Diary And Letters Of A World War I Fighter Pilot, The

by Christopher Burgess

  Halfway back my engine started to vibrate like anything & I thought the whole bag of tricks was going to fall to bits – then it conked altogether & so I landed in a field quite near here. I found that I had six bullet holes in the cowling of my engine & that one bullet had made a hole as big as my fist in one cylinder & when I turned the prop round half the “innards” of the engine fell out! No wonder it conked out! Altogether I had a great time.

  This low strafing which the Squadron is on at present certainly is frightfully exciting & mostly amusing – I laughed like anything when that Hun fell off his horse!

  I went to collect a machine when I came back but it started raining so I didn’t get it. I find that my adjectival tent leaks & has leaked all over my bed! What a war this is!

  I am very fit, more so than ever in this wild existence. One of our fellows was wounded in the wrist today [2nd Lieutenant D. G. Brown?] & another shot down a Hun. A third met a Hun Division on the road & bombed it killing a great many & dispersing the rest!

  Well bestest love dearest folks from The Bunsoy.

  DIARY Saturday 30th March

  Up at 7 on pat: at 7.15. Towne [2nd Lieutenant L.N.F. Towne] crashed taking off and I went on alone. Crossed lines and dropped 3 bombs on an Albatross on the ground but missed it. Shot at Officer on horse who fell off, four Huns walking across a field who all collapsed. Shot up badly from ground. Engine conked near Auxi le Chateau on way home. 5 holes in cowling and a hole as big as your fist in one cylinder! No wonder! [?] to collect machine but started raining and left it. Saw Dennison at A.S.O.

  Raining in evening. Tent leaks. Bed under the leak! This is an awful war! Towne missing and Browne [2nd Lieutenant D.G. Brown?] wounded in wrist.

  65 Squadron

  31st March 1918 – Easter Sunday

  Just a wee line today – please excuse this paper (buff slips) but it is all I have handy. Not much news at present.

  I was on a show this morning forming an escort for some of our “buses” bombing & shooting up a road – but though we saw a few Huns we didn’t have a scrap. This afternoon I was out annoying the Hun on the ground – I saw a lot of men in a chalk pit & I thought they were our men so I went down to look at them from about 20 ft. Suddenly a perfect tornado of machine gun & rifle fire was directed at me! They were Huns! So I buzzed off & came & shot them up & dropped three bombs on them but I am afraid I missed them. This is real open warfare now! You see batteries out in the fields firing also cavalry prancing about. Then I went over & shot at some fellows in a wood & they machine gunned me for about 2 minutes on end but I so skilfully dived, twisted & turned about that they never hit my bus once! I guess we have got the Hun pretty well held up down here for the present!

  Coming back I got caught in a rain storm & had to land at another aerodrome but got off again when it stopped. I meant to go to the 7.30 Service but as I didn’t get back till 7.15 & felt pretty tired I didn’t manage it. I was very sorry as I should have liked to have gone.

  We got no mail here at all which is pretty rotten but still there is a war on & this is the first bit of roughing it I have had – & it certainly agrees with one as I feel very fit & sleep pretty well.

  Well that’s all for the present. Don’t worry if you don’t hear for some days as the mail is very erratic, I am writing every day tho’ as before.

  Bestest love from The Bunsoy.

  DIARY Sunday 31stMarch

  In bed till 9.30 for a change! Very high wind. Up on patrol in morning to protect Withers [Withington] dropping bombs on the S.A. road. A few Huns around but did not have a scrap at all. On patrol at 4.15 in afternoon. Shot at Huns in Chalk pit and got shot at like ****! Tried bombing but missed them. Huns concentrating in front of Moreuil. Got caught in rain storm on way home and landed at Vert Fallon. Took off after it had cleared up. Bed early. Rained in night and dripped on to me! Took cover under my waterproof sheet!

  65 Squadron

  1st April 1918

  No mail for this Squadron as yet but I think we may get some today – I hope so.

  I was up from 8.30 till 10.30 this morning. I didn’t see very many Hun troops but I saw a few on the road & these I shot at.

  Things are going pretty well just at present, I think, but I can’t tell you any definite news at all. It is a fine sunny day with patches of clouds & a fair wind. Last night it rained hard & my hut leaked frightfully onto my face with great apparent gusto! However I covered myself with my waterproof sheet, which rather cramped the style of the drips for they pattered down onto the sheet while I lay underneath & laughed at them!

