The Fokkers came without warning. Even as I was considering my course of action they plunged from the skies and attacked us from behind. In my mirror I saw Jack Fall as his Camel began to spiral out of control. Ralph Carter in front of him was my least experienced pilot and it showed. He tried to climb and I saw his body judder as he was hit by two Fokkers.
I banked to port, looking for a target. As I did so I saw Archie’s aeroplane as it exploded in the air. I had thought our war was over. I had thought we had suffered our last death and I was wrong. The bastards would pay. As I banked around I saw, just twenty feet from me, a Fokker. I had no time to think and I just fired. His engine was hit and I saw the propeller stop. I fired again and hit him. He plunged to the ground as the next Fokker tried to turn and fire at me. Wally’s bullets hit the pilot a moment or two before my bullets shredded his undercarriage.
As I came around I saw, to my amazement, that there were no German aeroplanes in the sky. We had been attacked by just eight aeroplanes and they had all been shot down. We had lost just the three aeroplanes but that did not make me feel any better. Archie had gone west along with Jack and poor Ralph. I turned the Camel around and headed back to the field. As I flew I ran through my conversation with Archie. I thought about poor Jack. He had planned on remaining a pilot in the new Royal Air Force; that would not happen now. Poor Ralph was due to be married at the end of the war and, like Jamie, his dream would remain unfulfilled.
Not a word was spoken as we trudged to the office. Randolph had a smile on his face and the whisky open as we walked in. One look at our faces and the lack of Archie made him slump into his seat.
“No, not Archie?”
I nodded, “And Jack Fall and Ralph Carter. We were ambushed.” I raised my glass, “Archie!”
“Archie!”
I did not have the words to tell what had happened. Ted had been at the rear and he told Randolph what had occurred. I wanted to be alone and I emptied my glass and headed for my quarters. Bates had had his cat’s whiskers working again and he was ready with the right words and a hot bath.
“Colonel Leach was a gentleman and he was proud of this squadron. Simpkins, his batman told me many times that he thought he was incredibly lucky to lead such fine young men. He regarded you, Major Harsker as his protégé. He was as proud of you as his own sons. He had been a soldier all of his life and he died a soldier. I hear he didn’t suffer.”
He said that as though it made a difference. Dead was dead. But I knew he meant well. “No, Bates, he didn’t suffer.”
“And sir, this makes you the Squadron Leader; they will all be looking to you. You will need some words tonight. It will be expected.”
Terror filled me, “I can’t say anything! I will make a fool of myself! I don’t have the words!”
“Have your bath sir and another whisky. Trust in the lord and the words will come to you.”
I did not believe him but I obeyed his orders. He was right; I had to say something. Either the whisky or the bath worked for I had the words. When I came out I said, “Send for Captain Marshall, I need to speak with him.”
Randolph looked awful when he arrived. “I know it is hard but you and I, along with Ted, are the senior officers now. We have to set an example. I want formal dress tonight. We owe it to Archie.”
He stiffened, “You are right… Squadron Leader.” I looked at him. “General Trenchard was told about Archie. The promotion is premature; the ranks won’t come into effect until January but that is your new rank sir and you are the Commanding Officer of this squadron. At least until hostilities cease.”
After he had gone Bates said, “Congratulations. No more than you deserve.”
The squadron looked magnificent in their dress uniforms. The mess sergeants and orderlies had broken out the best cutlery and they too were dressed impeccably. Before we began, Senior Flight Sergeant Lowery marched into the mess also in his full dress uniform. He stood before me and saluted, “Sit, forgive this unwarranted intrusion but I just wanted to congratulate you on the promotion and to tell you, as a former sergeant,” he allowed the briefest of smiles, “that the Sergeant’s Mess will also be honouring a great man this evening.” He stood to attention and then did a smart about face and left.
