Part 6

I looped on a B.E. 2 C. in great form the other day. If I had not been very securely strapped in, I should have fallen clean out. As it was, the cushion in the passenger's seat fell out and vanished. One seems to be upside down for a frightfully long time. I did the trick out in the country at between three and four thousand feet. The first time I had barely enough speed, so had a second shot and got up to over 100 knots. I really thought the wings would fall off! We had two topping crashes yesterday, but neither of the pilots hurt.

Tons of love and a prosperous New Year.

Ever your loving son, HAROLD.

XLIV.

_To his Grandmother._

Hotel Burlington, Dover. 27th September, 1915.

DEAR GRANNY,

Am so sorry to hear you have been having such a rotten time, but trust you are by now well on the road to recovery.

I have been having an awfully busy time lately. The King came down here to inspect us on Thursday, and shook hands with all the officers in the afternoon.

Am by degrees helping to get together another squadron to go out to Dunkirk. We are due across there half way through next month. I am not particularly anxious to go out again just yet, unless we can really get a move on.

I hope before I go to get a little leave. I am due for two weeks, so may see you in the near future.

Heaps of love.

Your loving grandson, HAROLD.

XLV.

_To his Father._

Hotel Burlington, Dover. 3rd January, 1916.

DEAR DAD,

I have got wind of something rather priceless ... for when the war is over, I will tell you a little about this scheme, only remember it's strictly private and confidential, so you must not mention it to any one.

In a nutshell it's this, a flight from ---- to ----. It sounds rather impossible at first, but I think quite a number of people would have a shot if they could get some one to pay expenses. This is where I get a look in. The experience anyhow would be wonderful. One of the subs here has just put me up to it, and says he has everything arranged. That sounds rather rapid, but he has written for an appointment, so I shall be able to let you know later how things go. In the meanwhile lie doggo and do come down this week-end, if possible, so that we can talk things over.

Very best love.

Ever your loving son, HAROLD.

XLVI.

_To his Mother._

Hotel Burlington, Dover. 4th February, 1916.

DEAREST MUM,

Just a short line to let you know I am crossing to Dunkirk to-morrow, weather permitting. I am flying a R.A.F. B.E. across and returning the same day, in a Nieuport if available, otherwise in a destroyer. Am quite looking forward to the trip. Have already crossed the Channel three times by air and about twelve by water.

Beaucoup de love.

Your loving son, HAROLD.

XLVII.

_To his Father._

Hotel Burlington, Dover. 5th February, 1916.

DEAR DAD,

Had a most interesting day yesterday. Started off across Channel for Dunkirk soon after 8.0 a.m. in a R.A.F. B.E.--engine running badly at first, but picked up. A most priceless morning with a slight following wind--5,000 feet at Calais, and made Dunkirk in about ¾ hour from here. All the lads in great form, but Petre [J. J. Petre, D.S.C., Flt. Comdr., R.N.] and Peberdy [W. H. Peberdy, F. Sub-Lieut., R.N.] in Paris, and Mulock [R. H. Mulock, D.S.O., Flt. Comdr., R.N.] in hospital with a chill. Baillie going strong, also Beard [G. H. Beard, D.S.C.,[15] Flt. Comdr., R.N.], Haskins [F. K. Haskins, D.S.C., Squadron Comdr., R.N.], Graham, Peal [Lieut. E. R. Peal, D.S.C., R.N.V.R.], etc., etc. Breakfast and then a good look round. The Baby Nieuports are priceless. I flew one and went up the coast to La Panne and Furnes. When I got back I drove out to Caudekirk to the new aerodrome, and then back for lunch.

At 2.0 p.m. I started home in a Nieuport and made Folkestone in just over the hour--rather a strong head wind. At Folkestone I spent 1½ hours trying to restart my engine, but with no success, so telephoned for a car--tea at the Grand and back here in time for dinner. Have been to Folkestone this afternoon with Ince and his brother and Husky.

Heaps of love.

Ever your loving son, HAROLD.

P.S.--Flew back at 2,000 feet.

XLVIII.

_To his Mother._

Hotel Burlington, Dover. 9th February, 1916.

DEAREST MUM,

Many thanks for letter. Am still going strong. Flew four different types of machines to-day, two of them new ones, one a Shorthorn Maurice, and the other a Blériot. The Blériot is the first monoplane I have flown other than a parasol.

You have heard me mention Graham (with Ince he brought down the German seaplane). Well, he has just had an awful bad crash at Dunkirk. Penley [C. F. B. Penley, Flt. Sub-Lieut., R.N.] also has crashed badly twice out there, and is now back on sick leave. Ford [E. L. Ford, Flt. Sub-Lieut., R.N.] too is home on sick leave with his head cut open, as the result of a bad crash, and his passenger is not expected to live. If one goes on flying long enough, one is bound to get huffed [killed] in the end.

By the way, Commander Lambe [Capt. C. L. Lambe, Wing Captain, R.N.] has 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.

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.

End of Project Gutenberg's In the Royal Naval Air Service, by Harold Rosher