CHAPTER XXI

THE PASSING OF A BRAVE AVIATOR 317

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Harry George Hawker, A.F.C. _Frontispiece_

_Facing page_

Mrs. George Hawker, Harry’s Mother.—Harry as a Cadet at the age of 12.—Mr. George Hawker, Harry’s Father 30

The Sopwith Tabloid, the Prototype of the Fighting Scouts, designed by Harry, in its modified form for Looping-the-Loop, after his return from Australia 56

The Sopwith Dolphin, put through its Initial Tests by Harry.—The Sopwith Camel, a world-famous Fighting Biplane. Hundreds of Machines of this type were tested by Harry during the War 94

The Sopwith Rolls-Royce-engined Biplane, “Atlantic,” in which Harry and Grieve attempted the Atlantic Crossing. The top of the Fuselage was made in the form of an Inverted Boat, which they detached in Mid-Atlantic. The Undercarriage was dropped soon after the Start, in order to reduce Air Resistance 108

Testing the Lifeboat. On the back of the original Photograph Harry wrote: “Note the broken ice between the boat and shore.”—This picture shows some of the difficulties in getting the Aeroplane to the Starting-Ground in Newfoundland. The Driver apparently took things lying down 122

The Detachable Boat carried on the Atlantic Flight.—The Sopwith Trans-Atlantic Biplane in the Hangar near St. John’s, Newfoundland 142

The Derelict Aeroplane, in which Harry and Grieve had attempted the Crossing, was recovered from the Atlantic by the U.S. Steamer _Lake Charlotteville_.—Harry at the Wheel of the Racing A.C., the Body of which was designed by him and proved a remarkable advance in efficiency 156

Our House at Hook, soon after News of Harry’s Rescue from the Atlantic.—Home Again! Harry and Grieve at Grantham Station, after the Atlantic Flight. Mr. Sopwith is standing in the doorway 174

The Scene outside King’s Cross Station, London, when Harry returned from the Atlantic. The Australian Soldiers decided that Harry must have something more triumphant than a Civic Reception 198

Harry and Grieve leaving Buckingham Palace after having been decorated by the King. Although a Civilian, Harry received the first Air Force Cross—a Service Decoration 244

A Souvenir of the first Transatlantic Air Mail 264

Trans-Atlantic Aviators’ Reunion Dinner. The late Sir John Alcock is on the extreme left; Mr. F. P. Raynham on the right (nearest the camera); Sir Arthur Whitten Brown in uniform (opposite the camera); and on his left Lieut.-Comdr. K. Mackenzie-Grieve, A.F.C.—Harry is third from the left of the picture 282

Harry on Board a Yacht during one of the Periods which he devoted to Motor-Boat Racing.—Pamela sets the Pace on the Lawn at Hook 300

The 12-cylinder Racing Sunbeam after Harry’s Smash at Brooklands, when several yards of corrugated iron fencing were torn down.—Mr. T. O. M. Sopwith, C.B.E., and Harry, with the Hawker Two-Stroke Motor-Cycle—a Post-War Enterprise of the Hawker Engineering Company 312

Floral Tributes being taken to Harry’s Grave, at Hook, Surrey, on the 225 h.p. Sunbeam, by my Brother, Captain L. Peaty 318