Diary And Letters Of A World War I Fighter Pilot, The (30 page)

 

DIARY Friday 8th November

Up at 9. Fine day. Bokoo aviation. Mit formations etc, all day. Americans take Sedan. Further ‘hush hush' rumours going. V.cold, went up with Blake and find I can't fly at all!!

 

Dance washed out in evening. To pictures instead. Wrote to Holroyd.

 

DIARY Saturday 9th November

High wind all day, v little aviation. Duggie away. Massive dance at Saltburn in evening till 3.a.m. The best fun in the world! Priceless. For a 13 mile walk with Mac: all day – to Guisboro' and back. Lunch there. Feel v.fit indeed. Further advance as far as Hauberge.

 

DIARY Sunday 10th November

High wind and no flying v.tired! Not to Kirk in morning. Loafed about indoors all day. Abdication of Kaiser! All in a spin like!

To Kirk in evening – only one there. To bed early – tired.

 

DIARY Monday 11th November

Armistice signed!!!!! Peace – Hoo bally ray wotto!!!!
Capture of Mons. Formated in morning and then came down and heard the joyous news! Everyone went mad! Low flying all up Tees and beach. Flew under bridge at M‘boro' twice. Damn good show.

Foamed about in afternoon. Huge great dance in evening till 4.30 a.m.!! That's the spirit. Fireworks and bonfire and fizz supper! Miss Jeffs is topping.

 

DIARY Tuesday 12th November

Up at 10.30. V.little flying. A couple of joyrides. Too dud in afternoon and so washed out. The C.O. asked why!

Welch Dance in evening. Supper at Lonsdales with Miss Jeffs in evening. Got a mascot v.nice too. Then dance till 3.15! Pretty tired but great fun! Walked home with the girl. Bed at 4. V.cold.

 

DIARY Wednesday 13th November

Holiday all day. Up at 11. Brekker in bed. V.cold. One set of tennis in afternoon but too cold and court too soft for any fun. Washed out after that. Tea with Bartlett at Lonsdales – 3 eggs v.good tea. Tendered back. Jolly cold. Rather a head and a bit chilly. Thought I was getting the flu. Bed at 9.30. Slept badly till 11 and then well till 9.

 

DIARY Thursday 14th November

Fine day. Not much aviation though – that ‘peace' feeling still about! Washed out at 4. Pretty tired all day. Bed late – v.cold. Dinner with Rogers and his wife.

 

DIARY Friday 15th November

Misty all day v.little aviation. Rang up Miss Jeffs. Down to tea with her at 7.30 and then on to the Welch Dance – v.good time indeed! Not many there. Saw her home after. Some kid! Lovely night.

 

DIARY Saturday 16th November

Fine all day. No early flying – C.O. v.fed up with us all! Did a formation after brekker. Low strafed Jeffs house! Golf in afternoon with Miss Jeffs, Mac and Miss Burns. I was playing execrably!! Lost 4 down! Tea with Miss Jeffs and then party after supper. 7 girls and 4 men. Played blow feather and piano and danced. Left at 12. Topping evening and good fun. Effected nothing however!!

 

DIARY Sunday 17th November

Misty all morning. Church Parade at 9.30 for all. Good service. Too dud for flying. Barker in for lunch. Cleared a bit after. Took him up for a flip and looped and stalled turned and contour chased. Said he enjoyed it but looked v.green! To tea at farm with him after that. Miss Jeffs and Miss Walker in. Played piano and gramophone and card tricks. Walked home with Miss Jeffs, couldn't say a word but got to the “Annie” stage! Look. I am far gone. “Good night Annie” – that's the spirit! Long talk to Duggie.

 

DIARY Monday 18th November

Mistier than porridge in morning. No flying. I for live flips. Cleared up after a bit. Gibb and Alex did forced landings. Gave a lecture on formation and generally hot aired about all round. Fair days work. V cold indeed. Down town after ten – bought photo frame and ring for Mascot. Bed early v tired. Lost 3/6 at bridge – I am a luckless man!

 

DIARY Tuesday 19th November

Fine cold day but with a thick mist. Not much aviation for me. V thick later in afternoon. Took up SE5 and did 6 loops and some rolls. Nice bus but not as good as a Camel. Rang up Annie and Smith and I took her and Mary Callum to dancing class at the Gem. Not too bad and I danced a lot with Annie. Saw ‘em home singing and dancing. Cocoa at Callums house.

Bed, v cold.

