1914 (British Ace) (16 page)

Once in his very neat and immaculately organised office he produced a bottle of cognac.  “Compliments of the French.  Most of the lads got something when we boarded the boat for home.  I made sure I got something decent.”

“I notice none of them came home.  Did they all re-enlist or transfer?”

“Aye. I think it was you and the others that made them do that.  The colonel made a lovely speech about how our troop had made all these sacrifices and given the regiment a good reputation. He made it sound like they would be letting you and the others down if they didn’t re-enlist.”

“That’s not right, George.”

“Son, if we don’t fight then the Germans will win and they won’t be happy with just ruling the French and the Belgians, they will look over here. Now I don’t know about you but I don’t want shells falling on our womenfolk and the bairns.  We shouldn’t have to fight but so long as there are people like the Germans who want to take everything we have then we’ll have to fight.  We are fighting for a British way of life and I think it is worth fighting for.” He suddenly looked embarrassed.  “Sorry about that Bill, I’ll get down off my high horse now.  You make up your own mind.  That is just the view of an old man who is now the caretaker of this edifice.”

We talked about the hospital and Robbie. I told him about my family and the wedding.  He seemed genuinely pleased. “It’s almost as though you were meant to get wounded so that you could get home.” He grinned and stood up.  “You’ll be wanting your dress uniform then?”

“I will.  I hope it hasn’t been attacked by moths.  I didn’t mothball it.”

“It’s in perfect condition. The first thing I did after I tidied my office was to make sure they were
safe.  Come on.  I’ll take you there.”

Not only was it in perfect condition, George had even put his stripes on to it.”George, you shouldn’t have.”

“I won’t need them.  I didn’t know you were going to a wedding but I am glad that I did it now. You’ll be a credit to the Lancashire Yeomanry.”

When I left,
in the late afternoon, I had much to think on.  George was a wise old bird and what he had said had struck a chord. I needed time to think.

They were all quite worried when I entered the cottage as it was after dark.  “Where have you been, our Bill?  Anything could have happened to you.”

“Why, have criminals suddenly moved in?  The last trouble we had
in the village was ten years ago when those gypsies tried to steal his Lordship’s horse.”

“Well, sit down and get your tea.  It’ll be stone cold now.”
They were worried about me still, even when I was home.

I spent the rest of the week getting fit again.  I worked in the garden and did all the lifting and carrying mum normally did
by herself. I knew she was pleased for washing day was normally a hard one as she had to fill the huge boilers with boiling water and then work the posser.  I quite enjoyed the labour. I made short work of the wringer and we finished by noon. All in all the week was just what I needed.  On Friday I was working in the garden again when there was a roar from the road as the Singer 10 crunched around the gravel and screeched to a halt.  My mother came to the kitchen door, “Mercy me! What on earth is that?”

Lord Burscough leapt from the car and said, “Sorry about that Mrs Harsker.  I forgot you hadn’t seen one.”

She bobbed a curtsy, “Sorry my lord. It is good to see you.”

He was wearing a flying helmet and goggles. When he took them off I could see that he had grown a large moustache.  He ostentatiously twirled the end. “And you William, a war hero and a sergeant to boot.” He shook my hand vigorously.  “Good show! Good show!”

“Would you care for tea my lord?”

The look on his face showed that he had no desire for tea. “Sorry Mrs Harsker.  I just came to take William for a spin if that is all right with you?”

I smiled to myself.  Of course it was all right with my mother. Nothing that Burscough family did could be considered in any way wrong.

“Of course my lord.
  Will you be back for tea William?”

“Will I?”

Lord Burscough had a mischievous look on his face, “Probably not! Don’t wait up for him Mrs Harsker.  He’s in safe hands with me.” He replaced the helmet.  “Right, hop in old chap and let’s see what she’ll do eh?”

I had only driven the car around the estate and I was not prepared for the speed when we hit the A6 north. We leapt forwards with such a burst of speed that I thought my head was going to fly off.  I found myself gripping the door and the seat.  I could see why his lordship wore goggles. My eyes were watering just ten miles up the road.  Conversation was impossible and, once I became used to the speed, I just enjoyed the views as we headed north. I had no idea where we were going but it did not matter.  I
loved the way the car skidded around the bends and then leapt forward when his lordship jammed down on the accelerator.

When I saw the hills rise ahead of us I knew that we were going to the Lake District.  It was sixty miles from home and yet we had done it in
just less than an hour.  It was unbelievable.  Of course we only saw another couple of motors as we headed north and they were staid and slow cars driven by serious looking men.  His Lordship drove like a maniac.

We screeched to a halt outside a huge hotel.  I was still excited by the ride and I did not even notice its name.  The destination was not the most important thing, it was the journey.  His lordship didn’t say a word until we were in the hotel.  “Table for two and send over a bottle of your finest claret.” He turned to me, “Well, what
did you think of the ride?”

“It was beyond words my lord. It was the most fantastic experience I have ever had.”

The head waiter directed us to a table and took his lordships coat helmet and goggles.  I had not even noticed the cold but now we were in the hotel I felt the warmth.

“I knew you would like it! Now I am starving.” The waiter brought over the claret, “Ah spot on.  Th
at will do nicely.  Do you still do the game pie?”

“Yes my lord.”

He leaned over to me, “I had it last year too but this is the best season for game pie.” He looked back at the waiter.  “We’ll have that and bring us some oxtail soup to start.  My friend here needs warming up.”

He laughed but I was listening to his words.  He had called me, ‘my friend’!
He poured me a glass of wine.  I had never drunk wine before, not even in France but it would have been churlish to refuse. I raised my glass, “Cheers sir, and here’s to the boys who didn’t come back.”

