by Griff Hosker
I was aware that it was taking us far too long to make the progress I wanted. There was little choice. I could not leave him. I took the decision to put him over my shoulders. He groaned as I lifted him. The going was easier. Once I had cleared the town I began to look for the aeroplanes. It would not be long until dawn. Already the sky to the east was beginning to become greyer. I spied the aeroplanes ahead. I was less than a thousand yards from them. The valley dropped a little and I lost sight of them briefly but I felt hopeful that we would reach them and that helped me to soldier on.
It was as I was struggling up the short slope some sixty yards from the aeroplanes that I heard the sound of gunfire. It was ahead of me! I laid down Ralph and drew my German pistol. As I rose and ran towards the aeroplanes I took in that there were four tribesmen. Another two lay on the ground and I saw Parr on the ground beneath the wing of his Ninak. Jack had his Webley out and was firing at the four men. I was behind them. I had an automatic and I wanted to be as close as possible to them before I opened fire. I fired when I was twenty feet from them. I fired two bullets at each man. The last one turned around and my bullets hit him in the chest. One of those I had hit first had not been incapacitated and he raised his head. Jack shot him.
“See to Parr! I’ll get the major!” I ran back to where I had left Ralph. Someone in the town had to have heard the gunfire. Would they investigate?
Ralph opened his eyes, “You should have left me sir!”
“Come on Ralph, Parr has been hit.”
When we reached the Ninaks, Jack was applying a dressing to Parr’s shoulder. “He can’t fly, sir.”
“Put him in the gunner’s seat and strap him in. Give me a couple of field dressings.” He threw me the first aid kit and began to help Parr towards the Ninak. In the distance, I could hear noises in Sulaimaniya. Time was running out. I quickly applied the dressings. “Sorry Ralph this is the best I can do.”
“It’s fine sir.”
Jack arrived, “Well?”
“We found the house. You follow me in. I will drop my bombs to mark it. There should be a big American car parked outside. Let’s get Ralph in the Ninak.” I could now hear the hooves of horses. They were still some way away. We had time but not much. Once Ralph was in the gunner’s seat I spun Jack’s propeller for him. With his engine going he came to my bus and spun my propeller.
Parr said, “Sir, horsemen!”
“We will be in the air in two ticks, lieutenant.”
I followed Jack who was moving along the ground. There was the hint of dawn behind us but we had little choice in the matter. I heard the Lewis gun behind me open fire. Parr said, “I can fire one handed. I am not certain I hit anything but they changed direction. I must have discouraged them.”
I saw Jack’s Ninak begin to climb and I followed. I banked to the north. We would keep to our plan of attacking from that direction. I turned inside Jack. The horsemen began to fire at us from the ground. Their bullets were wasted. More importantly they were four miles from Sulaimaniya. We would reach there first. It took time to loop around and approach the town from the right direction. I knew that it was on the opposite side of town from the palace. I could see that clearly for the first rays of the sun shone on its roof and the flagpole. It was the size of the house and the high wall which guided me in. The rifles which fired at me confirmed it. I came in just one hundred feet in the air. Looking in my mirror I saw that Jack had hung back so that he could spot my fall of shot. I released the bombs just one hundred feet from the wall. As I zoomed over I saw the American car. Then I pulled back on the stick to climb and banked.
Parr opened fire again as we turned. The Scarff ring meant he could fire over the side of the fuselage. As I turned I was in a perfect position to see Jack’s approach. From the damage, I could see there would be no survivors but Jack’s bombs would make certain. His last bomb must have hit the car for it erupted like a Roman candle when the petrol tank ignited. I spiralled up into the air and headed south. We had two airmen who needed medical help.
I talked to Parr all the way back. I wanted him awake. I made sure that he answered all of my questions. I found out that he had a girl at home and he would be marrying her on his next leave. I learned that his older brother had died at the Somme and his mother had died of a broken heart. When I saw Kirkuk in the distance I could feel pleased that a mission which had almost ended disastrously had ended well. We had survived.
