1915 Fokker Scourge (British Ace Book 2) Read online

  We jumped from the lorry. Quartermaster Doyle waved his hand towards a group of twelve tents isolated from the rest. “Those are the officers’ quarters. There are a few empty ones. Just grab one.” He swept his arm around to a large marquee. “And that is the officer’s mess. I’d dump your bags and see if there is still food on the go.”

  We looked in four tents before we found two empty ones. As neither of us had eaten since the morning we were ready for food, of any description. When we entered the mess tent there was a roar from the six officers there. To our amazement Ted was seated with them, resplendent in the uniform of a Second Lieutenant. He grinned as we walked up to him. “I only did it so as I wouldn’t have to salute you two!

  We both slapped him heartily on the back. The three of us were back together. It had felt odd to be separated at meal time and to have him ‘sirring’ us the whole time.

  He nodded to the cooks who were clearing away, “Grab some food and I’ll fill you in.”

  The cooks moaned in a good natured way and then filled our plates up with bully beef stew. We grabbed some bread and a mug of tea. It was plain fare but it would fill us. Of that I had no doubt.

  While we ate Ted talked. The younger officers, having finished, all left. “Yeah the Colonel asked me to try out as a pilot. I passed and he made me an officer straight away. He told me he needed pilots like us who had experience and were reliable.” He looked around to see that we were not being observed or overheard, “The bad news is that we have a new senior officer.” We both paused, mid mouthful, “Major Brack has been given his own squadron. He took a couple of the pilots with him.” He must have seen the look of surprise on our faces as he added hurriedly, “Your flights have been left un-touched. Now the new Major is a Major St.John Hamilton-Grant.” He made a face. “You will not like him. He is a toff but not like Major Burscough. His Lordship didn’t talk down to you; this one speaks to you as though he has stepped into something unpleasant.”

  “Where has he come from?”

  “According to the griff he was in command of a training squadron in England.”

  “He has no combat experience then?”

  Ted stubbed his cigarette out and shook his head, “Not as far as we can find out. He likes to do things by the book. He thinks we should set an example for the sergeants. We have to wear a tie at all times.”

  I looked at Gordy who shook his head, “But this is stupid. When we are flying we are all wrapped up anyway.”

  “That’s another thing he has changed, he wants regulation greatcoats to be worn when flying.”

  “But they are bloody useless in the wet.”

  “Ah he reckons we shouldn’t have to fly when it is wet so there won’t be a problem.” He stood and stretched, “And lastly our new major doesn’t like the idea of flight sergeants being promoted. He thinks every pilot should go through a flying school. I am glad you two are back because it means all the shitty jobs will now be shared out.” He grinned. “It won’t just be Joe Muggins here!”

  “What does the colonel think about all this?”

  “That’s the problem, Gordy, the colonel’s son was wounded and gassed at Ypres. The Colonel spends more time away from the squadron than with it. His son is critically ill and the Colonel is by his bedside. You can’t really blame him. If it was my son I would want to do the same.”

  “Blimey, a hell of a lot can happen in three weeks!”

  “Tell me about it. Come on I’ll help you get sorted. Reveille is at five thirty.”

  “Five thirty!”

  “I told you, regulations and by the book.”

  Much later that night, as I lay down to sleep I reflected that it couldn’t make all that much of a difference. Regulations were regulations and once we were in the air then it would be the same as it always was. This wasn’t like the cavalry with its spit and polish and horse furniture to be burnished. We just flew our aeroplanes. It would soon go back to the way it was. I was wrong.

  Chapter 2

  We were told to be on parade and we waited in line. I was surprised when I saw him. The new major was a precise little man. He had a precisely trimmed moustache and his hair always looked as though it had just been trimmed. He had razor sharp creases in his uniform and starched shirts. As soon as he walked along the parade I felt dirty and I had my cleanest and best uniform on! He did not find anything to criticise us for but I knew that Ted was correct. The looks he gave to the three of us were looks of contempt.