 

DIARY Wednesday 20th November

Lovely day but v thick on ground. Did an hours formation at 12000 ft with Alexander, nearly killed me in a dive! Cold. Alexander landed into 2 Avros and bent all 3 machines! Up for a mad flip after lunch.

Smith and I took Annie and May to supper at the Lonsdales – v good meal and then to Cinema after. Long theological discussion! Snooker at Mays after v bon time.

 

DIARY Thursday 21st November

Cold day. Forced landing on Avro in morning. Lost my prop and sat in a field for 3/4 hour! Up on a Camel after lunch for a short while – all the cartridge cases fell into the officer! Awfully dangerous. Kicked up the ____ of a row when I came down.

Tennis with Houseley in afternoon. Beastly cold and we quit soon. Read and smoked after dinner.

 

DIARY Friday 22nd November

Cold day and a fair amount of flying. Managed to get dance tickets. Called for Annie and went to Welch Dance – awful good fun. Col. Page's buffday – fizz. Back at 3. Danced a whole lot with Annie.

 

DIARY Saturday 23rd November

Thick mist v little aviation. Rolled tennis court in morning. Annie and Madge came up at 3 and had a great game with Houseley and I. We lost 6-4, 6-4.

Tea in Guest Room and then down to Supper with May Callum. I developed a sore throat and felt v dud. Good time.

 

DIARY Sunday 24th November

In bed till 11.30. Down for Annie at 2.20. For a five mile walk across fields v muddy but jolly good fun. Back to tea and Supper with her – Tom and May in. Learnt how to gold divine! Back at 11. V good fun.

 

DIARY Monday 25th November

No flying – raining on and off. Played badminton with C.O. in afternoon. Rather sore throat. Boxed with Bill and Houseley and then did some Gym. Smithy and I had Annie and May up for dinner in Guest Room. Smithy v tight but splendid fun and good meal. Gramophone. Saw them home –
very
nearly kissed Annie – very nearly. She is a sweet kid. Bed at 12.

 

DIARY Tuesday 26th November

Fine day. Some morning. Flew to Marske and took up Bristol Monoplane – Gorgeous bus – simply lovely. Looped and rolled wonderfully. Then took up Sop Triplane – v nice – loops nicely. Parade in afternoon. Did not fly. Played billiards with Houseley.

To dancing class with Annie in evening. Priceless – danced every dance with her. Saw her home and then abso: tore
everything
by asking to kiss her – badly told off. I am sorry about it. Fearfully fed up. Pray hard she sees me tomorrow.

 

DIARY Wednesday 27th November

To Byfleet by 9.30 train – good trip – v cold.

 

DIARY Thursday 28th November

Up town by 11.30. Bought a few things – Lunch with Gin and to see the “Box o' Tricks”. Down by 6 train.

 

DIARY Friday 29th November

Loafed about all day. Brooklands in afternoon with Dad. Dinner at Swifts – v dud.

 

DIARY Saturday 30th November

Town with Dad and Bob. Lunch at club with Uncle H. To see B.B's on B – good fun. Dinner at Elysée with Avison. Fair. Saw me off and kissed her!

 

DIARY Sunday 1st December

To Church H.C. in morning. Up by 7.30 train up to Kings Cross. Caught 10.30 train – chock full. Avison saw me off v sweet of her. Awful trip. Half an hour sleep.

 

DIARY Monday 2nd December

Arrived at 7am, v tired. Flew twice. Bed at 8.30.

 

DIARY Tuesday 3rd December

Slept till 8.30, v tired still. Up with Blake, flipped once or twice. Rang up Annie – To dancing class in evening. Too tired to do anything at all. Bed late.

 

DIARY Wednesday 4th December

Better! Flew a good deal. Up with Blake.

Tea with Annie at Lonsdales – made my peace – hooray. Played gramophone at her place after. To men's dance – awful blooming show. Had pocket book with £5 pinched from my pocket simply wild.

 

DIARY Thursday 5th December

No sign of my perishing pocket book. Now hear that flight O.C.'s pay is washed out – I am out of luck. Not much aviation. Fooled about in afternoon. To Gym class in evening. Great fun. Learnt Jujitsu. Throat still sore. Am going to fly back Hun machines – grand.

 

DIARY Friday 6th December

Flew hard all day. Took up Snipe. Hockey in afternoon v the men. Jolly good game – we won 4.2. I played quite well. v stiff! To Welch dance in evening. Took Annie and danced quite well and a lot with her. Back at 12. V tired. Sat in Callums and had Oxo. Issued ultimatum!