Chapter 9
They now had a doctor at Kirkuk airfield and a sick bay. That would save lives. The exchange of gunfire at the take-off area and the ground fire had put a few holes in the aeroplanes. The riggers and mechanics began to work on them. Squadron Leader Barnes insisted that we stay. “Besides I can take the squadron for a look see over Sulaimaniya. I will take some photographs. We might as well assess the results properly, what?”
He was right. With the men in the gunner’s cockpit both injured we had no other way of knowing if we had destroyed the nest. I sat with Jack and enjoyed a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich. Jack explained what had happened. “The poor Flight Lieutenant had just been to the relieve himself when those chaps appeared. They must have been watching us for a while and working out how many of us there were. Damian was shot without even drawing his weapon. I had to use the engine of the Ninak for cover. If you hadn’t appeared then I think it would have ended badly for us.”
I washed the sandwich down with the hot sweet tea. “Just bad luck. The only alternative would have been to send three bombers. Parr did a fine job with the Lewis gun. He should get a medal. I will put him in for one.”
Jack leaned back and lit his pipe, “Medals? I think you should have one sir. Major Fox would be dead but for you.”
I took out my own pipe and scraped the bowl clean, “Medals? I have enough. This little jaunt was my madcap idea and I risked all of your lives.”
“I must confess, sir, that you did seem a little driven about this Russian fellow. Not like you at all.”
“He was an evil man. There was a young idealistic Russian called Vladimir who believed in him. He died as a result of the count’s machinations. There were others who died because of him. Make no mistake, Jack, he was a clever man. Sheikh Mahmud is being used. He sees himself as King of Kurdistan. Count Yuri Fydorervich saw himself as Emperor. I will lose no sleep over that Russian but I will remember the others who died because of him.”
Flight Sergeant Dixon came over to us, “Sirs? Squadron Leader Barnes has had a couple of beds made up for you.”
I didn’t really need to go to bed but as I couldn’t fly back immediately I took up the offer. My dreams were filled with a night in the Baltic and Mr Rees with his sword stick. There were flashing knives and blood. I woke in a sweat. I looked at my watch. It was noon. As I sat on the bed I saw the dagger. Perhaps I would keep that close to hand from now on. I showered and put on the battledress and trousers Flight Sergeant Dixon had laid out for me. I saw that the bisht and the other cloaks were stained with blood. The room had the stale smell of death about it. When I had dressed I realised that I only had the sandals to wear. It looked incongruous!
I went to the mess. The sergeant steward cocked an inquisitive eye at me. With the squadron still flying I was the only officer. “Can I get you a drink sir?”
“A cuppa would be nice.”
“Coming right up sir.”
I was on my second cup when I heard the Rolls Royce engines as the Bristols returned. I finished the tea and headed out into the sun. Squadron Leader Barnes saw me and walked towards me. “Well you did a pretty good job, sir. We saw the hole where the house had been. The trees and the wall helped to contain the blast. The buildings around it looked to be largely undamaged. There was a huge crater by the front. I am guessing that was where the car exploded?”
“I think so.”
“I have my gunner developing the photographs for you to take back but this Count Yuri Fydorervich and his fellows couldn’t have survived the blast. There was no
thing there. I must confess you appear to have upset the old natives, sir. They were popping their guns off for all that they were worth. It is a pity we were told to lay of Sheikh Mahmud. He was talking to his men in the main square. He looked like he was working them up into a frenzy. We could have dropped half a dozen bombs and just walked into Sulaimaniya. Politicians eh?”
“They certainly make life harder for us and that is no mistake.”
He looked at my apparel and shook his head. That Flight Sergeant! I told him to sort some togs out for you! Sorry about this sir.”
I shook my head, “It doesn’t matter.”
“It does sir. Lord Palmer invited you and Squadron Leader Thomson to dinner tonight.”
“How did he know that I would be here?”
“Oh, I mentioned it to him yesterday when I was in Kirkuk. We had supplies to deliver and I was at school with his Military Attaché, Captain Pendenning. I called in for a chat and your name came up. What size shoes, sir?”
“Er a nine.”
“I will get some decent gear sent over.”
I told Jack the news and we went to the sickbay. Both patients were sitting up. Ralph Fox still looked weak. He opened his eyes, “I am told, sir, that I owe you my life.”
I shook my head, “Just gave you a bit of a hand.”
