1918 We will remember them Read online

  I am doing well and the missing hand never worries me!

  God Speed, sir, and look after yourself,

  Your old gunner

  Lumpy

  I could almost hear Lumpy’s voice as I read the letter. I was pleased that he had found happiness with Jack Laithwaite’s widow. He would be a good father to her children. I always got a warm feeling when I thought of Lumpy surviving the war. It gave me hope for the future. The finest young men in England had been sacrificed and when the war was over the ones who remained would have a mountain to climb to make Britain great once more. We had suffered much and the whole country would bear the scars for generations to come.

  Burscough

  August 1917

  Dear Bill,

  Your father and I are so proud of you. What an honour to be awarded the VC. Lady Burscough came over to the cottage especially to tell us.

  Things are not going so well on the estate. We are doing well so don’t worry. Her ladyship has promised us that we can have the cottage for as long as we need it but most of the other estate workers have had to be let go. There is just our Sarah and Cedric at the big house now. They both have to work far harder than they used to. We look after little Billy every day but he is a canny bairn and no bother.

  I haven’t heard from Bert lately. I know you are both busy and writing letters isn’t a priority but you manage it and you are an officer. I hope he is safe.

  Your dad and I have had enough of this war. It has taken too many already. Poor John and Tom died so long ago but our Alice is still grieving for her young man. I know that he was a friend of yours and would have been a fine husband but we never got to meet him and I don’t think our Alice will ever get over him.

  John writes regularly and tells us how well you are doing. You are lucky to have such a good servant. You look after him!

  You take care of yourself,

  I pray to God each night to keep you safe. He has taken enough from us.

  Your loving mother

  xxx

  I found myself dreading reading Alice’s letter. I drank the whisky and poured another in preparation. I slit open the envelope and then lit my pipe. I knew I was delaying reading what I thought might be a sad and depressing letter. I felt a little guilty about Alice. If I had not introduced her to Charlie then who knows how her life might have turned out. She might have been able to find some happiness.

  Burscough

  August 1917

  Dearest Bill,

  I hope you are keeping well. Congratulations on the VC. Charlie always said that you were the bravest and the best and I know that he was right. He worshipped you, big brother and he was right to do so.

  I noticed that the next lines were a little fuzzy as though they had been wetted.

  I still find myself bursting into tears when I think of the life that Charlie and I might have had. It isn’t fair. I know it upsets mum and Lady Burscough but I can’t help it. I want to hit someone or scream or I don’t know what.

  Your young lady, Beattie, is a godsend. She writes to me every week and she is always so positive. The main reason I am writing this is to tell you, big brother, that you must marry the girl and do it sooner rather than later! I know Charlie and I were like a pair of runaway horses but you never know what is around the corner. I don’t want Beattie cuddling a pillow in her bed at night because you aren’t there.

  Don’t worry about me, Bill. I know everyone is concerned but I will get through this. I know that I can never be truly happy again but, at night, I can still close my eyes and hear Charlie’s voice and I can’t wait to see you for that will bring him alive again too.

  You have to survive this war! I can’t lose you too!

  I saw another patch of fuzzy writing.

  This ink isn’t very good is it? It must be the war!

  I pray for you, Ted and Gordy each night. I pray you will all come home safely,

  Your loving sister

  Alice

  xxx

  I found my eyes filling up. I missed Charlie too but for Alice he had been her whole life. I sniffed the envelope before I opened it. Beattie was in the room. Settling back in the bed I began to read; savouring each word.

  Hyde Park

  August 1917

  Dearest Bill,

  I hope this finds you safe. The casualties who have been pouring through our doors after the battles of Ypres talk about the airmen who braved the skies to protect them. I knew that it would be you they were talking about- you are too reckless! They don’t give the VC to careful soldiers. You cannot win this war alone! I want you home when this war is over. I have plans for us!

  Speaking as often as I do with your sister, Alice, I know what I have and how lucky I am. Please God that our luck does not run out!

  The Germans have begun sending bombers over each night to bomb London. One of the nurses on our ward was killed when her house was blown up. It is so indiscriminate and so cowardly. The Huns must be a cruel and heartless nation if they use poison gas while shelling and bombing civilians. I know that you and your pilots would never inflict such carnage on civilians. That is why I know that we shall win this war. We are in the right!

  I am sorry that this letter is not the usual happy, chatty letter but I do not feel that way at the moment. I feel lost and alone and I miss you. I know that is selfish; there are many people in our position but I feel like being selfish.

  I cannot wait for your next leave.

  Take care of yourself and be careful!

  You are in my prayers each night but I see so much horror coming through the doors that I sometimes question if there is a God. I know that is an awful thing to say but why does God allow so many who are good die and allow evil men to live?

  I love you now and forever,

  Beattie xxx

  Beattie’s letter upset me more than I could believe. I just wanted to fly my Camel home and rush into her arms. I knew I would not but I felt angry. I dressed for dinner. We had to bring this war to an end and do so quickly. Our people at home were suffering and none of us had gone to war to allow that!

  I called in at the sick bay on my way to the mess. My two pilots had survived but, even had their aeroplanes not been damaged, they would not be able to fly for a few days. Lieutenant Hazell tried to rise when I entered.

