1915 Fokker Scourge (British Ace Book 2) (10 page)

“
So let me make it quite clear, Lieutenant.  Lieutenant Harsker deliberately attacked those three German aeroplanes in direct disobedience of his orders.”

“Yes sir.”

“He deliberately landed behind enemy lines, again in direct disobedience of the standing orders, to bring you back.”

“Yes sir
, although as I was unconscious I was not aware of that fact until later.”

“Thank you, no further questions.”

Gordy stood and walked over to the chair with Lieutenant Holt.  “I have only one question for you Lieutenant. Did you disobey orders when you flew over enemy lines?”

Before he could answer Major St.John Hamilton-Grant shouted, “The Lieutenant is not on trial here!”

“Allow him to answer please, I would be interested.” Major Burscough’s voice sounded so calm after the rants of Major St.John Hamilton-Grant.

“Answer the question Lieutenant.”

“Yes sir, technically I did.  I did not want to disobey orders but with a Fokker on your tail and two others trying to ambush you, you have little choice in the matter.”

“But Lieutenant Harsker did have a choice did he not?”

I saw the look of incredulity on Holt’s face and the look of triumph on Major St.John Hamilton-Grant’s.  It looked as though Gordy was doing the prosecution’s job for him.

Gordy said softly, “Answer please
, Lieutenant Holt.  You know the old saying, ‘
speak the truth and shame the devil’
.” As he said it he glanced at Major St.John Hamilton-Grant.

Johnny nodded, “Yes sir.  He had a choice.  He could have left me to my fate.”

Silence descended on the court. “And what would that fate have been?”

“I would be dead
along with Bert.”

The silence as Lieutenant Holt finished his evidence was eloquent. After he had been dismissed Gordy turned to Captain Marshall.  “Sir, are your other witnesses going to be saying t
he same thing, that Lieutenant Harsker disobeyed orders?”

I saw Captain Marshall’s lips move in a slight smile as he said, “Yes, Lieutenant Hewitt.”

“Then I think we can accommodate Major St.John Hamilton-Grant’s wishes and bring this to a speedy conclusion by admitting that Lieutenant Harsker disobeyed orders and put him on the stand.”

He glanced at the panel. Major St.John Hamilton-Grant snapped, “Anything to get this
damned trial over with quickly and judgement passed.”

“Lieutenant Harsker, would you take the stand.  I only have a few questions for you to answer.” I sat and looked at the wall of the tent.  I could only see Captain Marshall and Gordy.  It felt strange.
The panel was behind me.

“Did you deliberately disobey Major St.John Hamilton-Grant’s orders?”

“Yes sir.”

“Why?”

“Firstly, they were stupid orders.” I heard the intake of breath behind me, “and secondly I am a soldier and it is a soldier’s duty to save the lives of his fellows if he can.”

“Even if that means disobeying orders and risking your own life?”

“It is what soldiers do.”

“Would you do it again?”

“Without a second thought.”

“Even though you now the result would be this court martial?”

“Yes sir.”

“Did you disobey orders before this occasion?”

This was the gamble.  “Yes I did.”

“Why?
You knew it was wrong and would incur the major’s displeasure.”

“Each time my disobedience stopped us losing men and aeroplanes it was necessary.
It was the standing orders which were wrong.”

I heard Major St.John Hamilton-Grant almost explode, “I am not on trial here either.  Strike the record of those comments Sergeant Shield.”

Gordy was facing me now and I saw the ghost of a smile.  The major had reacted the way we had predicted. “In that case would it please the court to hear how the previous standing orders worked?”

Major St.John Hamilton-Grant snorted, “I do not see the relevance.  I now command this squadron.”

Then I heard Lord Burscough, “Temporarily, Major, yes Lieutenant Hewitt I would like to hear.”

“Go ahead Lieutenant Harsker.”

“We operated in flights of three aeroplanes.  It was the colonel’s idea. Major Hyde-White led one and three lieutenants led the others. The orders were to fly together and to protect each other.”

