1914 (British Ace) (17 page)

“It’s cheaper.”

“Don’t talk nonsense young Albert.  A horse eats hay and grass.  Those steam engines eat coal.”

“Well you don’t need as many men do you?”

I think dad had been waiting for that point. He jabbed his pipe triumphantly at Albert, “Precisely and that’s the real reason they use them smelly, noisy beasts. It’s cheaper. You mark my words Albert, within ten years all the men will be in the big cities with Tom and John.”

Mum was rocking in her chair and knitting.  She shook her head sadly, “The ones that are still here.” She nodded towards dad’s paper. “There’s a battle in France and they say there are thousands of casualties.”

I pushed my finished plate away, “That doesn’t mean they are dead.  I was a casualty and I am fine aren’t I?”

She glanced down at my leg but continued knitting.
“And I am glad that you are out of the war now.”

Sarah was also sewing, probably something for the wedding as it was blue. I caught her eye and then quickly looked away.  I drank some more of the beer.

A quiet descended and the only sounds which could be heard were the ticking clock, the clicking of the needles and the swish of turning pages. I sipped my beer wondering how to bring up my imminent departure.

Sarah finished her sewing and held it up to admire.  She said, “I think our Bill has something to te
ll us but he doesn’t know how to start. Am I right our Bill?”

Dad put down his paper and mum stopped knitting. “What is it son?  You can tell us.” He began filling his pipe.  He used that as a way of listening while keeping his hands busy. It meant he didn’t have to look at you. I think he did that to make it easier.  He had done the same thing when John had told him he was going to work in a factory.

“Well, his lordship has asked me to go with him on Sunday.”

Mother’s eyes widened like a startled deer.
“Sunday?  Where to?”

I hesitated and Sarah, who knew me well
, gave a slight nod of her head, “To join the Royal Flying Corps as an observer.”

This time it was a stunned silence.  Albert looked delighted, Sarah gave me a sad smile and mother looked as though I had told her I had been sentenced to death. Dad had his pipe halfway to his mouth and he said, “You mean in an aeroplane?  Up in the air?”

I nodded, “I would have to join up again anyway.  You said yourself dad, in the pub the other night, that they need every man they can get.”

“But you have done your bit.”

“No mum, I have done a bit but the job isn’t done yet.  You didn’t raise me to give up did you?”

Dad lit his pipe and nodded his agreement. Mum start
ed knitting again.  The needles click clacking furiously, “No, but you nearly died and there are others who could go.”

“You mean married men, fathers? Think about it mum, I am single; we are the ones who have the least to lose. I have been thinking about it over the last few days; if we think this country is worth fighting for then we shouldn’t shirk our duty.”

“He’s right mother.” Dad looked at me and I think there was pride in his eyes. “So you‘ll be away Sunday then?”

“Yes,” I grabbed Sarah’s hand.  “But I shall be here for the wedding.”

She stood and hugged me, “I should think so and we will make it a real family celebration.” She whispered in my ear, “Mum will be all right but give her a cuddle.  You were always her favourite.” She turned to Alice and Kath. “Come on you pair we have dresses to get ready for tomorrow.”

I knelt next to mum and I saw the tears trickling down her rosy cheeks. I saw that her hair now had more flecks of grey than I remembered and I wondered if that was down to me. I took her hand in mine. “I have to go
, mum, but I promise you, I swear, that I will not take risks. If I was in the infantry then I would be in greater danger but with aeroplanes we just observe.  There will be little chance of me coming to harm.” I think that was a lie but I didn’t know for certain and I excused myself.

“What if they crash? Albert has had to repair Lord Burscough’s car more than enough.
If it breaks down in the air it will crash.”

“And that is another reason his lordship wants me.  He knows I am good with engines.  I’ll make sure we don’t crash.
In a way I’m looking after Lord Burscough too.” I could see that I had nearly persuaded her.  I took my leave.  “I had best get to bed.  Tomorrow will be a big day for us all.”

Albert followed me to bed, “You are lucky
, Bill. I would love to fly an aeroplane. When I am old enough then I will join you.”