The meal was beautifully cooked. The cooks had gone to great lengths to make it perfect. There was just a murmur of conversation as we ate. I was flanked by Randolph and Ted while Doc Brennan sat on the other side of Ted. The doctor appeared to have aged ten years since the morning. After the meal everyone looked at me expectantly. I stood.
“Gentlemen, charge your glasses.” They all stood. “To Colonel Archibald Wilberforce Leach.”
When they had toasted Archie I waved them to their seats. “Bates said that I ought to say a few words about Archie.” Everyone knew Bates and they smiled. “I was not certain I knew what to say about such a tragedy. I thought, when my regiment was wiped out in 1914, that no greater tragedy could occur. I was wrong. This is the last in a series of deaths which has taken almost all of my friends.” I looked down at Ted who raised his glass to me. “I will not list their names for it would not be seemly for me to break down before you. Rest assured that I will mourn them all in my own way. Archie was a great leader. He was quietly spoken but you knew where you stood with him. He was kind and he was thoughtful. I am most upset because I knew he had a future planned for his wife and his sons. He was to be a farmer. That was not meant to be. But today we also lost two more comrades. Captain Marshall has told me that since 1915 we have lost over eighty pilots and thirty gunners. We have rarely mentioned them. That was remiss of us.”
I found my voice was breaking and so I took another drink of the whisky, “We also lost today a young pilot Ralph Carter. He had been with us for weeks only and yet he was as much a part of this squadron as Archie Leach. We will miss him. And poor Jack Fall who watched the rear of my flight for the past six months. What a tragedy that he will not fly again.”
Just then the door burst open and Jack stood there with his arm in a sling. I did not know what to say. I knew I had to finish what I had started, “Give Lieutenant Fall a drink and I can finish my speech and we can celebrate his return from the dead!”
George Jenkin gave him a drink and sat him down. I saw smiles replacing frowns and felt the hope surge in the mess. “I had nearly finished. Let me see if I can get through this. Soon this war will be over. Some of us will stay in the service while others will move on to other things. I may never get a chance to command you again so let me give you one order now and I hope that you will all swear to obey it. For the rest of your lives live your lives for those who have no life to live. Each decision you make should be determined by a reflection on what our dead comrades would have done. The land we go back to will be broken. We owe to those who died to make it even greater in their memory. And when there is a quiet time each day, perhaps in the pub or watching the fire or looking at a sunset; we will remember them for if we fail to do so then their deaths will have been in vain.”
Epilogue
The war ended a week later. We had no more losses. Within a week we were sent home. Many of the men took the opportunity to return to civilian life while those of us who would remain in the service were told to await orders. I will always remember the day the war ended for that was the day that John Charles Albert Harsker was born. When I reached Burscough on the twentieth of November I walked into my home and saw my wife with a perfect baby. My mother burst into tears and hugged me. Even Beattie cried. Then she stood and put the child in my arms.
“Here is your son. We named him in honour of…” She began to cry, well you know... I hope you approve of the names.”
I nodded, I too was close to tears. I looked at my son who stared seriously at me. I wondered if he would cry. Instead his mouth creased into a smile which, as Ted had told me, meant he had wind. But his eyes glowed and that was not wind. “Well son, I am your dad. And you have been named after three of the finest men I knew. If
I named you after every brave man with whom I have fought then we would take all day to speak your name. I can see in your eyes that you will be just as brave as they were and you will do your duty. That, in the end, is all that a man can do.”
I cradled him in my arms as my father came to shake my hand. “Well done son. I am proud of you.”
The door leading to the upstairs opened and there I saw Caroline Fox. She opened it fearfully. I could see that she was almost due to give birth. I handed my son back to Beattie and went to her. I took her hands in mine. “Your husband was a brave man who died well. He has been awarded the MC. It is no exchange for your husband but it will be something to show his child. It will be a memory to cherish. I promised him that I would care for you and his child as though you were my own. It was a promise made to a dying man and I swear that I will honour that pledge.” I saw Beattie nod and knew that it would be fine.
