HEROES OF THE ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE
Here we shall see afresh that the British Naval Air Service is rich
in men who possess to a remarkable degree the qualities named in the
foregoing chapters. Flight Sub-Lieutenant Dallas, for example (who in
addition to performing consistently good work in reconnaissances and
fighting patrols since December, 1915), has been brought to notice by
the Vice-Admiral Dover Patrol for the specially gallant manner in which
he has carried out his duties. Amongst other exploits is the following:
On May 21, 1916, he sighted at least twelve hostile machines, which
had been bombing Dunkerque. He attacked one at 7,000 feet, and then
attacked a second machine close to him. After reloading he climbed
to 10,000 feet, and attacked a large hostile two-seater machine off
Westende. The machine took fire and nose-dived seawards. Another enemy
machine then appeared, which he engaged and chased to the shore, but
had to abandon owing to having used all his ammunition. For these
heroic exploits he has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
The same honour has been conferred upon Sub-Lieutenant Oxley, who acted
as observer with Flight-Lieutenant Edward H. Dunning, D.S.C., as pilot,
on escort and reconnaissance patrol for a flight of bombing machines on
the Bulgarian coast, on June 20, 1916. Two enemy machines were engaged
at close range and forced to retire, and as our machine withdrew
Flight-Lieutenant Dunning was hit in the left leg, and the machine
itself was badly damaged. Sub-Lieutenant Oxley, having first improvised
a tourniquet, which he gave to Flight-Lieutenant Dunning, took control
of the machine, whilst the latter put on the tourniquet. The pilot was
obliged to keep his thumb over a hole in the lower part of the petrol
tank in order to keep enough fuel to return to the aerodrome, where he
made an exceedingly good landing.
The Distinguished Service Cross has also been awarded to
Flight-Sub-Lieutenant Donald Ernest Harkness, R.N.A.S., and
Flight-Sub-Lieutenant Ralph Harold Collett, R.N.A.S., in recognition
of their services on the morning of August 9, 1916, when they
dropped bombs on the airship sheds at Evere and Berchem St. Agathe.
Flight-Sub-Lieutenant Collett dropped all his bombs on the shed
at Evere from a height of between 300 and 500 feet, under very
heavy rifle, machine-gun, and shrapnel fire from all directions.
Flight-Sub-Lieutenant Harkness could not descend so low owing to the
very heavy anti-aircraft fire which had by this time been opened on
the machines, but he dropped some of his bombs on the shed, and then
proceeded to Berchem St. Agathe, which he also bombed.
Honour has also been conferred upon Flight-Commander T. Harry England,
R.N.A.S., in recognition of his services on August 26, 1916, when,
accompanied by a military officer as observer, he flew a seaplane
forty-three miles inland from the Syrian coast, crossed a range of
hills 2,000 feet high, with clouds at 1,500 feet, and after dropping
bombs on the station of Homs, returned safely to his ship. The machine
was exposed to rifle fire at extremely low altitudes for long periods,
and Flight-Commander England showed remarkable pluck, determination,
and skill in carrying out the flight under very adverse conditions.
Another officer to be decorated is Flight-Sub-Lieutenant Ronald
Grahame, R.N.A.S., for exceptional gallantry in attacking and beating
off four enemy seaplanes whilst on escort duty off the Belgian coast,
September 22, 1916.
Mention must also be made of Flight-Sub-Lieutenant Stanley James
Goble, R.N.A.S., who has been decorated in recognition of his services
on September 24, 1916, when he attacked two hostile machines in the
vicinity of Ghistelles at close range, and brought one of them down on
fire in a spiral nose-dive.
With each passing day the list of R.N.A.S. heroes grows, calling forth
just pride. Further reference to individual cases will be given later
on in these pages. It may be stated here, however, that the following
officers, together with many others in the Royal Naval Air Service,
have been decorated by the King:—
Squadron-Commander Reginald Bone, Flight-Commander Redford Mulock,
Squadron-Commander Francis Haskins, Flight-Commander Douglas Evill,
Flight-Commander Vincent Nicholl, Flight-Lieutenant John Petre,
Flight-Lieutenant Roderic Dallas, Flight-Lieutenant Ralph Collett.
The first two officers named have been invested by the King with
the Insignia of Companions of the Distinguished Service Order. The
last-named officers have been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.