  It is very uncertain weather just now & may rain at any time. I hope you are all very fit & happy at home. There seem to be a good few pretty ridiculous restrictions about having all theatres etc. shut at 9.30. They try to make the war as unbearable as poss. at home – it’s bad enough without that Heaven knows!

  The mechanics are working frightfully hard at present as there are beaucoup crashes – & buses to repair & very little time to do it in. No workshop or anything & all work has to be done in the open or in a sort of extempore hangar.

  McElroy is in No 24 Squadron on the same aerodrome as this flying a S.E.5. He has got 21 Huns & an M.C. & a bar. Makes me look a bit small!!

  Well no more news so will knock off.

  DIARY Monday 1stApril

  On show at 8.30 with Spreadbury [Lieutenant H.J. Spreadbury]. No ground movement seen and only shot up once. Fairly fine all day. On show in evening with Jack. Climbed up to 13,000 but saw no Huns. Dropped bombs on barn but missed it.

  Home at 8 very dark but managed to find the way. Bed early.

  65 Squadron

  2nd April 1918

  Was up on patrol last night with Jack [Captain J. Gilmour]. We went up pretty high & looked for Huns but saw none. Then I came down to the floor & floated round near the Lines.

  There is one very insolent barn with a corrugated iron roof which I tried to bomb but missed it. I must try again as a bomb would make a lovely splash going through the roof.

  I was on patrol again at 10.30 this morning & managed to identify the front line – no easy job as there are no trenches – only shell holes & rifle pits. There was no transport or anything on the roads behind the lines to shoot up or bomb. However there were 4 Hun two-seaters just above the lines, I was going to attack them but couldn’t as I hadn’t dropped my bombs, then some of our buses appeared & the Huns hove off. One of our fellows Hugh, got a Hun this morning & saw him crash. It is very bumpy here today & you can’t go down really low at all. I guess we have got the Hun pretty well held up here now – I hope we keep it up!

  I wish this show would quieten down a bit for while it is on there is no leave & no mail – what a culmination of ills. “Remalle de mals” as Gin would say! Matthews [sic] was wounded in the knee some time ago & is now home – tell Gin.

  Last night it rained & my wretched hut again proved its inability to repulse the attack & so I had to take cover beneath my waterproof sheet – which be it said is not waterproof.

  Your letters of Good Friday have just come – the first I have had down here. Thanks so much for them dears.

  Bunsoy.

  DIARY Tuesday 2nd April

  On show at 10.30 with Jack. Identified the front line in front of Maricourt Wood and also Hun rifle pits behind it. Shot at once with rifles. On show at 5pm with Jack. Bombed barn. Four Hun two-seaters in morning but couldn’t attack as had bombs on. Saw no Huns in evening at all but four came over Amiens apparently shot at balloon from long range at Aix. Rain at night. Tent leaked.

  65 Squadron

  3rd April 1918

  Just time for a wee line today. I was up this morning on a show. A whole Squadron Off. Patrol. The clouds were pretty low. We met No 84 Sqdn. on the line also doing an O.P. – they are S.E.5s. Then the lot of us ran into about 20 Albatri & had a splendid scrap. The S.E.s got 6 but we got none. Still it was a great show. I ought to have got one as he came straight at me & I fired like 6 but
he didn’t go down. I only had one gun as the other had jammed. I also fired at two bright orange Albatri. They went down but came out again. It was a wonder there were no collisions as the air was stiff with aeroplanes, half in the clouds!

  I have rather a sore throat just now but not very bad. Thanks for your three letters of the 25th, 27th & 28th. I expect you will have heard from me by now.

  Well no time for more now.

  Bestest love dearest folks from The Bunsoy

  DIARY Wednesday 3rd April

  Clouds low 10! O.P. in morning got split up in clouds. Beaucoup of 84’s, S.E.’s on line also beaucoups Huns! Shot at 2 orange coloured fellows. Then shot at Hun who came straight at me. Two more dived on me but were driven off by the S.E.’s! Apparently we got 2 Huns destroyed but no one knows who got them. Rain in afternoon and no show. Feeling pretty dud with head and throat. Faben out with Gilmour but je m’en fiche de cas.

  Dinner with McElroy at 24. Felt v dud with bad throat and head.

  65 Squadron

  4th April 1918

  Just a line to let you know that I am quite fit again & that my cold & throat have gone.