I found that I could plan and organise far better after the experience of the war. I was helped when Bates came to Burscough a few days later. He had rejoined and would be my servant as long as I served. He helped to organise to rent a larger cottage on the estate from Lady Mary. Her ladyship, my sisters and my parents were all delighted. Emma Mary Fox was born on Christmas Day 1918 and she was perfect. As I strolled outside having a last pipe of the night I began to make plans. I was to take up my new post in March that gave me enough time to take Beattie and see Lumpy. What I had to tell him could not be put in a letter and besides I wanted to see him in his new home. We would then visit Gordy and Mary. They would be anxious to see my new child too and then I would see Ted so that we could plan the squadron reunion. I had told the squadron that we would remember them and I planned to do so every year. They deserved the honour.
I looked up at the sky, “Well, Jamie, I have kept my promise.” I put my arms by my side, “And to the rest of you I say, it was an honour to serve with you all. Rest in peace.” I stood looking at the stars and saluted my comrades in the sky.
The End
Glossary
BEF- British Expeditionary Force
Beer Boys-inexperienced fliers (slang)
Blighty- Britain (slang)
Boche- German (slang)
Bowser- refuelling vehicle
Bus- aeroplane (slang)
Corned dog- corned beef (slang)
Craiglockhart- A Victorian building taken over by the military and used to treat shell shocked soldiers. Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen both spent time there.
Crossley- an early British motor car
Dewar Flask- an early Thermos invented in 1890
Donkey Walloper- Horseman (slang)
Fizzer- a charge (slang)
Foot Slogger- Infantry (slang)
Gaspers- Cigarettes (slang)
Google eyed booger with the tit- gas mask (slang)
Griffin (Griff) - confidential information (slang)
Hun- German (slang)
Jagdgeschwader – four German Jasta flying under one leader
Jasta- a German Squadron
Jippo- the shout that food was ready from the cooks (slang)
Kanone 14- 10cm German artillery piece
Killick- Leading seaman (slang-Royal Navy)
Lanchester- a prestigious British car with the same status as a Rolls Royce
Loot- a second lieutenant (slang)
Lufbery Circle- An aerial defensive formation
M.C. - Military Cross (for officers only)
M.M. - Military Medal (for other ranks introduced in 1915)
Nelson’s Blood- rum (slang- Royal Navy)
Nicked- stolen (slang)
Number ones- Best uniform (slang)
Oblt. - Oberlieutenant (abbr.)
Oppo- workmate/friend (slang)
Outdoor- the place they sold beer in a pub to take away (slang)
Parkin or Perkin- a soft cake traditionally made of oatmeal and black treacle, which originated in northern England.
Pop your clogs- die (slang)
Posser- a three legged stool attached to a long handle and used to agitate washing in the days before washing machines
Pickelhaube- German helmet with a spike on the top. Worn by German soldiers until 1916
Pukka- Very good/efficient (slang)
Rugger- Rugby (slang)
Scousers- Liverpudlians (slang)
Shufti- a quick look (slang)
Scheiße- Shit (German)
Singer 10 - a British car developed by Lionel Martin who went on to make Aston Martins
Staffelführer- Jasta commander
The smoke- London (slang)
Toff- aristocrat (slang)
V.C. - Victoria Cross, the highest honour in the British Army
Maps
Map courtesy of Wikipedia
Courtesy of Wikipedia –Public Domain
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Historical note
This is my fifth foray into what might be called modern history. The advantage of the Dark Ages is that there are few written records and the writer’s imagination can run riot- and usually does! If I have introduced a technology slightly early or moved an action it is in the interest of the story and the character. The FE 2 is introduced a month or so before the actual aeroplane. The Red Baron is shot down, for the first time, six weeks before he really was. The Sopwith Camel arrived at the end of May rather than the middle. I have tried to make this story more character based. I have used the template of some real people and characters that lived at the time.
The Short Magazine Lee Enfield had a ten shot magazine and enabled a rifleman to get off 20-30 shots in a minute. It was accurate at 300 yards. Both cavalry and infantry were issued with the weapon.
