by Griff Hosker
“Sir! Rock!”
We struck the rock with our nose wheel. The rear of the aeroplane rose alarmingly and then, thankfully crashed down. I heard something crack and break. We both clambered from the Gunbus. I reached the ground before Hutton who was struggling with his layers. We had broken the propeller, the nose wheel and the tail had broken off. However, as we walked away from the Gunbus I remembered what Ted had first told me when I had started to fly. ‘Any landing you walk away from is a good landing.’
Chapter 14
There was a farmhouse close by the field. We wandered over on the off chance that there might be an occupant. Although the wrecked door suggested that the farmer and his family had fled. The cupboards were bare and anything soldiers might be able to use had been taken. The only items which remained were the armchairs and couch and a couple of broken down beds. There were a couple of broken picture frames showing the family at a beach somewhere; they were dressed in their finest. It was a sad reminder of happier days.
“Well someone robbed these poor people and no mistake.”
“I think, Lumpy, that the family would have taken everything of value. Their lives would be more important than possession. I reckon when this war is over some people at home might realise that too.”
“For me they always have been, sir.”
We found a road not far from the field and we waited. The road had to lead to the front and, sooner or later, a vehicle would come by. Eventually I heard the rumble of a lorry. It pulled up next to us and a young head popped out. “Captain Harsker! Bert’s brother! What are you doing out here?”
“Do I know you?”
“You bought us a pint in Boulogne, sir.”
“Ah yes. We crashed over there. Any chance of a ride back to our field?”
“Of course, sir. Jump on board.”
After we had given him directions we headed along the road. “We saw your aeroplane not long ago sir. You were trailing smoke. The lads all wondered if you would make it. Bert will be made up when I tell him I met you.”
I felt relief. I had wanted to ask the question but dreaded the answer. “How is he?”
“Oh he is fine. He is a Lance Corporal now.” His face became sad. “We lost a few lads in the attack. The Hun countermined our tunnel and twenty of the lads were buried alive. Bert showed he could lead men when the chips were down and they made him a Lance.”
I shuddered. That was a horrible way to go. There were no pleasant ways to die in this war but it seemed to me that with gas and tunnels we were making more horrible ways for a man to die than in the past. It only took twenty minutes to reach the field. Another five minutes in the air and we would have been home.
“Thank you for the lift, private. Tell our Bert to be careful!”
He laughed, “That is a bit rich sir, if you don’t mind me saying so sir. You have just crash landed in a field and you are telling him to be careful. But I will pass on your message.”
As we walked towards the mess tent Lumpy said, “He is right, sir. You do take some fearful risks.”
We watched as Gordy’s flight landed. The other pilots and gunners waiting had not noticed us, walking in from the road, and they crowded around the three aeroplanes as the crews descended.
We were thirty yards away and I saw Lieutenant Holt run up to him, “Any sign of Captain Harsker.”
Gordy shook his head. Hutton cocked his head in their direction, “Shall you tell ‘em sir or me?”
“Let me. Have you chaps lost someone?”
They all turned and stared. Ted shook his head, “Where’s your bus then?”
“The field here was too crowded so we left it twenty minutes away.”
Freddy Carrick said, “How on earth did you get away? When we looked back they were all swarming around you. We were convinced you had bought it.”
“It was a little close but Airman Hutton here had a surprise up his sleeve. He has downed a Fokker with a Mills Bomb.”
That brought a mixture of laughter and applause. He looked a little abashed by the attention from the other gunners. “I’ll just go and change, sir. These layers are a bit warm when you are on the ground.”
“Righto and well done, airman. Today you were outstanding.”
I strode to the mess tent with Gordy and Ted. Major Leach had heard the commotion and he walked from the Headquarters’ tent. “I suspect you have an interesting report to write, Captain Harsker.”
“That I have sir.” I gestured behind me to Lumpy Hutton who was now surrounded by his peers. “I would like to recommend Hutton for promotion and a medal. He downed a Fokker with a Mills Bomb.”
