Diary And Letters Of A World War I Fighter Pilot, The

by Christopher Burgess

  No more news at present I think.

  Ever so much love to you & Dad & Ginger

  Your loving girl

  May

  From the Reminiscences of May Knocker

  That leave (January 1918) was a most joyful one. I discovered that my younger brother, who was now flying in France, was also home for a few days. We did a round of theatres in London and dined at the Cosmopolitan restaurant known as Frascati’s. Then we went to Weymouth where the whole family was assembled for the first time in years. One night while at a theatre in London the sirens screeched a warning of an air raid. There was a light rustle and whisper of comment among the audience but the show continued as though nothing had happened. No one I saw left the theatre. At the conclusion of the performance all was again quiet outside. Although I had been through several in France, this was my only air raid experience at home out of the many which occurred in England. As we walked through Hyde Park afterwards in the dark we saw one small light only shining in one of the many windows of Buckingham Palace. The ‘Lamps of London’ burned but dimly during those anxious nights of air raids and alarms.

  My brother returned to France January 30, and I followed him a few days later.

  I then proceeded to No 46 Casualty Clearing Station at Pecquigny. Pecquigny is 12 kilometres west of Amiens, which at this time was threatened by the enemy. However, the excitement in store for me had nothing to do with gunfire or gas attacks.

  At casualty clearing stations, patients arrived direct from the front line dressing stations and field ambulances, and after wounds were redressed they were passed on to base hospitals. These casualty clearing stations were small units. It was customary for one unit to receive patients for so many hours at a time and then for another in the same locality to do likewise, an arrangement which permitted each to empty its beds.

  The second night while no patients were being received and we were chatting up in the office and the rain was coming down in torrents, one of the doctors suddenly entered and casually remarked: “I have just admitted a case.” “But we are not receiving”, said I. “No”, he replied, “but as he is an officer, the sergeant sent for me and I could not send the poor beggar away in this pouring rain. Name of Knocker, too.”

  Now Knocker was my name and my brother, a boy of 18, was already flying in France somewhere, I had no idea where except that he had been stationed in the Ypres salient and had lately returned to duty from leave in Paris. He was constantly in my thoughts since he was in the Air Force and we had already had some terrible cases of injury to flying men. But strange to say, for the minute, I did not think of him but of some cousins of the same name, several of whom were serving in various regiments.

  I turned to Captain Gompertz, the officer who had made the announcement and asked: “Is he a major by any chance?” “Oh no, “replied the captain, “a second lieutenant with ginger hair.” Now I was sure there was only one of that name and description in the British army, so with a gasp I leaped up and tore down the stairs, the captain calling after me reassuringly: “Only slightly wounded in the leg.”

  I entered the officers’ ward which was the salon of the little dismantled chateau, and at the far end by the mantelpiece on which was standing a small basin of water was my beloved Brother Boy, very dirty, washing his face and hands. “Guy”, I called. “May”, he ejaculated, turning in amazement. “How on earth did you get here?”

  Neither of us was able to grasp the extraordinary coincidence of the meeting. It took place in that chaotic interval which followed the furious onslaught of the Germans in March. The attack had taken the British by surprise and driven them back in confusion. The advance hospitals were hurriedly withdrawn and reorganised some miles to the rear, and it was in one of these that this dramatic meeting took place. It was as if the hand of fate had stretched out to a huge chessboard on which one set of figures lay overturned, and picking up two insignificant pawns at random had placed them opposite one another. Unexplainable, indeed, save to those who firmly believe, “There is a Divinity which shapes our ends.”

  All the other officer patients were by this time sitting up and taking notice. The hospital staff chaffed me unmercifully and wanted to know how often I had brothers arriving unexpectedly. Sister Webb who was in charge of the ward allowed me to take peeps at him all night long, and in the morning the orderly came in and said: “Like some bacon and eggs for breakfast, Sir?” “You bet I would”, said brother Guy.

