1917 - 1918 Draper 07

No Squadron Commander could wish for a more reliable Flight Commander and when I heard of his death in a motor accident some years after the war I knew I had lost a staunch supporter and friend. Though to some he may have at times appeared hard and bitter he was at heart generous and sincere. I recall with amusement how some years later he told me that he thought I was much too lenient in those days with both officers

and men, and after a time he ceased to report any of his men to me because I always let them off.


Of my ground staff, I counted myself more than lucky to have an officer named Pinkney. I had known him at Eastchurch and, when I heard he was to be posted overseas. I at once asked Dunkirk for him, having a vacancy for an Armament officer. Quite early in his training at home he had realised the obvious truth, that to be of practical help to pilots, and to appreciate their gunnery difficulties, the Armament officer should be a pilot himself. So, in spite of much opposition by the authorities, he took his pilots’ certificate. Though it was never recognised officially and he was never allowed to be an active service pilot, this experience made him invaluable. He had originally applied to be a pilot but was turned down on account of poor eyesight; so I had the greater admiration for his determination.


He was years my senior in age and became the “father and friend” of us all. His loyalty and support, his never-failing cheerfulness under all adversities, and his tremendous sense of humour meant much to me. When we left St. Eloi he not only shared my hut, but my troubles and difficulties.


Amongst the distinguished visitors who came to see us at St. Eloi were Sir John Simon, Prince Axel of Denmark, Mr. Winston Churchill and Sir Douglas Haig. The last-named came for lunch and we felt duly honoured, but I was most concerned to hear the clicking of cameras as he left the mess because of the very severe orders forbidding their use at the Front.


We continued at Mont St. Eloi until the end of February suffering only five casualties which, considering the flying we did, was remarkable. It was, however, quite a relief when we were sent home on March 3 for a badly needed rest. Naval Eight was the first complete Squadron to be sent to co-operate with the R.F.C, in the Field and, with the exception of three weeks spent at Dunkirk in re-equipping, in February 1917, from Sopwith Pups to Sopwith Triplanes, it was in the thick of it the whole time.

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