  “No, Nat, rest easy. You did well today. Those new Fokkers are very nifty.”

  “Thank you sir. I appreciate you coming to my aid.”

  “Nonsense we are one squadron here and we all fight for each other.” I turned to Jenkin, “And how are you George?”

  “Feeling like a fool.”

  “How so?”

  “When my compass was shot out I flew in the wrong bloody direction sir!”

  I smiled, “An easy enough mistake to make. I have seen pilots flying upside down because they became disorientated. A little tip; have a spare compass in your flying jacket and always look for the sun. We normally fly in the morning so the sun should be ahead of you; that tells you where east is. Don’t berate yourself, you acquitted yourself well today.”

  “But still no kills!”

  I sighed and shook my head, “We had no kills in the squadron today but as all our pilots made it back, then it is not a bad trade off. You two take it easy. Your new buses will be here in a week. You are under Doc Brennan’s orders now, not mine.”

  I knew that we had made important strides with Jenkin but he was not the finished article yet.

  Everyone was in a better mood thanks to the delivery of letters. Gordy insisted upon reading them out so that we could hear every breath his new son made. We smiled. It was harmless and the baby promised hope. We had perilously little of that.

  The talk was of the trenches. The Canadians were still bleeding for every inch of land at Passchendaele and we saw little progress. Flying high over the lines meant you could see how little land had been gained in over three years of war. There were also rumours of trouble in Russia. Randolph, who had many
contacts in the intelligence community, was particularly sombre. “We are making little progress here on the Western front but if the Tsar makes peace then the Germans will have more men and materiel to send here. If that happens this war could go on for another ten years.”

  Johnny scoffed, “A thirteen year war? I think you are exaggerating sir.”

  “We had a war with France that lasted over a hundred years. The Napoleonic wars lasted over twenty five years. There was a war in Europe which lasted for thirty years. No, do not assume that this war will be as quick as the Zulu war or the South African War. We were fighting tribesmen then. We are fighting people like ourselves now. Our king, the Kaiser and the Tsar are all cousins!”

  “People won’t stand for it sir.”

  “I’m afraid, Freddie, that the powers that be are like gamblers gathered around a table. The table stakes are so high that no-one dares to be the one to leave first. They just keep raising the stakes and we are the chips!”

  We were having a glass of port when Ted sidled over. “What is the problem, Bill?”

  “How do you know there is a problem?”

  “Because I have known you too long. If Gordy wasn’t so full of Mary and his son then he would have noticed too. I have bugger all but for the squadron. You are like my family and I can tell that something has upset you.” He gestured to the port. “You are drinking more than you used to for a start.”

  “We all drink.”

  “Aye but you used to drink the least out of any of us. Now you drink as much and sometimes a little more. So come on, out with it. You know what they say a problem shared is a problem halved.”

  I nodded. He was a good friend and he was right. “It’s Beattie. She is getting upset. The Germans are bombing London and she is worried about me. She was the only one not happy about the VC. She sees it as a sign that I am being reckless.”

  He nodded and stubbed his cigarette out. “Well you are.”

  “What?”

  “Oh don’t get me wrong I appreciate that quality in you. It is what makes you a great pilot. Gordy and I can fly but you are a pilot and more than that you are a fighter pilot. Freddie told me that today you went head to head with the Red Baron and he didn’t win. Do you know how rare that is? If that had been me or Gordy you would be picking bits of us up with tweezers. You can’t change your nature but you should expect Beattie to get upset.”

  “The trouble is it is such a long time since I have seen her.”

  “Things quieten down just before Christmas. We will have a leave then. Do something with her. Take her away somewhere.”

  “In December?”

  “What? You want a bloody suntan now? It is the break that is important and not the weather.”

  I realised how right he was. “Thanks Ted. You are right. You should get a woman of your own . You seem to know how to handle them.”

  “Aye and that is why there are none in my life. It is complicated enough just staying alive in the air without worrying about a woman. I will wait until this damned war is over. If it takes ten years like Randolph said then at least an ugly bugger like me will have more chance of a good looking woman.”

  “How so?”

  He shook his head sadly, “Because almost every eligible young man will be dead and the land will be filled with wounded cripples who survive this madness.”

  Chapter 7

  Archie flew his Bristol and led the stronger half of the squadron. Freddie and I led the eight Camels who had survived. Jack Fall looked to be more confident and assured. Part of that was the fact that he did not have to worry about Roger Jenkin who was still in sick bay.

  We did not want to go but we were ordered into the sector where the Red Baron had hunted the previous day. I had advised Archie to take us as high as he could. The Bristols were a large inviting target. What worried me was that we were supposed to be clearing the air of Germans but, so far it was us who were outnumbered. Randolph had told us that other squadrons were outnumbering the Germans but the High Command felt that we were close enough to the French to operate as a single squadron. They were wrong.

  For the first time since we had returned south we saw troop movements in the distance. The lines of grey were moving towards the trenches. Although it did not necessarily mean an offensive it was worth investigating. Archie led the Bristols lower to ascertain numbers and to engage in some strafing. As fighter cover we maintained our altitude and I was the one who first saw the twenty odd aeroplanes as they appeared like an angry swarm of hornets.