  It turned out that while flying back from patrol duty that night, and just as he neared the British lines, a rifle bullet aimed at the plane pierced the floor of the cockpit and passed through the fleshy part of his right leg. He said he went back to his commanding officer much ashamed to have to report being wounded because this young officer was almost at his wits end as so many casualties had occurred in his squadron, and in the Air Force at that time, that they were compelled to recruit it from the boys who were beginners.

  After breakfast my brother enquired if he should not be given a dose of anti-tetanus serum. This was administered to everyone who received even a scratch, and the number of lockjaw cases was thereby reduced to a minimum. It was usually given at the time of the first dressing. In the excitement about his arrival, and believing him to have had the serum, no one had inquired about it and he remarked that he thought us a ‘nice bunch’ at that hospital. After receiving treatment and greatly rested by his excellent sleep he and a chest case were taken by ambulance to Abbeville and I accompanied them with the colonel’s permission. From there he returned to England.

  Back Home

  11 April 1918 – 30 June 1918

  DIARY Thursday 11th April – IN HOSPITAL WOUNDED – HOME

  At R.F.C. Central. Pretty dud spot! M.O. a perfect fool! Food appalling! Wired Mum and Nickie. Nickie came and stayed all afternoon and held my hand, trés bon! Mum came after. Lovely to see her again!

  DIARY Friday 12th April

  In bed all day. Dad and Mum came in afternoon, Great. Nickie and Northwood called after. Read and smoked all day. Played bridge. Huns have got Messines, Plugstreet & Steenvoorde – this is awful!

  DIARY Saturday 13th April

  In bed all day. Elsie in afternoon. Read and smoked all day.

  DIARY Sunday 14th April

  In bed all day. Elsie and Mr and Mrs Sapte in afternoon, leg better. We retake Neuve Eglise. Northwood in evening.

  DIARY Monday 15th April

  Ten letters in morning! Heard from Twist and Symons. Nickie in afternoon bon heur! Long talk. Concert in evening. Not so bad. Neuve Eglise retaken.

  DIARY Tuesday 16th April

  In bed all day. Bob Craig and Janie Clark in afternoon. Bob gave me ‘Traffics and Discoveries’. Leg much better. Bailleul has fallen. Damn and Blast it!

  I wish I was out to shoot up the accursed Swine in that town.

  DIARY Wednesday 17th April

  Fall of Wythschaete and Meteren. Back to our old line on the ridge. In bed all day. Gin and Kathleen and Cousin Aggie in afternoon. Read and smoked all day.

  DIARY Thursday 18th April

  In bed all day. Nickie came in afternoon. Trés bon. Also Mrs Sapte and Aunt Minnie, they left at 4. Nickie stayed till 4.30. Going to get up tomorrow.

  DIARY Friday 19th April

  Up for first time for lunch. Mummie came in afternoon and Cousin Maggie. Played Auction in evening and won 2 fr.

  DIARY Saturday 20th April

  Up after brekker. Eily called at 2pm. We went out and had tea and to the Pavilion Cinema. Went to Cox’s. Have £50 in bank, drew £5. Raining hard.

  Played Auction after supper and won 6/-. News better. Line held pro tem.

  DIARY Sunday 21stApril

  Up after brekker, met Eily at 12. Lunch at the Craigs, then to see Molly for tea, then back. Read after dinner. Heard that poor old Moore has been killed by a shell and that Pat is missing. Awfully sick – all my best pals go West. Maybe I’ll meet them in Valhalla some day. Bo has a rash, ward in quarantine. />
  DIARY Monday 22nd April

  Quarantine washed out. Met Eily and Mum and Hugo at Euston. Had lunch and saw Eily off. Then went and got wound stripe and sticks and gloves at [?]. Mum and Hugo went to Coliseum. Met Nickie at R.P.H. and joined them. Good show. Ethel Levy and Phyllis Monkman. Saw Mum off by the 6 train. Then to New Gallery with Nickie, good.