He gave me a wan smile. “There is more to you than meets the eye sir. I thought I could handle myself but you managed to kill two Russians and all I could do was get myself cut up.”
“It is in the past. If it hadn’t been for you we wouldn’t have found them. All’s well that ends well.” I suddenly remembered the wallets and papers I had taken. “When you are well enough I have the papers from the Russians. It might tell us more about them.” He nodded, “And you Flight Lieutenant Parr, thank you for helping us to escape. If you hadn’t fired the Lewis gun it might have gone badly for us.”
“Aye sir well if I hadn’t had to take a pee…” He shook his head. “I always had a weak bladder! Nearly cost me my life!” I had to laugh for he looked outraged that his bladder had nearly jeopardised the mission.
Squadron Leader Barnes was as good as his word. We had decent tunics and trousers as well as highly polished shoes. They were delivered by a red-faced Flight Sergeant Dixon. He had obviously been chewed out by the Squadron Leader. I had a shave and felt much cleaner. The beards had obviously helped us. I would have a haircut back in Baghdad. We were driven into Kirkuk in a lorry. We saw that the damage from the riots and unrest had all been repaired. Compared with Sulaimaniya, Kirkuk looked almost prosperous. The residency, however, looked like a fortress. There were two sandbagged machine gun emplacements at the entrance. Barbed wire flanked them and I saw, on the roof, two riflemen. The sergeant in charge had the men stand to attention as we entered.
Lord Palmer himself appeared in the entrance. He was wearing a white dinner jacket and sporting a black tie. “Wing Commander, Squadron Leader, how good of you to accept my invitation.” He waved an apologetic arm around, “Sorry about the wire and the guns but it was a little wild during the unrest. We now have a contingency plan. If it happens again then all the British will be brought here for their own safety.”
The inside of the building was cool. I had been told that one of the local lords had had it built when the Turks ruled. He had done a good job. The marble hall made the rest of the residency comfortably cool.
“I have invited a few of the businessmen to dine with us tonight. When they heard you would be here they wished to come and show their appreciation. It is no secret that it was your aeroplanes which prevented the unrest from becoming a full-scale rebellion.”
He opened the dining room and I saw, to my dismay, that there were twenty other guests. The dining room was full. Even worse they all applauded as we entered. I found myself blushing. I saw a wry smile on the face of Lady Isabel. Jack seemed bemused by it all. Jack was seated next to Lord Palmer and I was between the Resident and his sister. She said, quietly, as I sat, “I have never seen a man so discomfited by a compliment. You are a very modest man, Wing Commander.”
“I was just doing my job, your ladyship.”
“In the Great War I would that we had had men of your calibre making the decisions. Many more lives might have been saved.”
Lord Palmer said, “And now I understand you have destroyed one of the men behind the attacks?”
“Hopefully yes but Count Yuri Fydorervich is a very slippery customer.”
His lordship said, “I met him during the Great War.” He nodded, “I agree with you. He was an incredibly unpleasant and venal man. And you say he was behind the attacks?”
“We believe so. I have some papers we took from some of his men. Perhaps that will confirm it.”
“I hope so. You have done a great service to us and I am grateful.”
“What I fail to understand, your lordship is why we weren’t allowed to bomb Sheikh Mahmud’s headquarters too. Why is he protected?”
“Do not think conspiracy, Wing Commander, it is just that he represents the only chance we have for stability. Our mandate is to make this land secure. The Cairo conference appointed King Abdullah as king but, in case you didn’t know, he declined to take the crown. He prefers life in Saudi Arabia. There are moves to make his brother, Faisal, king. Sheikh Mahmud is the one who could bring the Kurds and the Shia on side. They are the ones opposed to a king. Regard Sheikh Mahmud as a rather headstrong man. He will be brought under our wing once more.”
“So, we sup with the devil?”
Lady Isabel put her hand on mine, “Your world is a simpler one than the world of the diplomat, Wing Commander. Now, let us put this Sheikh Mahmud from our minds, tell me more about your family. I envy you. My son was taken from me. I wager your parents dote on their grandchildren.”
“They do but we live a long way from them.” Lady Isabel’s words made me feel guilty. When I next had a leave, I would take them up to Burscough. It had been too long.
