by Griff Hosker
The second one was from our Sarah.
March 1914
Dear Bill,
I pray that you are still safe. I feel awful for not writing before but I knew that Mum wrote to you and I have terribly busy. I have been promoted to housekeeper now which is a great responsibility. It means I cannot get home as often as I would like.
Kathleen is still seeing the curate. I am still not keen on him and even Mother thinks he is a bit wet but Kath likes him. I think there will be wedding bells there before too long.
Alice got over the influenza. She was lucky. A couple of girls in Liverpool died of it. I was worried that Mum and Dad might get it but they are a couple of tough old birds. They keep going despite everything.
And now the news I didn’t want to give to you. Albert has joined up. Mother was in tears for a week and Dad has aged ten years. The trouble is that he wants to be just like you. He has joined the Royal Engineers. Our Alice told me that they are really keen to get Albert’s type; he can drive and he knows engines. I suppose the only consolation is that he won’t be in the trenches. He will be training for a while and we all pray this war will be over soon.
Sorry to have dropped that on you. I only found out a couple of days ago.
You take care of yourself,
Your loving sister,
Sarah xxx
I folded the letters up and tucked them into my tunic. The news about Albert was to be expected and I felt happy that he would be with the engineers. Their job was not easy and they could come under fire but they would never have to charge across no-man’s land and face machine guns. In some ways the letters hardened my resolve to do the best I could for the people back home.
I said goodnight to Gordy and headed back to my room. The next day would be important and I hoped that Lieutenant Campbell had learned his lesson.
We were breakfasted before first light and, as the first rays of the sun peered over the horizon we started our engines. We had more weight to carry and I made the whole flight keep their engines running until they were thoroughly warmed up. When the light was good enough to see the end of the airfield I led my flight up.
We flew due east. Our route would take us south of Ypres. I was worried about this poisoned gas. I assumed the Germans had sent it west on prevailing winds which meant that south should have been safe. I had no idea of the effect of even dissipated chlorine gas. To the north we could see the smoke and hear the thunder of heavy guns. In the lulls between salvoes we heard the chatter of machine guns too. Ypres had been a lovely town, in the early days of the war; I dreaded to think what it would look like now.
We had crossed the German trenches and were flying over strangely undamaged countryside. The war had yet to touch this green and healthy land. When it did it would become the polluted and sterile mound of mud that marked the trenches. Sharp said, “Time to head north sir.”
“Righto.”
I banked to port. Glancing behind me as I did so, I was delighted to see that both of the other two aeroplanes were in the correct position. Today, of all days, that was vital. I began to descend to three hundred feet. We risked machine gunfire but it meant a more accurate bombing run.
“Time for north, north east sir.”
“Righto.” This time, when I banked to port I lined up in the smoke ahead which marked a train heading to the German front lines some four miles ahead. We passed a station and freight yard. That would be our secondary target. I flew straight down the railway line. The train was a mile ahead.
“Sergeant Sharp, we’ll have a go at that train. Try to throw the bomb so that it lands about fifty feet in front of the engine. Hit the rails. I will take her down another hundred feet to give you a better chance. We’ll swing around and approach from their front.”
“Sir.”
I banked the aeroplane and quickly flew down the length of the train. They had men and guns on the railway carriages and they were firing at us. The problem they had was that we were a small target. We were flying head on and would be like a large bird to them. It would take a lucky shot to hit us from a moving train. As we approached I saw that they had armoured the front of the train. That would not help if we could derail it.
“Now, Sharp!”
He hurled the bomb and I jerked the nose up. I heard the explosion and the screech of brakes behind me as the engine screamed to gain height. As I banked to port I saw Private Hibbert hurl his bomb. He might have miscalculated but he was lucky for the bomb struck the tender. Both engine and tender flew into the air and the carriages slewed across the ground spilling troops and freight. I saw Lieutenant Campbell and I signalled for him to drop a bomb on the devastation below. He nodded and he hit the middle of the train damaging rails and freight.
I headed back north to the station. “Right Sharp. Have a go yourself. It is the rails we need destroying with the first bomb.”
“Sir.”
We zoomed down to a hundred feet. The bomb flew straight and true and the rails were ripped apart. John followed a minute later and another vital section of rails were destroyed. I signalled for Campbell to bomb the wooden station. It exploded spectacularly and was completely destroyed. There was no need for my bomb.
I was looking for a target when Sharp said, “Sir, I can see the flashes from their guns. They are to the north east; close to the barrage balloons.”
Here they were using barrage balloons to stop us from diving on to the gun crews and machine gunning them. However we could fly up and bomb them from a greater height. We might not be as accurate but we would disrupt their fire. I began to climb. We reached four hundred feet. I saw that we were well above the barrage balloons. I started to circle.
“It’s your target Sharp. Drop your last two bombs whenever you are ready.”
“Sir.”
He leaned over the side and I saw him take great care as he dropped one bomb and then, twenty seconds later his second.
“Bombs gone sir.”