  Really ‘dud’ today with rain & low clouds but I did a couple of shows in spite of it! I got lost on the second one & came back early. I am afraid that as I can’t give you any news at all I shall have to stop. Thanks awfully for your letter of the 28th received today. Hope my mail has arrived home by this time. Heard from May today – she is having quite a quiet time & a pretty good one too!

  DIARY Thursday 4th April

  Raining and low clouds in morning. O.P. washed out. Hun attacked at Warfusée at 12.30. I went out to find out the line and strafe the Hun. We are back to the Aerodrome at Billers – Bret: found out our line and bombed and shot up Huns on a road. V.thick. Landed at Bertangles. Silly ass A.M. broke my tail skid. Back at 3.45. Had tea and went out again. Ran into rain storm at Amiens.

  Got lost and landed at Sur Camps. Perfect fool A.M.’s who couldn’t swing a prop! Took off and wandered back by luck. Too dud for a show. Raining most of time.

  Heard from Nickie. This war is getting the limit! Feeling much better.

  65 Squadron

  5th April 1918

  No news today I am afraid. The weather is very “dud” with clouds at 200 ft. & amazing to relate we haven’t been sent on any shows. We quite expected to though as just at present there is no such thing as “too dud to fly”! However we are all pretty thankful for the rest!

  I had a pretty miserable night last night, I wasn’t feeling too fit as my throat was hurting a bit & it rained hard all night & simply poured through our adjectival tent, down upon us in bed! I had my waterproof sheet over me but it was beastly uncomfy!

  We are contemplating another move tomorrow I think but I am not sure about it yet. I think I am going into a fairly big town near here for dinner tonight to have a merry time & get away from the war for a bit. There is some prospect of leave starting again fairly shortly but nothing is settled yet. The mail hasn’t come in yet but I am sure to hear from home by it. I hope some of my mail has reached you by this time. I have written every day since I came out nearly. My throat is much better today I am glad to say & I have taken some medicine for it.

  Well as I have no news that I can give you, I will now stop. Do hope you are all fit & well.

  DIARY Friday 5th April

  Low clouds all day.

  DIARY Saturday 6th April – WOUNDED IN LEG, BON!

  Fairly dud early. Flew down to Bertangles at about 10.30 a.m. one show with 3 of No 84 at 1 p.m. Up high – chased 20 Huns East. I attacked a 2 seater but he hove off and I didn’t get him. Down low after. Jewkes [2nd Lieutenant J.L. Jewkes] wounded at Aerodrome at Villers – Bret. Evacuated. Got tent fixed up after lunch. On show at 6.30, with Spread [Lieutenant H.J. Spreadbury]; I identified line at Thezy. Then went over to Warfusée and went thro’ hell from M.E’s! Crossing trenches at 2000 got hit in right calf by one bullet from a rifle! Some shooting! Landed o.k. in great style. Went to No 46 C.C.S. [Casualty Clearing Station] and got in by a fluke as they weren’t receiving and praise be to God, met May!! Tophole! Got wound, a lovely cushy one, dressed and went to sleep.

  DIARY Sunday 7th April

  Inoculated for a.t. Carted off on a stretcher in an ambulance with May to Abbeville to No 2 Hpl. Wound dressed. Feel v fit! Will I get home! In bed all day.

  DIARY Monday 8th April

  In bed all day. Read and smoked. Talked rot to the T.wire most of the time. About time I went home, the Day sister hates me! Raining on and off. Heavy shelling heard in early morning. Leg rather sore. Evacuation for some fellows in evening.

  Copy of rather alarming telegram received on April 11th before

  arrival of letter April 9th 1918

  Air Ministry to Colonel Knocker

  Post Office Telegraphs

  Apr 10 1918

  S. 6.20 London V. Redtd fm Dover

  To Knocker, 12 Belvedere Esplanade, Weymouth

  P.2.Cas. AAA regret to inform you that 2nd Lieut G. M. Knocker Royal Air Service is reported wounded sixth April. particulars follow when received.

  Secy Air Minis.

  In about an hour’s time we were greatly relieved by receiving a second wire from Guy himself in London.

  Guy to his Parents

  Post Office Telegraphs

  Golders Green. 11.10 11 Apr 1918.

  To Knocker, Queens Hill, Hertford

  Slightly wounded in leg. Very fit. At present in R F G Central Hospital, Hampstead.