  They were too far to identify but I felt my heart sink into my boots at the thought of locking horns with the Flying Circus once more. I had a handful of Camels under my command and the Bristols were totally outmatched by the Fokker Triplane. I led my flights east. I heard the machine guns of the Bristols as they swooped along the columns of grey. Archie and the others would have no idea that they were about to be jumped by overwhelming numbers and we had no means of communication. I had no choice. I could not remain high; I needed to intercept them before they cut Archie and the others to ribbons.

  As I began to descend I saw that it was not the Flying Circus and they had no Fokker Triplanes. They were the Fokker Biplane and the Albatros. Both were sturdy aeroplanes but they could neither out turn nor out manoeuvre a Camel. However they outnumbered my Camels by over two to one. I cocked my Vickers. I had been profligate with my ammunition the previous day and I was determined to be more careful.

  Freddie and I had decided that he and his flight would fly above me and to my left. It meant I would turn to starboard when I had finished my attack. I saw that the twenty three aeroplanes were in lines of five stacked above each other. I watched as the first five dived to attack Archie and the others. We swooped towards the rest of them. I hoped the rear gunners of the Bristols could handle the five Albatros who screamed towards them.

  One of the Fokker pilots caught sight of us and he began to turn to face us. The others were a little slower and their tardiness meant that a gap appeared between the two end aeroplanes. The margins between success and failure are minute at eight thousand feet when you are travelling in excess of a hundred and ten miles an hour. I was slightly quicker on my guns and I opened fire at four hundred feet. My first short burst ripped into his engine and he peeled off to the north. When you were outnumbered then kills were not so important. You needed to rid the skies of the enemy aeroplanes. Roger gave him a second burst and I saw flames licking around his engine. The Germans had issued some parachutes to its pilots and I caught a glimpse of the pilot as he hurled himself over the side.

  I adjusted my nose and fired a short burst at no more than a hundred yards from the second Fokker. I caught him side on and I fired a second burst. I was close enough to see him die and I had to jerk my nose up to prevent me crashing into his bus which flew straight in his dead hands. Another burst missed the third Fokker but my sudden appearance was like a fox in a hen house. The neat lines of the Germans were broken while our line astern ploughed through them. Each Camel gave the Germans a burst of .303. As I zoomed over the last Fokker I began to bank to starboard.

  We could fly inside the larger Fokkers. The German pilots turned to port to match our turn but I was able to give a long burst to the second German line. I hit the wings and fuselage of one German who barely missed hitting me as he pulled his aeroplane up and over me. I felt the wind from Lieutenant Clayson’s bullets as he gave a long burst into the surprised German. With smoke pouring from a wrecked engine he began to spiral to earth.

  Freddie and his flight had had even more success. He had more aeroplanes and twice our fire power. I watched the last of the Fokkers heading east. I was tempted to follow them when I remembered Archie and the Bristols. I saw the four remaining Albatros as they nipped inside the less manoeuvrable Bristol. I saw two Bristols on the ground; their crews had their hands up as irate Germans captured and then prodded them towards the east with the butts of their rifles.

  We screamed down like avengin
g eagles. I waved my arm to indicate to Jack and Roger that they should choose their own target. We needed maximum firepower. I gave one Albatros a long burst and Ted’s gunner finished him off. The remaining three Albatros broke left and I heard the chatter of Jack’s guns as he destroyed one. Roger was following a second and I turned my attention to the captured Bristol crews.

  I dropped to the lowest altitude I could. There was a German vehicle and the guards were pushing the four airmen towards it. I took a risk and gave a long burst at the lorry. The Germans dived to the ground. As the lorry exploded I caught a glimpse of my four comrades as they grabbed guns and began to run to the British lines some half a mile away. I banked to starboard and swept over the four. As soon as I was over them I fired my two guns until they were empty. It was like firing a shotgun at close range. The grey uniformed Germans were stopped in their tracks. As my gun clicked empty I pulled hard on the stick to climb away from the angry Germans’ ground fire.

  My detour meant that I was the last to land and the other flight leaders were waiting for me. Ted ran over, “Did you see Thomson and Lowe?” His voice betrayed his anxiety.

  “They were captured but I fired at their captors and the last I saw they were heading for our lines.” I shrugged, “Sorry Ted I didn’t have time to hang around. I was out of ammunition.”

  He nodded, “Thanks anyway.”

  Jack Fall was so excited I thought he was in danger of bursting with joy. “I have a kill, sir, and I damaged two others! It is a marvellous feeling.”

  I smiled, “You did well. You both did well but, Lieutenant Clayson, it is Bates who gives me a haircut. You were just a tad close with the Vickers!”

  “Sorry sir. I just reacted. He came into my sights and I fired.”

  I laughed, “Don’t worry Roger you just gave me a scare. Well done.”

  Senior Flight Sergeant Lowery was less impressed at the damage to my bus. “You are grounded tomorrow, sir.”

  “But she flew well enough and she landed well.”