“And did you?”

I waited for a heartbeat, “I lost neither a pilot nor an aeroplane during that time.”

“Whereas now…?”

“Whereas now, we have lost a large number of pilots, gunners and aeroplanes.  We are down to less than half strength.”

“I have heard enough.  Captain Marshall, sum up for the prosecution.  You may resume your seat Lieutenant Harsker.”

As I took my seat I was certain that Major St.John Hamilton-Grant had not followed procedure and it was confirmed when I looked at the three of them. Lord Burscough and Major Stuart both had frowned heads together talking. As he sat down Gordy said quietly, “That went better than I hoped.”

Captain Marshall stood and addressed the court.  “There is no doubt that Lieutenant Harsker disobeyed orders.  By his own admission this was not the first time and appears to me to show a flagrant disregard for the authority of Major St.John Hamilton-Grant.” Although the major nodded I realised that the captain was trying to mitigate the charges and help me. “Lieutenant Hewitt has made a valiant defence but I am afraid that the fact which will determine the outcome of this court martial is that Lieutenant Harsker deliberately and knowingly disobeyed his commanding officer’s orders.”

“Lieutenant Hewitt.”

“Captain Marshall is correct; Bill
, here, is guilty of disobeying the major’s orders.” We had calculated that the use of my first name would annoy Major St.John Hamilton-Grant but make me seem more human to the other two. “However he was acting in the spirit of the squadron.  This squadron is one of the most successful squadrons on the Western Front and if we find Lieutenant Harsker guilty then the squadron might as well disband for all esprit de corps will be lost. We should not punish the lieutenant, we should reward him.”

He sat down and I whispered, “No matter what the outcome that was well done
, Gordy.”

Major St.John Hamilton-Grant glared at us and he coughed before he stood. “Before we briefly deliberate on the outcome of this trial I would like to make a couple of comments.” He looked at Sergeant Shield
and nodded.  His flunky had pen poised, “for the official record. My duty is to the Royal Flying Corps.  I have tried to turn this shambles of a squadron into something which will reflect the skills of its pilots. I had much to do when I arrived and Lieutenant Harsker is typical of the obstacles put in my way. The sooner he leaves this squadron the sooner I can turn it from a pathetic shambolic republic run by an officer who should have been pensioned off  into a…”

I could not see but I heard someone enter the tent behind me. The three majors all stood to attention; as did Sergeant Shield.

Then I heard Colonel Pemberton-Smythe’s voice and I leapt to my feet. “Do carry on major, you were saying something about a shambles of a squadron and a commanding officer who should have been pensioned off. Do carry on and ignore me.”

Everyone sat down and Major St.John Hamilton-Grant stammered, “Well I think we had better debate the issue.  The prisoner can be….”

I had not heard Major Stuart speak before; he was a Scot.  “I think we can make our discussion public major. I don’t think anyone wants things done behind closed doors,” he smiled, “or tent flaps for that matter.”

“Well if you insist. I think he is guilty.”

I watched as Lord Burscough looked him in the eye and said, firmly “And I know that he is innocent.”

When
Major Stuart looked over Lord Burscough’s shoulder at Major Hamilton-Grant and began to speak my old captain never took his eyes from the now red faced major.

“And I agree with Lieutenant Hewitt.  This young officer should be promoted and not punished. I have never heard such a ridiculous set of standing orders in my life.  It is a miracle more pilots weren’t lost.” He pointed at Gordy and me, “And that is probably down to the likes of these fellows.”

Major St.John Hamilton-Grant looked stunned. I heard the Colonel’s voice from behind me.  “Well major are you going to pronounce the verdict or not?”

He spoke through gritted teeth. “This court martial finds the defendant. Lieutenant Bill Harsker, not guilty.”

There was a pause and then an enormous cheer erupted from around the tent. The colonel walked towards me, his hand outstretched, “I believe the whole squadron approves of the verdict.  Well done, Bill.  I am proud of you.”