“Did he by George? I think we might well manage the promotion but I don’t think they have medals for other ranks; apart from the V.C. that is. The colonel had already mentioned promoting him and Laithwaite anyway. It seems an anomaly to have those two just as airmen when all the other gunners are Flight Sergeants. Come inside and tell us all about how you managed to escape.”
The colonel came to listen too. When I had finished he said, “What could have turned out to be a disaster has been somewhat salvaged. Lieutenant Hewitt, what did you discover?”
“By the time we reached the front there were just a few burning aeroplanes and I could see the Fokkers heading east. We assumed that Bill had bought it as there was no sign of his aeroplane.”
“I was hedgehopping. I was almost out of fuel. I hope they can repair her.”
“Don’t worry they will give it their best efforts. Well if you would write your report and then you can have a rest for a while. I think tomorrow we will just send out half the squadron and stay on our side of the lines. Their bombers were badly shot up by Lieutenant Thomas here.”
Ted looked embarrassed. “We managed to shoot down three and damage two.”
“Well done!”
“I know but we left you in the lurch. We could see them swarming all over you and knew that you were keeping them off our backs.”
“Don’t worry about it, Ted. It all worked out for the best. I was just worried that Johnny Holt and Freddy Carrick would have bought it. They took some punishment.”
“Don’t worry Captain, they will be mentioned in despatches.” The colonel pointed to the tent wall, as though it was a window, “If the weather deteriorates much more then we will not have many more opportunities for such patrols. It will give us time to build up our strength again. Anyway gentlemen, thank you for your efforts today.”
As we stood to leave, Ted asked, “Sir, is there any chance of some wooden huts for the winter? It is a bit cold for tents.”
“I thought that myself. We have some Royal Engineers coming next week. They will make our home a little more permanent.”
“And that, of course, means no one thinks the front line will be moving any time soon.”
“Quite right Lieutenant Hewitt. The Loos offensive gained more ground than most but it was still only a couple of miles and bought with the blood of too many Tommies.”
It took three days to dismantle and bring my wrecked aeroplane from the field and it lay forlornly on the grass while we waited for spares.
Before the Engineers arrived we received a missive from Headquarters. It did not affect us directly but it showed the way the war had changed. There was to be no fraternising with the Germans over Christmas. I remembered that the first year of the war had seen Christmas Day football matches and the exchanging of gifts. That would not happen again. The war had become too serious. If we fraternised we might realise that we had much more in common than we knew.
The arrival of the Royal Engineers was greeted like a visit by the King. We were all keen to have them start work and so we watched their lorries as they arrived. To my delight I saw Lance Corporal Albert Harsker jump down and set to work. I decided not to embarrass him. I would wait until they had a brew and then speak with him.
Lumpy Hutton had become quite a celebrity since the hand grenade incident. He had proved himself to be a resourceful
and resilient airman. Even some of the older and more experienced gunners sought his advice. He was a man who knew many things. He seemed to be a fountain of all knowledge; both useful and useless. Although as he told me ‘There’s no such thing as useless knowledge. It’s just stuff you haven’t needed yet!”
I suppose having been a miner he relished the open air more than most and took everything in good part. Life above ground suited him. Nothing seemed to get him down.
Our poor Gunbus was looking very sorry for herself. There was no propeller and her undercarriage was wrecked beyond repair. Laithwaite and a couple of mechanics were helping Lumpy who was whistling happily as he worked. He saw me coming. “Sir, this bullet proofing; it works but I can’t move. I am going to just use the bully beef tins and one layer of cardboard.”
“I’d hate to lose you, Lumpy. It works you know.” I pointed to the holes we could see in the nacelle and the three 9mm bullets in the bottom of the cockpit.
“I know sir but I couldn’t get to the rear Lewis and that nearly cost us. I won’t take as many layers next time. Besides Jack here reckons thinner layers are better anyway.”
