about our own seaplane.
Visited the Blimps [small airships] this afternoon at Capel. They are
really most interesting.
13th February, 1916.
Many thanks for note received this morning. As far as I can see, there
is no chance of my going out to the other side yet awhile. Husky goes on
the 25th and Andreae a little later. Two good crashes to-day. First
Blanch on a new Avro--engine failure and landed down wind in a ploughed
field. The second was better still. A man hit the one and only tree
within miles, in getting off on a B.E. He left half a lower plane in the
tree and carried a branch or so on with him for some little distance
before crashing to earth.
I hear Graham is no better. He fractured the base of his skull and also
has internal injuries.
Love to all.
Ever your loving son,
HAROLD.
L.
_To his Mother._
Hotel Burlington, Dover.
20th February, 1916.
DEAREST MUM,
Another raid on Deal to-day, five bombs dropped and one man killed. I
took over the War flight this morning, and had a patrol in the air at
the time. I myself and others were off within a few minutes of receiving
the signal, but no one even saw the machine.
Over sixty ratings arrived this morning without warning, and I had to
make all arrangements for them to be fed, housed and washed. All of them
were Derby recruits and had been in the Service 24 hours, mostly graded
as A.M. 2nd class. None had seen an aeroplane before. They were
butchers, grocers, cotton spinners, weavers, etc.
The C.O. goes away to-morrow for 2 weeks. Sippe, Andreae, Husky, Viney
[T. E. Viney, D.S.O., Flt. Lieut., R.N.], etc. go to Paris in a day or
so, and I am left to run the Station, School and War flight, keeping up
a continuous patrol with four machines.
Love to all.
Your loving son,
HAROLD.
LI.
_To his Father._
Hotel Burlington, Dover.
24th February, 1916.
DEAR DAD,
Many thanks for letter received yesterday.
Risk is still in town. I would far sooner get out East somewhere than
any home station or Dunkirk. I understand shortly there will be great
alterations in the R.N.A.S. Rumour has it again that we are to give up
land machines entirely and stick to seaplanes.
Drove over to Eastchurch yesterday on business, roads in places 18" deep
in snow. Coming back I had a priceless skid and finished up in a ditch.
No one hurt or even shaken. Returned here by train, and car came on
to-day. It was very little damaged, steering arm bent, and one wheel
slightly out of truth. It was really rather comic.
Did you hear how Usborne and Ireland[16] were killed? If not, will tell
you later. T---- was burnt to death.
Love to all.
Ever your loving son,
HAROLD.
[13] Since this book was first published Lieut. Graham has died.
[14] Sir Henry Bax-Ironside, late Minister in Bulgaria.
[15] Since this book was first published Flt. Comdr. Beard has been
killed.
[16] Wing-Commander Neville F. Usborne, R.N., and Squadron Commander de
C. W. P. Ireland, R.N., were killed 23rd Feb., 1916.
THE END
PRINTED IN ENGLAND BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,
LONDON AND BECCLES.
[Illustration:
"CW"]
End of Project Gutenberg's In the Royal Naval Air Service, by Harold Rosher