  Dinner at Frascatis – better and then taxi ride to Victoria – best of all taxi rides, beaucoup intimée! Then home by tube, so to bed.

  DIARY Tuesday 23rd April

  Cavalry Captain Baron von Richtofen of the Imperial Flying Corps has met his match and has been shot down and killed – good work. Rest the Soul of a brave man and a fine pilot. Went to see Fladgate. Raining, back at 6. Zeebrugge show. The finest in the war. “We gave the dragons tail a damned good twist.”

  DIARY Wednesday 24th April

  Met Jack at 12. Went to see ‘Yes Uncle’ in afternoon. Quite good but didn’t enjoy it v much as my nerves are a bit wonky. Tea at the Criterion. Saw Jack off and then back to hospital. Letter from Nickie.

  DIARY Thursday 25th April

  Met Cox at R.P.H. at 12 and had lunch with him. Got M.C. Poor old Balfour killed. Cox sole survivor of original 65. Went down to see Nickie at Norwood in afternoon. Topping afternoon! On sofa all time! Wotto! Nickie saw me off at Station. Had a priceless talk, cleared the air successfully. Home at 6.30. Had a letter from [?]!!! Priceless!! alls well! Priceless duck person from Ir. Feeling trés buckie! Poor old Bo going away I think to Fever Hopl with Scarlet. Mathews at London Hopl, White Chapel.

  DIARY Friday 26th April

  Met Dad at the Club at 1 p.m. Had topping lunch and then went to see a ‘Box of Tricks’ – very good. Went round to see Dr. T. after but I missed him, saw Miss Spink. Back to hospital at 6. To see Kennedy with Tubbs after dinner. Delightful evening. Air raid at night – frightened out of my life!

  DIARY Saturday 27th April

  Met Jack and Nickie at the Ai: Lunch at Callards – trés merry! To see “When Knights were Bold” simply golden! Saw Nickie off and then dinner at Troc: with Jack. No drinks tho’ on a/c of blue band – rotten. To Cinema with ? after! Back at 10.

  DIARY Sunday 28th April

  Down to Bishops Stortford with Eggy after lunch. Saw W.M. I very good time. Back to town by the 6.30 train. Trés bon dinner at the Troc: – cigars!

  Home late at 10.30! Slept rottenly and leg sore.

  DIARY Monday 29th April

  Ticked off by Major in morning for being late. Met King at 12.30. Lunch at Troc: I stood it!! Am pretty short of cash really! To see Mathews in afternoon, looking v fit but still in bed! Back at 6 and then to see Kennedy with Tubbs after dinner. Greatly soothed! Bed and slept v well.

  DIARY Tuesday 30th April

  Met Kathleen at 12.30. Lunch at Frascatis and then to see “Peg of my Heart” after, v good. Kathleen is without doubt a peach of a girl and awfully pretty too! There is something in this! Back in time for once. To see Kennedy after v soothing.

  DIARY Wednesday 1st May

  Down to Croydon for lunch. Saw Taylor and went up in an Avro with him. Then took up a Pup and did 5 loops. O.K. Trés bon to be up again! Tea with Nickie after, v bon too! Saw Northwood at Croydon, v.cold day.

  DIARY Thursday 2nd May

  Met Jack and Vi at R.D.s and had lunch at the Troc: then to see “Brig Boy’s”, good show but I was a bit muzzy and couldn’t understand it! Then to 65 dinner with Cox, Withers, Wigg and Turner, v merry.

  Back late but squared the man!

  DIARY Friday 3rd May

  Lunch with Padre Wilson and others at the Pic: Then down to Putney and to Katies for tea. Jack goes tomorrow.

  DIARY Saturday 4th May

  Down to Home for lunch. Saw them all and had v good time. Lovely day and v warm. Back at 9pm. Gland in my leg sore.

  DIARY Sunday 5th May

  Saw Dr about Glands, o.k. Down to Putney for lunch and tea. Saw Uncle H and then to Orrs.