He suddenly became serious, “Well said, William.  Here’s to our fallen comrades.” I drank the wine it felt warm but it had a slightly bitter taste.  It was not unpleasant but I couldn’t drink a pint of it. “Tell me about it William.  I have read the reports but I didn’t see any of the chaps.  I hear Captain Ashcroft bought it?”

I nodded and then told him the story.  He got the truth, including Lieutenant Ramsden.  The food came, as did a second bottle of wine.  He nodded and made appropriate comments.

“I think the day of the horse and the cavalry are over.  Poor Caesar should have ended his days on the estate. I am sorry that
you both had to suffer like that.  I feel guilty for I was the one who got you to join.”

“No, my lord, I wanted to go.  The fact that I didn’t find it as glorious as I thought is my fault.” He nodded and we both withdrew into our own thoughts.

The waiter returned and his lordship ordered two glasses of port and asked for the bill.  He paid and said, “Let’s go on the terrace and watch the lake.  It is lovely at this time of year.” I had had port before, or ruby wine at least and I liked it but I knew enough just to sip it.

The view was magnificent with the hills and sky reflected in the huge lake that was Windermere. “And how is the Royal Flying Corps sir?”

He clapped me on the back. “Capital, absolutely capital! That is the main reason I called for you today.” He swallowed the port, “Look we have known each other a long time and there is no point in beating about the bush.  I’d like you to transfer to the RFC and be my observer.”

It was a bombshell, quite literally.  I had never even seen an aeroplane let alone thought about flying in one.
“Why me sir?  I am just an ordinary chap who is a bit useful around horses.”

“I think you are doing yourself a disservice.  I happen to know that you are a crack shot and a fine leader of men.  I also know that you are one of the best scouts the regiment ever had. That is what you will need to be, a scout and a crack shot.  I have been flying single seater aircraft but we are chan
ging over to the Vickers Gunbus and I need an observer who can fire the Lewis gun. What do you say?  If you liked the speed of the old Singer you will love the bus. We go much faster and we are as free as a bird.”

“It is an attractive offer sir
but I need time to think about it.”

He nodded and rained his glass.  “Come on
then, let’s get you back before your mother begins to worry.” He nodded to the head waiter as we left, “I went to the barracks, you know, and saw Sergeant Armstrong.  We had a long chat.  It was him who told me how good you were and he told me of your worries.” We climbed into the car.  “You know they will bring conscription in and you will have to fight again.  The question you need to ask yourself is will that be in the air or in the mud?” He held up his hand.  “Think about it on the way back and give me your answer there eh?” He put his foot on the accelerator and we roared away south: the silence of the lakes shattered by the Singer’s throaty roar.

My thoughts were filled with his ideas rather than the car and the scenery. That told me all that I needed to know.  He had spoken to George and George had recommended me.  I could not go back to the war as an infantryman.  It had killed all but one of my friends. At least in the air I would not have to think of others, I would just have to do what his Lordship asked.

As we pulled up outside the cottage, a little bit slower this time, I had made up my mind. He turned to look at me.  He raised his goggles and said, “Well?”

“Yes Captain Burscough I would like to join you.”

He grinned and pumped my hand, “Well done Sergeant Harsker.  You will not regret it.”

“I am still a sergeant?”

“Of course.
  Mind you there are very few in our squadron who aren’t officers but that will come when you learn to fly.”

“Learn to fly?  I thought I would just be an observer.”

“Well yes but we all tinker with engines and we all need to know how to fly.  Don’t worry William.  It’s a piece of cake.  You will be a whizz at it.” I got out of the car.  “Well I shall see you tomorrow for the wedding and then we leave on Sunday bright and early.”

He floored the car and with it me.  I had less than two days left with my family. My dil
emma was, did I tell them tonight and risk spoiling the wedding or leave it until after the wedding? I had to do it now or else Sarah would not be able to say goodbye.  Besides which I was certain that his lordship would say something on the wedding day.  I braced myself.  This would be as daunting as a cavalry charge!

The drive back had cleared my head a little and I braced myself. My mother’s face was a picture as she opened the door.  It was a mixture of anger and relief. As I had been with his lordship she could not criticise but I saw it in her eyes.

“Did you have a nice time?” There was a heartbeat of a pause and then she said, “Your dinner will be all dried up now.”

I hugged her, “It will still taste delicious.” I would have to eat it or upset her even more.

She placed the plate on the table, “Mind now, it’ll be hot.  Your dad bought a bottle of brown ale for you to have with it.”

I forced the smile, “Thanks dad, that’ll
be just the job eh?”

I was full but this was a small sacrifice to make.  I think I saw the hint of a grin on my dad’s face as he looked up from his paper. He knew me better than anyone.  I might be fooling my mum but not him.
He could see that there was something on my mind. The beer helped the food to go down.  I told the story of the car journey which also gave me a breathing space.

Dad shook his head, “I cannot believe you got
to the Lake District and back in less than a day.  Why when I took his lordship up there we left at dawn and didn’t reach the lodge until after dark.”

“That’s the motor car for you, dad.  I am afraid that the day of the horse is over.  It will soon be something people use for hunting and that is all.
That car could go sixty miles an hour. That’s faster than the train to Liverpool.”

He angrily tapped his pipe out on the fire, “Why things have to change I don’t know.  It was bad enough when they got those noisy steam engines and we got rid of those beautiful Clydesdales. Do you remember them
, Bill?”

“Aye they were lovely.  Watching them plough was a real pleasure.”

“Exactly! What pleasure do you get watching a noisy steam engine belch fumes all over you!”

Albert had remained silent. “But they get the job done quicker dad.”

“No they don’t, not in the long run. It takes longer to set them up than it does a horse and plough.”