About the middle of June last year Second-Lieutenant Stewart Gordon
Ridley, of the R.F.C., went out alone in his machine as escort to
another pilot, who had with him a pilot named J. A. Garside. "Engine
trouble" developed when Lieutenant Ridley had been flying for an hour
and a half, and, as they could not put the matter right immediately on
alighting, they decided to camp where they were for the night. Next
morning, as Ridley's engine still proved obdurate, the second pilot
decided to fly back alone to the base, and return on the following day
to the assistance of the two men. This programme was duly carried out,
but when he got back the pilot found that Ridley and Garside, with the
machine, had disappeared.
A search party was immediately organized to scour the desert, and
on the Sunday tracks were discovered. It was not until the Tuesday,
however, that the missing 'plane was discovered. Beside it lay the
dead bodies of Lieutenant Ridley and Garside. A diary was found on
the mechanic, and the brief entries therein tell the tragic story of
those last hours better than pages of description. The diary reads as
follows:--
Friday.--Mr. Gardiner left for Meheriq, and said he would come and
pick one of us up. After he went we tried to get the machine going,
and succeeded in flying for about twenty-five minutes. Engine then
gave out. We tinkered engine up again, succeeded in flying about
five miles next day (Saturday), but engine ran short of petrol.
Sunday.--After trying to get engine started, but could not
manage it owing to weakness--water running short, only half
a bottle--Mr. Ridley suggested walking up to the hills. Six
P.M. (Sunday): Found it was farther than we thought; got
there eventually; very done up. No luck. Walked back; hardly any
water--about a spoonful. Mr. Ridley shot himself at ten-thirty on
Sunday whilst my back was turned. No water all day; don't know how
to go on; got one Verey light; dozed all day, feeling very weak;
wish someone would come; cannot last much longer.
Monday.--Thought of water in compass, got half bottle; seems to be
some kind of spirit. Can last another day. Fired Lewis gun, about
four rounds; shall fire my Verey light to-night; last hope without
machine comes. Could last days if I had water.
The captain of the Imperial Camel Corps, with which the aviators were
co-operating, formed the opinion that Lieutenant Ridley shot himself in
the hope of saving the mechanic, the water they had being insufficient
to last the two of them till help arrived. The Commanding Officer of
the R. F. C. states: "There is no doubt in my mind that he performed
this act of self-sacrifice in the hope of saving the other man."
The history of the R. F. C. is a short one, but it is already full of
glorious deeds.