I felt depressed to think that my little brother might have to endure the horrors of Flanders. “You never know, it may be over by then.”

His voice sounded sad in the dark. “I hope not.”

Perhaps because of my impending departure the wedding day flew by. It was a lovely wedding, well at least all the women thought so.  Lady Burscough had decorated the chapel beautifully and my sister looked gorgeous.  Her husband Cedric Rogers was a quiet, unassuming man.  I had been at school with him and he would make her a good husband.  I wondered if my little sisters would make such good matches.  I noticed that there were few
young men at the wedding.  The war was already having an effect.

Young Lord Burscough sought me out during the day. “We shall have to leave at five a.m. I am afraid.  We have a long drive down to Kent. Make sure you pack all the warm clothes you can.”

That puzzled me, “Why sir?”

“It gets damned cold up in an aeroplane.  You will need gloves, scarves and a thick coat.”

I wish I had known.  Mother could have knitted me some gloves, scarf and I could have bought a decent and thick coat.

Everyone in the cottage was normally up earl
y but that Sunday I am not sure my mother had even been to bed. She was red eyed and fretful when Albert and I went down stairs before the crack of dawn.  She had pushed the boat out and there was a hearty breakfast of porridge and then a fry up. I saw her dab her eyes when she saw me in my uniform again. It was a visible sign that I was returning to war.  Until that moment I could have been going off for another drive with his lordship.  The uniform was the last nail.

“This is lovely mum, you shouldn’t have.”

“Well at least I’ll know you’ll have one decent meal in you.”

“Don’t worry
Mary, I can’t imagine that his lordship will go hungry.” Having had time to sleep on it Dad was much more philosophical about the whole thing.

Mother shook her head and sat down with her cup of tea.  Mum ate when everyone else had finished and if that meant no food for her then she was pleased for her family had been fed. “Now is there anything that you might need?”

“His lordship said it might be cold up there so a scarf might be…”

She leapt up from the table like a scalded cat. I looked at dad who smiled and shrugged.  She came down beaming from ear to ear.  In her hands she held an assortment of woollen goods. “Here’s a scarf, a balaclava, a pair of gloves and a pair of fingerless gloves.”

I jumped up and hugged her.  “You are a marvel! How did you know?”

She sat down flushed and pleased, “I didn’t but Mary Burns told me that her son was in Flanders and he had written to say how cold and wet it was. She was knitting for him.  I thought Tom or John might need them but I can make more for them.”

I had just put them in my old holdall when we heard the roar and screech of the Singer. Dad shook his head, “Does he never drive at a normal speed?”

“I’d better go.  He said we have a long way to drive today.”

I had said farewell to Sarah the night before but Alice and Kathleen came on either side of me and kissed me.  Kath whispered, “And write this time! Start a letter today! She misses you terribly, our Bill.”

“I will and you two keep an eye on them both eh?  They’re not spring chickens anymore.” I punched Albert playfully in the arm. “And you take care- don’t rush into anything eh?” I gave him a look which I knew he would understand and he nodded.

Dad shook hands, “Just do your duty son but come back safe.”

“I will dad.” Mother said nothing for she was in floods of tears.
He body was wracked by sobs. I hugged her and felt myself filling up. “I love you mum.” I felt her nod beneath my arm.

The door opened and Lord Burscough stood there, “Come on old chap. We have the open road ahead of us.”He suddenly saw my mother’s face and flushed, “Don’t worry Mrs
Harsker, I’ll make sure nothing happens to him.”

She gave a slight bob and dabbed her eyes, “Make sure you look after both of you Lord Burscough.”

I threw my bag into the space behind my seat and sat down. Impulsively I put on the balaclava.  My sisters laughed and Lord Burscough smiled, “Just the ticket! Off we go then!”

There was no long goodbye we just hurtled off down the dark road and I was grateful that we couldn’t speak for I wanted that picture of my family etched into my mind.
We left the quiet English village and as we zoomed away in the dark I knew that this was what we were fighting for.  Not the Belgians, or the Serbs and certainly not the politicians.  We were fighting for our families and a way of life.