For those readers who do not come from England I have tried to write the way that people in that part of Lancashire speak. As with many northerners they say ‘owt’ for anything and ‘Eeeh’ is just a way of expressing surprise. As far as I know there is no Lord Burscough but I know that Lord Derby had a huge house not far away in Standish and I have based the fictitious Lord Burscough on him. The area around Burscough and Ormskirk is just north of the heavily industrialised belt which runs from Leeds, through Manchester, to Liverpool. It is a very rural area with many market gardens. It afforded me the chance to have rural and industrial England, cheek by jowl. The food they eat is also typical of that part of Lancashire. Harsker is a name from the area apparently resulting from a party of Vikings who settled in the area some centuries earlier. Bearing in mind my earlier Saxon and Viking books I could not resist the link, albeit tenuous, with my earlier novels.
The rear firing Lewis gun was not standard issue and was an improvised affair. Here is a photograph of one in action.
The photograph demonstrates the observer's firing positions in the Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2d. The observer's cockpit was fitted with three guns, one or two fixed forward-firing for the pilot to aim, one moveable forward-firing and one moveable rear-firing mounted on a pole over the upper wing. The observer had to stand on his seat in order to use the rear-firing gun.
This artistic work created by the United Kingdom Government is in the public domain. This is because it is one of the following:
It is a photograph created by the United Kingdom Government and taken prior to 1 June 1957; or
It was commercially published prior to 1964; or
It is an artistic work other than a photograph or engraving (e.g. a painting) which was created by the United Kingdom Government prior to 1964. HMSO has declared that the expiry of Crown Copyrights applies worldwide.
An F.E.2 without armament
This image is in the public domain because the copyright has expired. This applies to Australia, the European Union and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 70 years.
Radios were fitted to aeroplanes from as early as 1914. They could only transmit. The ground radios could only receive. By 1916 320 aeroplanes had radios fitted. Oxyge
n was introduced, mainly in bombers, from 1917 onwards. It was needed when the aeroplanes were operated at high altitude and by the end of the war aeroplanes were capable of operating at 20000 feet!
Sopwith Camel courtesy of Wikipedia
Bristol F2b Courtesy of Wikipedia
This variant was faster than the F2A of which only 52 were built. Ted and Gordy’s are the F2A variant and the later ones, the faster F2B, which could reach speeds of 80 mph.
Fokker Dr.1 Triplane
Baron Von Richthofen was actually shot down by an FE 2 during the later stages of the Battle of the Somme in one of his first forays over the Western front. In this novel it is Bill who has that honour. The Red Baron is portrayed as the pilot of the Halberstadt with the yellow propeller. Of course the Red Baron got his revenge by shooting down the leading British ace of the time, Major Lanoe Hawker VC. Major Hawker, was flying the DH2 while the Red Baron flew the superior Albatros DIII. The Red Baron took over Jasta 11 in January 1917 and he made a huge difference. Until he had arrived not a single aeroplane had been shot down by the Jasta. He had a kill on his first day. His squadron was known as the Flying Circus because they were all painted differently and in very bright colours. His was all red but every one of his aeroplanes had the colour red somewhere in the colour scheme. In the summer of 1917 the Germans reorganised their Jastas so that Richthofen was in command of four fighter squadrons. He was shot down while flying a Fokker Dr1 Triplane. It was painted in his favourite red colour.
The circle devised by Bill and Billy really existed. It was known as a Lufbery circle. The gunner of each F.E.2 could cover the blind spot under the tail of his neighbour and several gunners could fire on any enemy attacking the group. There were occasions when squadrons used this tactic to escape the Fokker monoplane and the later fighters which the Germans introduced to wrest air superiority from the Gunbus. It made for slow progress home but they, generally, got there safely. It was a formation that two seaters could employ in the latter years of the war when they were faced with the newer, faster fighters.
1918 We will remember them Page 27