  Back at 6.15. Went to Church in evening, not a very good sermon tho!

  DIARY Monday 6th May

  Met Cocks at R.P.H. and had lunch at Frascatis, good lunch. Cox goes back on Wednesday. To Cinema after he had gone and then back home at 6.

  For a stroll on Heath, with Whitehead after dinner. Lovely evening.

  DIARY Tuesday 7th May

  Lunch out with MC went to Cox’s, balance of £46. To Cinema with girl in afternoon, quite good fun. Back at 6.15. Read and smoked and talked in evening. Raining nearly all day, v.rotten.

  DIARY Wednesday 8th May

  Went and bought bike 2 1/4 Levis two stroke £20. Lunch with Whitehead at Les Gobelins, sat in his digs in afternoon, played gramophone. Dinner at Frascatis – v.good too!

  Back at 10. Read and smoked, Whitehead a great man!

  DIARY Thursday 9th May

  Met Gin and Mum at Whitely and had lunch. Sat in park with Mum in afternoon. Lovely day.

  Sat on Heath with Whitehead after dinner!

  DIARY Friday 10th May

  Got some of Whitehead’s petrol. Down to Croydon after lunch and went up for about an hour in a Camel. Trés bon!

  Back at 6.30. O.M.O. out – so went out for a walk after dinner with Sister’s leave, strafed by M.O.!

  DIARY Saturday 11th May

  Got a petrol licence with difficulty. Got bike then took taxi out of the City. Rode bike down to Hertford – Some grid! Goes like 6! Conked on hill tho’.

  Tea at home, taught King to ride after tea! Ran out of petrol, back at 9. Stiff as -----! Board on Monday.

  DIARY Sunday 12th May

  Lunch with Eggy at Trock: then to see Mathews in hospl: saw Gorringe. Then back early.

  DIARY Monday 13th May

  Board in morning. Then to Cecil – rushed round for long time and got told off by a mangy Capt about my collar – lip!! Finally got 4 weeks sick leave and then Croydon if poss: got petrol licence. Came down home by the 4.30. Changed into mufti and taught King the Mo: bike.

  DIARY Tuesday 14th May

  Biked to college in afternoon. Dinner with J.A.J. Saw Mathew and Turner and Tennant and others. Back at 9. Lovely day. Leg dressed by Gin.

  King and Elsie left in morning.

  DIARY Wednesday 15th May

  Down town with Dad. Mess about on bike all day and read and smoked in garden. Leg rather sore.

  DIARY Thursday 16th May

  To see Dr Odell in morning. No biking at all! Rotten! Messed about all day, couldn’t go to Coll: in evening. Lovely warm day.

  DIARY Friday 17th May

  Played in garden in morning. Uncle H. and Aunt Minnie came in evening.

  To dentist in afternoon, two teeth stopped, didn’t hurt much. Got leg dressed in evening. Iodine hurt like stink. Sang songs.

  DIARY Saturday 18th May

  Leg a bit better. Up to College to meet Tubbs but didn’t turn up. Tea with George Critchley – great! Saw Tennant – scoring college match on all out for 57. Pretty poor. Nelson Captain!!!

  Back after tea. To Baker’s to watch Gin playing tennis, Gin beaten!!!

  DIARY Sunday 19th May

  To Kirk and H.C. in morning, poor Sermon. Tennant to tea in afternoon v u 2. Brian flew over. Kirk in p.m. I did not go as leg pretty sore. Read poems in afternoon, felt rotten at night. Air raid at night, 6 Huns down. Bon.

  DIARY Monday 20th May

  To see house in [?] on bike no bon! Bike fell to bits and shed exhaust pipe! Brian Baker came over on a Bristol and landed. To see him at the Bakers and then to see Harrison’s model railway. To Dr after lunch – leg poor, no tennis for fortnight and no biking!

  DIARY Tuesday 21st May

  V quiet all day, rested leg. Read and sketched most of time.

  DIARY Wednesday 22nd May