I couldn’t resist watching the fall of the bombs. As I looked his first exploded close to a German 42cm and killed the crew. The second must have struck some ammunition for we were sent into the air with the concussion. I signalled for the other two to drop their bombs. “Get on the Lewis, Sharp, we’ll have company soon.”
Perhaps Sharp was just lucky but the other four bombs from the other aeroplanes exploded without hitting ammunition. I did see one gun struck. As I led us west I could see that we had devastated their artillery position. They would not be firing for some time. For some reason I headed north by west. We had not patrolled this sector. Perhaps I was hoping that the German Albatros and Eindecker aircraft would assume we had headed due west.
I heard Sharp’s voice in my ears, “Sir, there is a convoy of German vehicles on the road. “
Whatever they were transporting would be valuable to the Germans. The vehicles alone were expensive to manufacture. “We’ll turn east and then fly along the road. If they have guns they will be facing forwards.”
“Righto!”
I hoped that the other two would realise my plan. As I glanced over my shoulder whilst banking I saw that they were both keep station well. Perhaps the lesson had been learned. I brought us down, on my slow and gentle turn, to one hundred feet. It would make our ground speed higher and that would inhibit anyone trying to fire at us. I cocked my Lewis in case I had the chance to fire too.
I did not need to prompt Sharp and at fifty yards he opened up. The noise of the vehicles must have prevented the convoy from hearing us as there was no initial reaction to our attack. As the .303 rounds ripped into the trucks the crews began to bail out. It seemed strange to me. I glanced down at the first one we had hit and could see no flames. As Sharp sent a burst into each vehicle so the crews jumped and seemed to evacuate the vehicles as though they contained explosives. There was something strange going on. I glanced behind and saw that the other two had begun their run and the vehicles and their cargo were systematically destroyed. As we passed the las
t one Sharp changed the magazine and I banked to starboard to support the other two. It was when I saw the drivers writhing around on the floor that I realised what the vehicles contained- chlorine gas. It was too late to alert my pilots and I had to pray that they would come to no harm.
I completed a loop and flew next to them. I could see that all four of them were coughing in distress. I signalled for them to get home. “Right, Charlie, we are tail end so get on the rear Lewis.”
It pained me to watch the two F.E. 2 aeroplanes as they bobbed up and down. It showed that the pilots were suffering and were struggling to control their aeroplanes. How could I have known what the vehicles contained? If I had gone in higher we would have still damaged them but my flight would not be in danger.
“Three Eindeckers sir.”
“Righto, I shall climb, to port, while they are approaching and then level out. Keep a tight hold.”
“Yes sir.”
The German aeroplanes were faster than we were and they gained on us, inexorably. Once we reached five hundred feet I levelled out. I could see, some way ahead, the other two Gunbuses. If the Germans tried to follow them I would be in a good position to come astern. The monoplane had no rear mounted gun. As I expected they followed us.
“One on the port side and two on the starboard, sir.”
“Righto. Empty your magazine at the one by itself. If you sit down I will reload your Lewis and you should be able to fire at the other two.”
“Sir.”
I had four spare magazines in my cockpit. I could change the magazine so long as I was extremely quick.
“Here they come!”
They came in at the same time. I saw the determination on Sharp’s face as he emptied all forty seven bullets at the Eindecker. The fuselage of our aeroplane was largely air and many of the bullets missed. The danger would be when the steel tipped bullets hit the engine. That was a bridge I would have to cross later. I could see the German trenches approaching. I was thirty miles from home. I might as well have been three hundred. It was three to one odds that we would not make it home.
I saw Sharp sit down and I banked to starboard. I had caught the two planes unawares. The first one came into our sights. Sharp fired first and then his gun jammed. “Duck down!”
I fired a short burst and saw the bullets stitch a line along the cockpit. The pilot was hit but not dead. I continued the turn and the second monoplane dived down to avoid the same treatment. I could see that Sharp had damaged the first aeroplane which was limping home. I quickly changed the magazine on the rear facing Lewis as Sharp cleared his blockage.
“I’m heading for home. Keep an eye on the Huns.”
It looks like there is just one but he is below us.”
That was dangerous. We had no defence from such an attack. “Hold on I am going to dive.” My manoeuvre took the monoplane by surprise. He fired a burst at us as we crossed in the air. I felt the bullets hit the engine but the sound did not alter. “Keep flying old girl.”
“What sir?”
“I must be cracking up Charlie, I am talking to the bus now.”
We were now travelling over the German trenches and they popped away at us with their rifles and machine guns. They would be extremely lucky to hit us but that day had not been lucky for us so far. As we cleared the lines and zoomed across no-man’s land I said, “Get back on the Lewis, Sharp. See if you can discourage him again.”
He quickly stood up. The German must have been close for he fired immediately. I felt the aeroplane judder as the German’s bullets ripped huge holes in our port wing. The aeroplane dipped alarmingly and I had to correct it. We were now just forty or so feet above the ground and I saw the faces of the soldiers in the trenches as they raised their guns to fire at the German Eindecker.