  He addressed us all in his shrill, piping voice. “The colonel is still indisposed and I will remain in charge for the foreseeable future. We are still awaiting three new pilots and so the order of business until they arrive is for you all to familiarise yourselves with the new aircraft. The new FE 2 has a more powerful Rolls Royce Eagle engine. Those pilots who have flown the earlier version will find a difference. Until we are issued with a more up to date fighter we will have to get by with these out dated Gunbuses. You will all spend at least two hours a day flying. I expect a written report each day on the route you took and any problems you encountered with the aircraft. We need to be as efficient as we can be before we return to France. That is all gentlemen. You are dismissed.”

  We saluted and turned to go, “Er Lieutenant Hewitt and Lieutenant Harsker stay behind for a moment would you?” We turned. “Do sit down.” As we sat down I realised the reason was because otherwise we would have towered over him. He closed his eyes and put his finger tips together. I suddenly worried that he was a Holy Joe and he was going to pray. However he opened his eyes and then stood.

  “Gentlemen, I am a plain speaking man and I will come directly to the point. I do not like self taught pilots promoted from the ranks. It is unnatural and sloppy. I prefer those officers who have been trained to fly and fight properly.” We remained silent. There appeared little point, at least to me, in saying anything until he had finished.

  “In addition I think that the idea of three aircraft flying as a unit is counterproductive and a waste of resources. When we are fully equipped we will have twelve aircraft. I intend to use them to cover as wide an area as possible.”

  Gordy could not keep his mouth shut. “But, sir, the Colonel likes the idea of flights of three aircraft.”

  He smiled a mirthless smile. “The colonel is not here and so I will run the squadron as I see fit until he does return.” He then glared at both of us, almost daring us to question him again. Then he smiled, “Ah, I see now; you two were paid extra as leaders. Yes, of course, being sergeants and from that class money is more important than rank.” He shrugged, “I have no objection to you being paid more. The colonel, for whatever reason, saw fit to promote you to First Lieutenant. Officers of your class obviously need the higher pay more than the other officers.”

  I felt Gordy begin to rise and I clamped my hand around his wrist. I smiled, “Sir, may I ask a question?”

  “Of course, it is Lieutenant Harsker I believe.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “You are the lucky pilot who has four enemy kills to his name.”

  I chose to ignore the fact that he had the numbers wrong and the fact that he said ‘lucky’; it did not matter to me. “Well that is the point I was going to make sir. How many of the squadron have combat experience? I understand that Major Brack took many of the experienced pilots with him. So apart from us two and Lieutenant Thomas, how many of the squadron have experience combat against the Germans?”

  He coloured and I wondered if I had gone too far even though I had kept my voice as reasonable as I could. “There are four of you for I believe that Lieutenant Campbell has also flown in combat. What is your point?”

  “The reason the colonel introduced his system was to protect new pilots by placing them under the wing, so to speak of a more experienced pilot. We cut down the losses as a result.”

  “Do not worry about that Lieutenant. The new pilots are much better trained.” He smiled, “After all I trained them. In addition I will be drawing up s
tanding orders which will make the possibility of losses almost impossible.”

  He sat down again, “Anyway I just wanted you to know where you stood. Of course any advice you can give the new pilots about shooing down the Germans would be appreciated. However if an untrained sergeant can shoot down four then it cannot be that difficult now, can it? Dismissed.”

  I kept hold of Gordy’s arm as we walked back to our tent to pick up our flying gear. As soon as we reached our tent and were out of ear shot he exploded. “What an arrogant little jumped up so and so! Who the hell does he think he is to come in here and talk to us like that?”

  “Our new acting commander I think. Listen, Gordy, the colonel will not be away for too long and when he comes back he will reverse these decisions.”

  “I hope you are right. At least we get to fly again and that is one thing at any rate.”