 

DIARY Saturday 7th December

Joyous flip on DH9 in morning. Played tennis in afternoon with Major, Scott and Collison. Great fun. V sore! Won 3f at auction! To billiards at Callums in evening, great fun. Annie not there but still Smithy and I there. May is a good kid.

 

DIARY Sunday 8th December

To Kirk in morning – v good service. Walk along sands with Annie in afternoon. Great. To May's in evening. Rough housed and pillow fought. Play gramophone and sung. Very merry evening. Nothing doing tho.

Bed at 11.30. Throat again.

 

DIARY Monday 9th December

Flipped around in morning. Cold. Formation in afternoon, rotten! Got up flying speed after tea.

To dance in evening. Good fun – v hot tho! Danced a lot with Annie. Drew heavy bomber with affinity _____! Knew I should! Talked to Annie – I sat out. What ails me? I can't say a darned word!! The old old story I fear! Saw her home and held her hand! Lust! Bed at 3 – v tired – oh so tired – and thirsty – ye gods – guts thirst!

 

DIARY Tuesday 10th December

Flying in morning. Luffly day. To dancing class in evening with Annie. Great fun – danced a lot with her. Saw her home – nuffin' doin!

 

DIARY Wednesday 11th December

Feeling a bit tired! Flew in morning. Fooled about. Nothing of interest. Hockey v Welch in afternoon. Great game 2-2. I played fairly well.

 

DIARY Thursday 12th December

Flying all day. Gorgeous day. Fixed up dance hall in afternoon. Binge in Mess. Home late. Concert in evening not bad.

 

DIARY Friday 13th December

Flying in morning. High wind and v bumpy but good fun. Huge dance in evening. Wondrous show. Danced even numbers with Annie. Topping. Took her to my room, saw her and May home in cab. Wotto, walked back – Bed at 4.30.

 

DIARY Saturday 14th December

Up at 10.15, v fit. Flew a bit in morning. Landed at Callums with Smithy in afternoon. I saw Annie to hockey field after – looking like nuffing on earf ! Smithy ______ but tush! Norraword!!

Tea at Callum's and then flew back. Annie and May to Supper and then to Concert. Topping fun and enjoyed it hugely! Worro! Walked back – lovely night.

 

DIARY Sunday 15th December

Raining. To Kirk in town with Smithy. Walked back with May. Down to tea at Annie's in afternoon. Lovely time. Sat and played gramophone – arms around her! Tush! Then sang songs and had a long and v candid talk with Annie. Saw [?] ______ Back at 11.30. Feeling too tired for words.

 

DIARY Monday 16th December

Fairly fine day. Flew in morning and a bit in afternoon. Phoned Annie, had dinner in Middlesboro. Then to see “The Live Wire” – jolly good show. Then sat in Grand till 11.15. Had a topping talk with her. She is a sweet girl. Caught train at 12. Walked home. By God's Grace Annie will keep me white. V happy.

 

DIARY Tuesday 17th December

Flying in morning. Flew Bristol Fighter at Marske – my 16th type, v nice bus and loops rippingly. Hockey v N.E.A.F.I.S. in afternoon, we lost – I played rottenly. Dinner at Red Lion with Annie, May and Smithy. Quite fun but I too tired out! To dancing class in afternoon. Not much fun – danced a lot with Annie. Tired. Walked home, asked a question.

 

DIARY Wednesday 18th December

Flew a bit. One formation. Up 3 times on pup. Called for Annie, and May at 8pm in tender. To Saltburn dance. The best fun ever. Danced even No's with Annie. Ripping – stopped at 2.30. No cab. Raked it up. Got v comfy and warm when cabby refused to go on after a time! Got lift in train to Marske crossing. Then walked – fearfully cold but still! Arm around her. Said goodbye and God speed. Received my answer, just too happy for words. I would do anything for her. Bed 4.30.

 

DIARY Thursday 19th December

Up at 8. Down for 9.33 train, met by Annie. Train 35 mins late! Up to Middlesboro with Annie. Awful nice of her. V cold, but feel fit. Caught train at Darlington. Packed, sat on floor till York. Then seat v uncomfy and cold as sin! Am going to take up Col. McGregor. Wrote Annie. Train arr: 1 hour late. Met by Dad and taxi. Caught 7.58 train, cold, tired and hungry! Arr: 8.

Bed at 10. Jolly cold.

 

DIARY Friday 20th December

V cold day. Up for brekker. Up to village with Mum in morning. Read after lunch. Then to Bramptons for tea. Cold. Am reading “Rough Road” v good. Feel v fit but tired.