“The foot sloggers have frightened him sir. He is heading east.”
“Well done Charlie. You had better sit down now. Our port wing looks a little fragile.”
I saw him glance over. “Bloody hell. How come we are still flying sir?”
“I have no idea but if we can keep her in the air for another ten minutes we should be home.”
I did not dare risk climbing; I could have torn the wings from her. Equally I could not bank. Landing was going to be a difficult proposition. “Better get a flare ready.”
I assumed that the other two would have landed and the emergency crews would have been alerted but I was taking no chances. When the airfield hove into view Sharp sent the flare high into the sky. I did not have to go down very far but I did it by inches. I needed the gentlest landing I could manage. Even though it was like the touch of a butterfly’s wing it was too much for the Gunbus. We rolled along the ground for fifty yards and then the top port wing collapsed, followed a moment or two later by the lower. The aeroplane slewed around but we were going so slowly that it teetered but remain upright. As I had been told by Captain Burscough many months ago now, ‘Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing.’ We walked away.
The major met me. “How are…”
He held his hand up. “They are fine or they will be. It seems you hit some chlorines gas canisters. They both flew through them but the gas had only just started to rise and they were only slightly affected. The doc has sent them to hospital.”
My face fell. He shook his head. “You could not have known what the convoy was carrying and even if you had then your duty was to destroy them. Even if your whole flight had died then that would have been a small price to pay for the lives of the infantry that they would have saved.”
“I suppose so.” I glanced behind me at my wrecked aeroplane. “That will take some fixing.”
He smiled. “And while it is being fixed I am giving you a two week pass. You deserve some leave. You and Gordy both. The rest of us will manage. Besides we are getting some new buses next month so your old crate will just be for spares.”
Sergeant Sharp was philosophical about my leave. “It will give me chance to get to grips with the engine. I can strip her down and rebuild her.”
Poor Ted was beside himself. “Well I am definitely going for the pilot test. Sod this for a game of soldiers. You two get leave and I stay here looking after the wee bairns. It’s not right.”
We left that night with the Quartermaster who was driving to Dartford to pick up spares. We would get the train from Dover. It would take me a couple of days to get home but it would be worth it.
Epilogue
Gordy was with me until Crewe when he left to go to his home close to Stoke. On the journey home we had noticed how many wounded soldiers there were both on the train and in the stations. “This war is not going the way they thought it would do, Bill, old son.”
“Well if those bastards are going to use gas then we will have to find some other way to defeat them.”
“Aye well, at least we are doing our job. We are more than a match for the aeroplanes they are sending against us.” He smiled, “Especially with our first ace in the squadron.”
“That last aeroplane was not confirmed. Besides Sharp helped with that one.”
“Major Brack said you were an ace and that is good enough for me. My paltry two is nowt compared with your score.”
As we said goodbye I realised that others set more store by my success than I did. All I wanted was to survive with as many of my friends as possible.
This time no-one knew I was on my way home. I got off the train in Burscough feeling dirty and tired. I had slept on the train but it had been uncomfortable. The food had been station food and the quality of that was in the lap of the gods. As I trudged along the road to the estate and our cottage I couldn’t wait to have some of mum’s food inside me and sleep in a comfortable bed. It came to me that, for the first time in my life, I would have the room to myself. Albert was away now. How strange would that be?
I did not see anyone on the road which was a novelty in itself and I wondered why. Normally there would have been carts and workers going to various parts of
the estate but I saw no-one. As I approached the cottage I was surprised to see the curtains drawn and the door shut. More than that it was locked! What was going on? Mother never left the house.
I dumped my bags outside the back door and headed towards the big house. Perhaps dad was at work. When I reached the house the drive was filled with many cars just like his lordship’s Lanchester. I saw liveried chauffeurs standing by their cars. I was wearing my officer’s uniform and, when I approached them they saluted. I felt a little embarrassed.
“Excuse me what is going on here today?”
“Didn’t you know sir? Lord Burscough died. It’s his funeral.”
It was like a slap to the face. I knew he had had a stroke some years earlier and he was old but he was the same age as my father. How could he have died? He would have had good doctors looking after him. He was a lord. That explained everything. The whole estate and village would be at the service for Lord Burscough was very popular. I knew where they would be; they would be in the chapel. I hurried there. I knew that I should have washed myself and cleaned up but I thought it was more important to be there to pay my respects to a man who had been good to me and my family.
I reached the chapel as the coffin was being taken out of the west door. I took off my hat and bowed my head. The first man following the coffin was Major Burscough. I saw the look of surprise on his face but he quickly recovered his composure. He gave me a brief nod and continued his long slow walk. The rest of the family followed: his wife, other son and daughters. The important aristocratic families marched after them. When they had all passed the servants emerged and that was when my family saw me. I knew they would be torn between happiness at seeing me and sadness at the occasion. I took my lead from my mother who gave me a gentle kiss on the cheek and then linked my arm. No-one said a word.