  As we walked to the aircraft I noticed some new flight sergeants and warrant officers. Obviously Major Brack had not just taken experienced pilots. There were a couple, in crisply pressed uniforms, who looked out of place. They stared at me as I approached Sharp.

  Sergeant Sharp was waiting at the aircraft. He looked to have recovered from the dose of gas he had received over Ypres. “Well, Charlie, what is the new bus like?”

  “She hasn’t been up yet but she sounds more powerful. Did you have a good leave sir?”

  “I did. Well let me have a look at the new bus and then we’ll get her up. The new major wants a detailed report about the performance.”

  I saw the look on Sharp’s face. It was a picture and told me that he had had a run in with the major too. I was now an officer and I had to keep my feelings to myself. The major would have to have my support even if I did not like what he was doing. I made sure that I went over every inch of the aircraft and then we took off.

  I was disappointed at first. It was a more powerful engine and the take off time was marginally shorter but our speed through the air didn’t seem any faster than the earlier model. Sharp had not fixed the improvised speaking tubes we used as yet and so I tapped him on the head and pointed up. As soon as we climbed and levelled out I saw that we were moving faster. I gauged that by Ted’s aircraft which was still at a low altitude. I began to leave him behind. That would be useful if we came up against faster German aeroplanes. We flew for the prescribed time and then landed.

  I helped Charlie examine the engine and then left him while I went to write my report. I knew that I would be judged on this first report and I was the first pilot to report to the major. Captain Marshall was still the adjutant and he grinned when he saw me. “Why, you are keen, Bill.”

  “Yes sir, new commanding officer and all that. I do not want to upset him too soon.”

  His face darkened, “Temporary.” He lowered his voice, “The Colonel will return.” We both heard a cough from the major’s tent and Captain Marshall said, “You had better get in then.”

  I handed in my report and as I turned to leave he said, “Just wait a moment Lieutenant Harsker.” He read through the report and nodded, “A sound report, good.” I breathed a sigh of relief. “However it has come to my attention that you have been guilty of some lapses of military protocol.” I wondered what he was talking about. “You addressed your Flight Sergeant by his first name. That will not do. It breeds a familiarity of which I disapprove and secondly I noticed that you were working on the engine. I can understand a sergeant doing so but you are an officer. Please behave like one. You have been elevated from the ranks of manual labourers. Please conduct yourself appropriately. I do not expect to see you doing that in the future.”

  I left feeling more depressed than I had for a long time. Even when I tried my best and gained a little approval I was still criticised. I began to regret my decision not to follow Major Burscough to his new squadron. Perhaps I could apply for a transfer. I have always had this ability to argue with myself in my head. By the time I had reached my tent I had talked myself out of it. I did not want to leave my friends and that included Charlie. In addition it would please the major if I did so and I was not willing to indulge that man. If he wanted to play by the regulations then I would oblige him. Sergeant Armstrong in the Yeomanry had taught me how to use regulations to help you.”

  Charlie gave me a strange look the next day when I formally addressed him as Sergeant Sharp and deigned to inspect the engine. “Have you set up the speaking tubes yet, Sergeant Sharp?”

  “Er, yes, Lieutenant.”

  “Good then let us be about our business.”

  Once we were aloft I said, “Sorry about that, Charlie. I was reprimanded by the new major yesterday for being informal. There are a couple of new sergeants who were watching us and I think that one of them must report to the major.”

  I could hear the relief in his voice, “I thought I had upset you sir. I think I know the one you mean; Flight Sergeant Shield. He transferred here with the new major. None of the lads like him. He walks around as though he has a broom stuffed up his arse.”

  I laughed, “And I am afraid that I won’t be able to get my hands dirty with you. Much as I would like to. However there is nothing to stop me from watching you closely so that I keep my eye in. Right let’s get on with this test. We will try a climb and see what the rate is and then I will try a few spins at altitude. The new bus is faster the higher we get and that might make for better turns.”