Joyce Green Airfield at Dartford in Kent was really a holding Aerodrome.  When we stopped for lunch close to Wolverhampton at a little place called Codsall his Lordship told me all about the squadron.

“We have been flying little trainers called the Avro 504K.  We are now moving to the F.E. 2b. 
Much better bus. They have a machine gun at the front.  Jolly stable little aeroplane. We’ll be flying them over to France to a place called Vert Galand close to Amiens. We will just be in Blighty overnight and then we hop over the Channel.  Most of the chaps will be flying today.  The C.O. gave me permission to be late because of your sister’s wedding.  Bit of luck that.  It means the others get to do the donkey work around the new airfield. The squadron Commander is a nice chap, Major Brack.  A damned good flier.  It was he who suggested that I get an observer gunner who knew engines.  If we are lucky the Quartermaster won’t have gone yet and we can get you kitted out.”

He was right about being a holding aerodrome.  There were the remnants of about four squadrons there and all of them were headed for France.

The Major, when I was introduced to him, looked remarkably young.  I had thought that his lordship was young to be a captain but the major looked to be even younger.

He had a young face but an old man’s handshake.  It was very firm.  Dad had always set great store by a firm handshake.  He said it told you everything you needed to know about a man. “Welcome, Flight Sergeant Harsker.  Could I see your papers please?” I handed them to him and he scanned them.  “Good, they appear to be in order.” He shouted through the door, “Flight Sergeant Lowery take these papers to Lieutenant Marshall tell him our new Flight Sergeant is here.”

An older man came through the door, gave me a cursory glance and then left with my papers.  “Marshall is the adjutant and deals with all the paperwork.  We’ll have you signed up in a jiffy. Now I’ll be rude and talk to the captain here.”

I felt embarrassed, “That’s fine sir.  I can wait outside if…”

He flapped a hand before me, “No need to do that old chap.” He addressed his lordship. “Now then James you will be leading three aircraft tomorrow. Lieutenant Devries will be in one of the new buses and Lieutenant Dundas will take the old Avro.”

I saw his lordship’s face fall. “That will slow us down.”

“Can’t be helped.” He suddenly turned to me.  “By the by can you read a map? James said you were a scout in the cavalry.”

“Yes sir, I can read a map.”

“Excellent.  Then that is settled.  You better go and get your chap’s equipment before the damned quartermaster sells it all!”

His lordship was laughing as we left.  “Don’t repeat that to Quartermaster Doyle.  The C.O. was just joking.  Mr Doyle is very conscientious.”

We arrived at a newly erected building which was empty save for a sergeant.  “Ah, Sergeant Doyle.  This is Flight Sergeant Harsker.  We’ll be toddling over to France tomorrow in one of the new buses and we will need some equipment.”

Sergeant Doyle was almost completely bald
and seemed to be perpetually grinning.  He was from Liverpool, not far from Burscough and had what is known as a Scouse accent. He was the antithesis of Quartermaster Grimes. I liked him from the off.

He looked at me from head to toe as though sizing me up.
“Right then Flight, let’s see you’ll need a flying helmet.” As he named each item he scurried to a shelf to get one.  “Goggles, two pairs. Heavy duty gloves. Great coat, I think it is your size.  Just try it on.” I did so and it seemed a little large. “Perfect. One holster and belt, Mess tins, two.  Mess kit, one. RFC badge, one. Fur lined boots.  What size?”

“Nine.”

“Fur lined boots size nine, one pair. And finally,” he took down a canvas wrap around bag which looked very heavy. “One tool kit, Flight Sergeants for the use of.” The happy Liverpudlian grinned and looked at his almost empty shelves. “Anything else will have to wait until France. I’m going over at the end of the week with one of the new trucks they are giving us and a bowser.” He flourished a piece of paper before me.  “Sign here and we are done.” He saw me looking at the holster.  “See the armourer for your pistol and ammo.”