Tag: Diary

28 March 1918

Thursday March 28th: usual work.  Afternoon came on to rain.  Went up on a job of work.  Engine overheated.  Ridiculed by Major.  Radiators proved to be half empty.  Went up again.  Very heavy rain.  Decided to abandon job and fly straight back to [Abbeville].  Filthy weather, filthy flip.  Found new aerodrome.  Norton shot down.  Tea at the old lady’s on the other side of the road (Who had recently lost her son in the French Army).  Unloaded kit in the rain.  Topping dinner at the Tête du Bœuf.  CO acts the schoolmaster out of school.

27 March 1918

Wednesday March 27th: usual work.  Flew with Hanna.  Much grieved to see enemy swarming round our late drome.  Did our best to rectify the matter.  Our engine gave trouble when we were two or three miles over enemy lines.  We turned.  I pointed out V—- aerodrome and Hanna nursed engine, and landed in a good field close by.  Hanna went off to ring up Squadron (by the way; and had a jolly good lunch with Corps).  Walker flew overhead, and, by pooping off lights I carried on an intelligent conversation with him.  Met a Camel merchant.  Tired of waiting for Hanna, I made friends with passing M.G. Transport officer to the tune of beaucoup bread butter and vin rouge.  Hanna returned.  Reproached him bitterly.  Presently Pybus (directed by Walker) rolled up with two A.M.s and a tender.  Engine hopelessly seized up.  Decided to dismantle.  Left A.M.s to carry on.  Met another Camel merchant.  Stuck up his pressure pipe with mud, matches and spit.  Great combination and it worked.  He landed at our drome with a message for the CO.  Went back to the tender: passed a Go pdr. battery in full.  blast (my nerves! too near the line for me).  Passed through A—- on way back.  Called in Charleys bar! Deserted!  Got back to Squadron.  Jolly good dinner.  Pybus reviled by CO.  Machine burnt.

26 March 1918

Tuesday March 26th Hanna on early job (deuced unfair I thought – but McPherson isn’t a lovable character).  I wouldn’t go, feeling too rocky.  Was about three hours overdue.  Wind up.  No sign of grub.  Went with Macgregor to a neighbouring village, where we discovered a villager who provided us with large omelette, mashed potatoes, bread, butter & vin blanc all ad lib.  Oh happy days!  Returned to find Hanna back.  His observer (new to the Squadron) had been wounded, and was then comfortably in hospital.  Looks like the hand of fate.  Third new observer to get a blighty.  Put up tents for ourselves all the afternoon.  Everyone went by lorry that evening and had a glorious feed at the ———- in A——–.  Sang all he way back in the lorry.

25 March 1918

Monday March 25th.  After morning job Hanna touched hangar with tail skid landing.  Jolly close.  Evening – flew to [Bertangles].  Hanna and I went in the [Bristol fighter].  Wandered round and eventually found the drome.  Just landing when we saw a ridge.  Opened throttle in hope of clearing.  Hit ridge going full speed.  Turned completely over.  Was caught and pinned down by gun mounting.  Hanna got out, and lifted tail when I crawled out.  Hanna badly shaken, me ditto.  Old cord breeches finished off.  Leg torn a bit.  Machine smashed.  Fuselage broken behind Hanna’s seat.  Nobody knew where we should be.  All slept in empty huts on floor.

23 March 1918

Saturday March 23rd.  Cave returned about 3 AM.  Cave Pybus M.Cs.  Spent day being offensive.  Idiotic staff want photos!  PHOTOS!!  Pybus Martin.  Three machines failed to return.  Pybus, Walker and           .  Chronic wind up.  News late afternoon that all three were at V___          Town Mayor’s office.  Machines burnt.  Great rejoicings!

21 March 1918

Thursday March 21st  Awoke about 4 am in the ‘hour before dawn’ to fancy myself back in the army.  Shells screaming over and bursting quite close.  Hellish gust up!  4.30 – Orderly officer entered with orders to arise.  4.30 A.M!!  I ask you!!  The Royal Flying Corps!!!  6 AM – Breakfast – last decent meal for some time.  7 AM Full daylight.  Couldn’t see 20 yards for mist.  Long range guns more active and bursts getting close and messing up drome.  Squadron office resembled a cullender.  Exit Major hurriedly.  Spent next couple of hours dodging ignominiously about to avoid our friend the enemy gunner.  10 AM – local unrest over.  Still impossible to fly.  12.30 A.M. Lunch off tongue and biscuits.  1 P.M. First machine up.  Spent rest of day being offensive.  Packed up in afternoon ready to move.  Stayed the night.  Slept in our flying suits.  Nearly frozen.  End of a perfect day.

20 March 1918

Wednesday, March 20th.  Arrived Péronne about 9.30.  Breakfast at Club.  Rang up squadron about 11.  Tender arrived at two.  Crowds of B flight and Hanna, looking strangely handsome.  Discovered he was wearing a universal tunic and cap.  Rumours of a German offensive on the morrow.  Treated rumours as usual wind-up.  Everyone seemed very glad to see me.  Almost as good as going home.  Geordie and Lee White gone home on H.E. and flying.  Cave recording officer.  Eye wonky.

19 March 1918

Tuesday, March 19th  Train to Amiens about 11 AM.  Arrived about 6.  Alighted.  M. Police refused to let us out.  Waited until the train running in connection with ours had gone.  M. Police still refused; found another train which would land us in Péronne at 11 PM, after tortuous winding & sundry changes.  Accidentally lost this train.  Was rude to M.P.  Told R.J.O we should probably find a squadron tender waiting.  Next train 6 AM.  Left station.  Found no tender.  Booked room at the Belfort.  Went to the Godbert and devoured a mighty dinner.  Met Martin Sinclair and Rees (going on leave).  Decided to stop.