I enjoyed telling Lady Isabel all about my family. It brought my children and my wife closer to me. By now they would be back in England. I could expect a letter soon. The conversation lifted my spirits. As we sipped the port Lord Palmer said, “If we have a period of quiet, Wing Commander, then you might be granted a leave. You could return to your family briefly eh?”
“The R.A.F. doesn’t work that way, your lordship. Besides I am not certain that peace is on the horizon. We have dampened the fire rather than extinguishing it.” I said no more for I was aware that there were merchants and businessmen around the table as well as soldiers.
“You mean Turkey?” I glanced around in case anyone had heard. He smiled, “If you notice, Wing Commander, the civilians are not within earshot. I am a careful man. Turkey will risk much if it backs the Kurds. That would be a marriage of convenience which would be doomed to a very messy divorce.”
Lady Isabel said, “And they have no air force. Since the airfield has been built I see how aeroplanes can change modern wars. When your aeroplanes strafed and bombed Kirkuk I was amazed at their precision. If the Kurds do try to rise I am confident that your fine fliers will quell it.”
I did not like this confidence. We had been lucky and only lost a couple of men and aeroplanes. If the enemy ever realised how vulnerable an aeroplane was then things could go badly for us. As Jack and I were given our coats he said, “Nice people sir. I mean I am an ordinary chap, my dad is a clerk in a bank but Lord Randolph and Lady Isabel spoke to me without any airs and graces.”
“I know. Lord Burscough was my first pilot and he was a good chap too. The trouble is that a lot of them like Lord Burscough and Lady Isabel’s son died in the Great War. Where are their children? There were many who sat out the war making money. There were politicians who did nothing. That is why Sheikh Mahmud is being protected. It is self-interest and it does not sit well with me.”
As I was leaving one of the businessmen came over. He had a north country accent. I placed him around Manchester. He wa
s a portly man. I noticed that he had had plenty to drink. He pumped my hand enthusiastically, “Wing Commander, this is an honour. I am Bert Hepplewhite. You are a Lancashire lad like me. I was only in at the end of the war but I remember reading about you. When I write and tell my old dad about this he will be made up.” He reached into his pocket and took out a leather pouch. “I am a tobacco exporter and I know you smoke a pipe. I had this blend made up for you when I knew we were meeting. I would be honoured if you would accept it.”
“Thank you, Mr Hepplewhite, that is most kind of you.”
He shook his head, “For what you did for our country in the Great War, well we can’t do enough!”
We drove back to the airfield. The wine, the night without sleep and a full stomach ensured that I was asleep almost instantly. The Ninaks were repaired and Jack and I flew them back to Baghdad the next day. Major Fox and Parr were taken south in the Air Ambulance. When I went to the office it was largely empty. There was just Sergeant Major Davis and Billings there. “Sir John flew to Cairo sir. Some pow wow going on. I think they are worried about the Turks. He was pleased with the raid, sir and even more pleased that you emerged unscathed.”
“Major Fox will need time to recover.”
“Captain Griffiths is a good bloke sir. He ran a tight ship with the Major away. Flight Lieutenant Ritchie kept your Snipes in the air. Things were quiet around here. Mind you I think it is the quiet before the storm, sir.”
“What makes you say that, Sarn’t Major?”
“I know you got rid of the locals, sir but the lads who get the fresh fruit and veg from the bazaar listen to the natives and they all think that they are waiting for something.” He shrugged. “Can’t say what though, sir.”
I went to my quarters. I needed to wear my own clothes. Borrowed ones did not sit well with me. Then I took out the wallets and papers of the two men we had killed. Most of the papers were in Russian. I could speak a few words but I couldn’t understand it. I decided I would send the Russian papers to Mr Balfour. The wallets yielded a serious amount of currency. Some sterling and other east European notes. The passports, however, were British! It was the older single sheet folded into eight. There was a simple carboard cover. I had one of the brand new blue ones which had just been introduced. I knew they were forgeries when I saw the names: John Smith and Herbert Jones. The two men whom we had killed did not bear those names. I put the passports to one side. I would show them to both Sir John and Major Fox. False passports made us vulnerable. How many more were out there?