“I leave that to you. Thank you Airman Laithwaite. I appreciate your efforts.”
He smiled, “We Donkey Wallopers have to stay together sir!”
I heard the cooks shout, “Tea and Jippo!”
“Are you lads coming?”
Lumpy pointed to the Engineers. “Best let them get it first sir and that way we might have a warm billet for the night.”
A wise man was our soon to be Sergeant Hutton. I strolled along to the mess that they were using. I saw Bert in the line and I waited until he had his tea and bacon sandwich. Of course the men called it ‘a bacon butty’. Back home it might be a bacon bap but whatever it was called the smell made you hungry. When I had spoken with Bert I would grab one myself.
I waited until he and his mates had collected their steaming mugs and were walking back to the building site munching on the steaming, greasy feasts before I approached him. “Now then Bert!”
He grinned from ear to ear. “I heard this was your airfield and wondered if I would see you. Cedric told me about your crash. You had better not tell mum she worries enough anyway.”
“Aye well it is a good job that she knows nowt about what you do either. I heard that some of your lads were killed by a mine.”
He shrugged as he finished the butty and wiped the grease from his face with the back of his hand. He pointed to the sky. “We are both in the same boat really. Something bad happens to you and you fall from the sky. Something bad happens to me and the sky, so to speak, falls in on us. Both are less of a risk than dying like Tom and John, charging machine guns.”
He was right.
“Lance Corporal Harsker, stop bothering that officer and get back to work!”
I turned and saw a Second Lieutenant. He looked to be about fourteen and I was not even sure he had started shaving. “Thank you Lieutenant but my brother is not bothering me and,” I waved my arm around at the other engineers who were on their break, “as you can see it is their break.”
He blushed, “Sorry sir, I didn’t know. Er carry on Harsker!”
Bert said drily, “Thank you sir. Very good of you I’m sure.”
The officer beetled away as quickly as he could. “Who is that?”
“Lieutenant Smythe; he’s not so bad.”
One of his mates said, “Aye so long as he doesn’t give any orders. He hasn’t the first clue.”
“That’s enough Arthur. He’s our officer and we support him.” He rolled his eyes. “Anyway Bill, he’s right we should get back to work. We have to get this done in two days and the ground is frozen solid. We’ll chat again.” He gave an exaggerated salute and a wink, “Sir!”
As I strolled off to get myself a bacon sandwich I found myself marvelling at the change in Bert. He had become a self confident young man and had a maturity beyond his years. The army had been good for him. I hoped that the war would be as kind.
The wooden quarters were finished just in time. The weather got even colder and wetter. Christmas was almost upon us. Gordy was delighted and thankful to be the first one to be granted leave. He had a week. He had the shortest journey of any of us for Mary lived in London. It would be less than a day’s travel whereas the rest of us would need a whole day just to get home. We would have a bare five days with our loved ones. That was the luck of the draw and none of us begrudged Gordy his extra hours with his young lady.
As we said goodbye he was like a puppy with two tails. “I am grateful that you lads decided that I could be the first to go on leave. I can’t wait to see Mary.”
“You ought to think about telling her your intentions Gordy.”
“I told you; she has been made a widow once and I am not going to turn her into another one. This war can’t go on forever. We will wait. I’ll make sure we have a lovely leave together.”
I was not sure. I had seen too many young men die and Gordy was not immortal.
The Engineers had done a good job. Each mess had a pot bellied stove as did the barracks. The officers were quartered in separate bedrooms but we all shared one building, again warmed by a pot bellied stove. I had forgotten what it was like to be warm and I found myself sitting on a chair before the stove smoking my pipe and not actually doing anything. I just luxuriated in the warmth of the cosy room. I realised that we took such things for granted when at home but they were precious and to be savoured.
Our aeroplane was repaired on Christmas Eve. I received permission from the colonel to take her up for a test. Johnny and Freddy insisted on accompanying me. Ostensibly it was to see how their own repaired aeroplanes had fared but I knew they were watching over me.