  We both knew that if you could turn inside an enemy then, with the flexibility of a moveable machine gun you had a chance to cause some damage. Now that we had the speaking tube attached it was much easier and I could warn Sharp about any sudden moves I might make.

  It took until the middle of June for all of the new officers to arrive. Major St.John Hamilton-Grant gathered us all together a couple of days after the last of the new pilots had arrived.

  “Gentlemen, we are leaving for France. Today the spares for the aircraft, the fuel and the ground crew will leave by lorry. There will be a separate convoy with our new tents. You will need to pack your bags for the Quartermaster Sergeant to take to the new base. The aircraft will leave tomorrow morning at six o’clock. We will be flying directly to our new base which is between Ypres and Loos. I believe some of the pilots know that area. It is clearly marked on the maps which Captain Marshall will issue as you leave.”

  He strode to the map on the wall and pointed to the red dot which would mark our new home. “The sector is quiet at the moment but there is likely to be an increase in ground activity soon which is why we are being sent there now. We should have at least a week to familiarise ourselves with the field and the dispositions of the troops. Any questions?”

  Gordy stood and asked, “Sir, any news on the colonel?”

  I saw the major’s face darken and watched Captain Marshall shake his head slightly. Although a reasonable question it highlighted the fact that the major’s power was only temporary. He coughed and looked down to shuffle some papers on his desk. “I believe there is no change in the condition of the colonel’s son and so I do not expect him to join us in the foreseeable future.”

  When Gordy sat down I could see the anger on his face. Ted joined us as we walked back to our tents. We had to pack our bags. “I feel sorry for the colonel and all that but he owes us something. He was the one who promoted us. If the three of us were still sergeant gunners this wouldn’t be a problem.”

  “Gordy, the genii is out of the bottle. You can’t put it back in. All three of us were pleased to be promoted. And don’t tell me you would happily go back to being the gunner for one of these new wet behind the ears Beer Boys.”

  Ted chuckled, “He’s right Gordy. We have to make the best of it.”

  “By bloody hell, I never thought I would see the day when you would be the optimist and I would be the pessimist.”

  The three of us laughed and I put my arm around Gordy. “I think, my friend, that your new relationship with Mary might have something to do with that.”

  He looked at me as thou
gh I had slapped his face and then he slowly nodded, “You could be right. Well if you pair can live with this bastard then I will have to make the best of it too.”

  It did not take long to pack the bags and Sergeant Sharp carried his and mine to the lorries. It would not have done for an officer to carry his own bags. We kept enough clothes for the following day. There was enough storage space in the Gunbus to carry quite a lot of equipment. I had made sure that the Lee Enfield, the Luger and the ammunition were stored in the aeroplane. Both had saved us when we had had problems with the Lewis. Of course we made sure that neither the major nor his spy, the odious Flight Sergeant Shield, saw them. They would definitely be viewed as a breach of King’s Regulations.

  As we had expected, when we did take off the three of us were the tail end Charlies. If the major thought it would be a humiliation he was wrong. I, for one, enjoyed watching the erratic flying of the line of aircraft in front of us. With the exception of the major and Lieutenant Campbell the others were rising and falling with alarming regularity. Of course the major could not see what was happening behind him. Had I been in command I would have chosen the place we now occupied. I could tell which pilots would struggle once we were in combat situations.

  I almost laughed out loud when the major could not find the airfield. It was obvious we were lost when we began to circle some thirty miles from Ypres. I wondered if our fuel would run out as we continued to hunt for our new home. Eventually I saw Gordy take matters into his own hands. He flew to the side of the major and waggled his wings; the sign for follow me. He then flew off towards Ypres. We knew where the town was and Gordy and I had looked at the map the previous day. We had a rough idea where the field would be. Finally, before Gordy became a dot in the distance the major followed. Within fifteen minutes we were landing on our new field.