  Guy

  By an extraordinary coincidence Guy was taken to No 46 C. C.S. where May had arrived as “Theatre Sister” the day before, so she was able to dress his wound & give him an injection for tetanus & next day she took him down to the base hospital at Abbeville in an Ambulance where he stayed 4 days & was then given a ticket for “Blighty” to his great satisfaction. On his arriving at No 46 they said they were full up & could admit no more cases but, as it was raining hard & Guy was on a stretcher, they finally decided to take him in & he was laid on the floor of one of the wards. So he narrowly escaped missing his sister after all.

  Mrs Janie Knocker, GMK’s mother.

  Extract from May’s letter written on evening of 6th April 1918

  No 46 C.C.S. France

  6th April 1918

  The most wonderful thing has happened. Guy was brought here wounded, just fancy – to 46 C.C.S. where I only arrived yesterday. The C.O. came to me & said “Another case, Sister, name of Knocker, funny isn’t it?” I said, never dreaming of Guy, “Oh, I suppose it must be one of my numerous relations, is he a Major?” “No, 2nd Lieut – ginger haired” & I simply flew! He was as much surprised & delighted as I was, as he had no idea I was anywhere near him.

  Well, I dressed his wound & gave him his anti-tetanus injection & next morning I took him down to the Base in an ambulance. Dreadfully sorry I could only have the care of him for so short a time. His wound is a perfectly safe one & you will soon have him home – he is sure to get a good spell of sick leave. How glad you will all be to get him back safely wounded.

  It really was the most extraordinary coincidence that of all the Casualty Clearing Stations in France, he should have been brought to mine & further the C.O. had said that no more cases could be admitted as we were full up, but as it was pouring with rain when Guy arrived he stretched a point & took him in. Had he been taken to another C.C.S. I might never even have known that he had been refused admittance to ours.

  No 2 Station Hospital

  9th April 1918

  Dearest Dad & Mum,

  Just a wee line to let you know that I am quite fit & hope to get home very shortly. I expected to be sent home yesterday but there was no evacuation then, so I hope to go today or tomorrow. My wound is very slight. I got a rifle bullet right through the calf of my right leg just as I was crossing the line on my way home at 7.30 p.m. on Friday last (the 6th). It didn’t hit the bone or nerve & just went right through the muscle
– a lovely Blighty one in fact – which I had been waiting for 5½ months! I will wire you as soon as I get to a hospital in London. Wasn’t it just lovely seeing May at the C.C.S. I went to. I will wait till I see you to give you all the news. Don’t worry about me as I am really quite all right & very bucked with life in general.

  Bestest love to you all from the Bunsoy

  DIARY Tuesday 9th April

  In bed all day. Dr says I will get home today. Feeling v.fit. Raining on and very dud. Going tonight.

  Guy was sent home on 10th April and did not go out again.

  Mrs Janie Knocker, GMK’s mother.

  DIARY Wednesday 10th April

  Evacuated at 2.0 am! Down to station, train left Abbeville at 3.30. Arr. Boulogne at 11. Carried on to the boat. In a cot, v comfy – more so than train which was awful. Boat left at 2.15. Smooth – thank heaven! Arrived Dover at 5. Train left at 8! Arrived London in rain at 12.15! Going to R.F.C. Central Hampstead. Twist going to Russian Hosp. 23 & Forsyth with me. To Hpl at 2! Pretty dud place! Gee! But its great to be back in Blighty. Now for Nickie!!! Hun advance between Armentières and La Bassée!

  May Knocker to her Parents

  46 C.C.S.

  17th April 1918

  My darling Mum,

  Tonight I got the first letter you have sent direct here & I was just wearying to know if you had heard about Guy, and now you have seen him as well, that is just splendid. How relieved you & Dad will be to get him safely at home, it must have been a tremendous weight off your minds. You needn’t worry in the least about me, I am perfectly safe here & in a few days we are moving to a more conveniently placed hospital as this little house is too small to be much good. The night Guy came we were not receiving as we take it in turns with another C.C.S. & take in 100 or so for 24 hours. That is why he might have been sent to the other one. But it was very wet & being an officer they referred to the M.O. fortunately for us both! Did he tell you all the fun we had over his arrival & how I was chaffed & how he refused to let me wash him! I did wish I could have kept him a little longer! I am so glad to hear his leg is doing so well, sometimes those muscle wounds take some time to heal especially if a piece of clothing gets inside. He got home very quickly, did not he, & sent you the wire we arranged, but it was a great pity you got the other one first. I hoped my letter would arrive before anything. I hope you did not get a great shock. Tell the boy I thought his C.O. charming.