We headed for the front. It was quiet. The guns had been silent for a few days. There might not be a truce but the soldiers on the ground wanted a peaceful Christmas even in the damp and muddy trenches rimmed with frost. I had decided not to risk No-Man’s Land and so we climbed to nine thousand feet. It was too cold to stooge around there too long and I took the flight down to a thousand feet. It was still cold but the aeroplane preferred it.
It was such a clear day that we could see behind the German lines. There appeared to be a lot of traffic on the roads. There were both vehicles and horses. I was tempted to go and see what it meant but I was aware that there were just three of us and I could not risk it. We landed and I told the Major of my discovery.
“Interesting. Do you think they are trying something? Perhaps they intend an attack during or just after Christmas?”
“I don’t know sir. We know that they think things through better than we do and their generals appear to have some thought to their plans.”
The Major gave me a wry smile, “It is sad to see one so young and yet so cynical. I’ll have a chat with the colonel. Now you go and get a warm.”
With a quarter of the squadron on leave it was a comfortable time to be in the mess. The Engineers had given us a sort of lounge with wooden chairs and a basic table and a door led to the dining area. The food was brought from the kitchens. It was a simple arrangement but there were only fifteen officers and it suited us.
I sat and read a two month old newspaper. It felt almost civilised. Ted joined me. “You know Bill we could do with a few comfortable chairs. I mean it is Christmas Day tomorrow. I don’t fancy sitting around getting splinters up me backside!”
“You have such a way with words.” I had a sudden idea. “Go and get a lorry, I think I know where we can get some.”
Ted got on well with the sergeants and he honked the horn in no time at all. I grabbed my coat and was about to climb on board when Captain Marshall appeared. “Where are you two off to?”
“We are going to do a little bit of Christmas shopping.”
I could see the puzzled look on his face as Ted headed for the gate. I directed him towards the front. “We aren’t going to the German lines are we? I mean I don’t mind it in a Gunbus but no
t a lorry.”
“Trust me we will get nowhere near the front.” Ten minutes later I said, “Turn in here.”
We pulled up next to the deserted farmhouse where Lumpy and I had crashed our aeroplane. I opened the living door and said, “Tara,” like a fanfare.
Ted smiled. “I take the folks here have gone.”
“This is about the only stuff worth taking. I don’t think they would want it now.” We carried the three armchairs and the couch and put them in the back of the lorry. We explored the house. We found other homely touches which we took: a small table complete with dirty lace cloth, an oil lamp and a padded footstool.
Feeling pleased with ourselves we headed back to the airfield. Most of the other officers were still busy with their aeroplanes or catching forty winks in a warm bedroom. Ted and I arranged the furniture. We stood back feeling well pleased with ourselves. Having acquired the furniture we claimed the two armchairs next to the stove. I lit my pipe and resumed the reading of my paper. Ted lit a cigarette and stretched out his legs as though he was back home in his own parlour.
The door opened and the Major and Captain Marshall stood there. Captain Marshall began to laugh, “I see now what you meant about shopping! Where on earth did you get it?”
“There was a bombed out farmhouse just down the road, close to where I crashed. Everything of value had been taken; apart from these.”
Major Leach shook me vigorously by the hand. “You deserve a medal for this alone. I have a bottle of blended whisky. That seat is mine. I’ll be back in a minute.”
As the dusk fell the four of us sat with a glass of whisky in our hands feeling at one with the world. When the lieutenants came in their jaws dropped then they all fought for a place on the couch next to Captain Marshall. It was the last comfortable seat left. Freddy showed intelligence by grabbing the footstool.
Johnny asked the major, “Where did it come from?”
“Father Christmas!”
They looked at the major as though he was drunk. He shook his head, “Captain Harsker here got them. That is showing initiative. And remember you young men, these chairs are for you only when we are not here! Respect your elders!”