Then he walked beyond me and said to Major Hamilton-Grant.  “Could I have a quiet word with you major?”

“Certainly colonel but you must understand I was acting not only in the best interests of the Corps but also the squadron.  Lieutenant Harsker…”

The rest of the conversation was drown out by the voices of my friends.

Captain Marshall and Gordy both pumped my hand. Major Burscough and Major Stuart came towards me with arms outstretched. Lord Burscough waggled a finger at me, “I told you that you should have come with me didn’t I?”

Major Stuart shook my hand and said, “Any time you fancy flying Bristols you can transfer to my squadron laddie. You have what it takes.” He gestured over his shoulder with his thumb, “You have five kills already and yon fellow wants to court martial you! Unbelievable.”

Suddenly we heard Major St.John Hamilton-Grant’s voice raised in anger.  “But sir I
must protest! You cannot ask me to transfer.  This was a travesty today.  My methods will work.  I am sure that when I speak with General Henderson he will see it my way. You must reconsider.”

“Reconsider? After the way you mistreated my squadron and spoke of it in such disparaging terms?  I think not.  I expect you,” he shot a dismissive glance at Sergeant Shield, “and any of those who owe their loyalty to you to be off the base by evening.”

Major St.John Hamilton-Grant saw us looking.  “I wonder which one of those traitors dragged you back here!”

The colonel smiled and
proffered a letter, “Actually it was none of those men. All of them are men of honour.  It was General Henderson who begged me to return from my son’s bedside.  He was alarmed by the fall in efficiency of this squadron since you took over.  It went from the most efficient to the one with the highest losses. And bearing in mind the squadron has the only aeroplane which can match the Germans that is quite a remarkable achievement.”

His shoulders slumped in defeat the major left.

The colonel turned to us.  “I need to see the two majors and Captain Marshall.  I think you two chaps need to go and show yourselves outside.  I think the squadron would like to express their feelings.”

When we left the mess tent it seems the whole squadron was gather
ed outside in the late June sunshine. The first one to greet me was Lieutenant Holt. “I could not have borne it had you been found guilty. I am delighted that you have been exonerated.”

“Don’t get carried away
, Johnny, I was found not guilty but it will still be on my service record that I had a court martial.  If I intended to have any sort of career then that would be the end of that.”

His face fell, “Oh I say.”

“Let’s just celebrate.  Come on Bill, Ted will be in the officers’ mess opening a few bottles.”

“I have to see
Sergeant Sharp first.”

I had seen Charlie Sharp hovering behind the officers.  I strode over to him.  “Thanks for what you said Charlie and I am sorry for nearly getting you killed.”

He laughed, “Killed I can live with but I cannot break in another officer.  You’ll do for me sir.” He gestured with his thumb towards the airfield.  “I can get back to rebuilding the old girl now sir.  You enjoy your party.”

There was a party atmosphere. Everyone knew that the major had gone.  I suppose when the colonel arrived they all knew what we, inside the tent, did not.  There would be a sea change.
There were just the eight officers in the mess but the noise we made seemed to make it appear like more.  Ted had acquired some beer.  Not enough for us to get roaring drunk but just enough to make us feel happy. I was pumped for information about my flight to rescue Johnny.  The facts given at the court martial were dry and they wanted to know everything.

We got on to the relative attributes of the German and British aeroplanes. Gordy was on fine form, “Bill has proved that, if we act together we can dominate the skies. The Aviatik is slow and is really a reconnaissance aeroplane with a rear gun. The Fokker is a better bus and has a forward firing machine gun but it is hard for their pilots to fly the bus and fire the gun. Our only weakness is getting
attacked from the rear.”

There was raucous and lewd laughter at the double entendre.

“He’s right.  As soon as they try to make an extreme manoeuvre the Fokker becomes more unstable and yaws like mad. Our bus is not as good at looping and banking but it is stable, it is powerful and it is faster; especially at higher altitude.”