Diary of Second Lieutenant Harold Gordon Cornell- 1916-1917- Part 4

have been wiring the BE. machine of

which I am nearly complete: the work

has been greatly hampered by the taking

out of the machines for flying, & also by

the trouble in getting material. The 

officers did not appear for the buzzer

class, during last week, though the

officers have, however, today. Brook

returned from Scampton where he had

been taking charge of a similar class, so

we are starting work on a proper basis.

The officers are to be present, at different 

times to the observers who are only common

air mechanics. They made their first

appearance this afternoon. I was

unable to go into town till Saturday

when I walked in with Hayles & Jackson

The weather proved so wet that we caught

the motor home & even so were all

pretty well wet Sunday I got a late

pass but was unable to reach Lincoln

before 615. Visited the Congregational

church, met there one of the Mavers

& returned with him home to spend the

remainder of the evening. Supplying the 

duties from H'grs is always a struggle,

today when all was arranged satisfactorily

seven men (wireless) were sent for to

proceed immediately to Birkenhead

in order (so it was said) to break up cases

for the trenches!!! Had to rearrange &

cut down all duties & had a great

rush getting the men away to time.

Friday, a pupil on his first solo flight

fell with his machine about 40 ft,

sustaining injuries from which he died

during the night. The machine for some

unknown reason was burnt after the

engine had been removed. Sunday, another

pilot, a captain took a nose dive from

about 300 ft, & was killed instantly the

engine behind crushing him. In both 

cases the machines were d'Avelons. It is

a significant fact that our men are frequently 

practiced in funeral marching

the Trainees for pilots were picked &

sent away yesterday to Reading. Benjamin

Crook, Scott, Miller, Patterson, & two others.

Today we replaced our single aerial by

a double but with no marked

improvement so far. As our motor

workshop have now arrived, we I

hope to get our wireless batteries charging

tomorrow or Wednesday.

Tonight the Y.M.C.A. opens with & grand

concert, Mrs Maver & Mrs [[W?penny]] will

in all probability be out. Have bought a

loose leaf book for entering notes &

sketches but do not know when I

shall have time to xxxx write it up.

Sunday December 13th. The concert last

night, was pretty fair, & the Y.M.C.A

itself was proved very satisfactory, the

canteen is a vast improvement on

the military one the trade of

which is bound to fall away now. 

There were further accidents with

machines today. Capt [[Ranef]] with

Barkell, made a forced landing,

& the machine turned completely over,

on striking the ground. Neither were

injured. About midday a 45th. R.S.

pupil, in attempting to land

misjudged his height & was bearing

straight for the No 2 hangar. At the last

moment he lost his head & let go

controls. The stbd. wing struck the shed

& the machine swing round & dropped

a complete wreck. Except for shock,

the pilot was unhurt. Today has been

an ideal one for flying, and every

machine was out; I have not seen so

many in the air at one time.  Abt tea-time

the tester from the works in Lincoln

was flying over the aerodrome on &

gave a remarkable performance of looping,

both level & sideways the best I

have yet seen. Machine a Sopwith biplane

Today stored ½ ton of explosives in the [[?ls]]

station for officers training class. Started

to charge 15 cells for Sterling Transmitters sets.

Fortunately I did not have the job of

a/Flt. Sergeant today.

Wednesday Picked for guard today, but as

my leave was due for tomorrow I got off.

Put in a very busy day. Lt Marriott

decided to have a trial shoot. We

hastily equipped a machine with

batteries & transmitter, removed tuner

to field below hangars & rigged up

a receiving station with earth nets &

an insulated aerial laid on the ground.

A target was placed near the station

& artillery fire imitated by means

of Verry;s lights fired to various points

in its vicinity for the observer to spot

the observer did very well, though the

signals were very faint. In the

afternoon at 3.30 started another shoot

but observer jammed his key & pilot could

not send. Came down & forgot his aerial

[[lost weight?]]. Arranged for new aerial

to replace ground wire. Packed

up 4.30 & dressed. Marriott came down

for a shoot after, & got out gear himself,

however it was no go, as machine failed.

I got into town & spent evening with Mavers.

Thursday. Applied for leave from 11.30 which

was granted. Had to take charge of

sick parade, & then make final arrangements

for my absence. Had a rush to be ready in

time & at 11-30 could not find J.B. Finally

took my pass & cleared with 50 mins to

catch train. Fortunately a lorry caught me

up so I got a lift. Reached Oldham about

4.30 & found Florence waiting for me. Visited

[[?]] Knoll & the road home, at his office

Then on to Parkleigh for aft tea & tea. In the

evening visited Abbey Hills hospital with

Florence, & found Lily on duty. Both girls

seemed the same as ever though in

black, but Mr B looks older. They made

me very welcome.

Friday Went to office in morning with Mr B

met his brother & father, then on to

Mr Knott's; he accompanied me to [[?]]

to see Uncle William who it happened

was out. Returning to the office we

rang up the Oldham Brewery for him &

he came up [[?]] shortly after. Looked

hearty & healthy & very pleased to see

me again. 82 & still keen on his game

of [[fowls?]] & quite active. Returned home

from for dinner, & Florence meanwhile had

arranged for me to visit the new "Cromer"

mill. Mr - a director, called for us &

we spent a splendid afternoon. Returning

at 4, we caught train to Manchester

with Lily & Mr B; on to [[?]] Hotel

when we were joined by Mr & Mrs Joe Haig

& Mr Willie Haig. Ddinner at Midland-

[[?]] day, & 2 course only, but swell price

all the same. On to Royal Theatre to

 

see "Lucky Jim", which was a [[?]]

[[?]] [[?]] Entertainer & 1st act. Then came 

out & went to Hippodrome, where we had a

fine performance, but had to rush out &

[[?]] to the last train. Saturday,

up early, caught train to Blackpool,

inspected down promenade, & Tower

(Mr B L.F. Mr K. & self). Dinner in town

then took train to St Annes & called

on Heywoods. Back x after tea ^ at B'pool station

[[?]] where we spent evening with

F'n Aunt & uncle Mr & [[?]].       Rained

during evening, & throughout [[?]] walk

home. Sunday called on Mr W Haig,

then home for dinner. xx then to

Mr Knoll's home, for an hour, then

back to P'leigh packed up & said goodbye

[[trainned?]] to [[?]] &

Caught 6-15 [[?]] to L'pool where

E.H. met me & took me home. xx Met

Mrs H & family including recent addition

Monday visited works again, & got a

welcome from the old hands & the

girls who were nearly, all still there

Met Fred [[?]], we went up to Y.M.C.A., then

in to [[?]], to see Mrs [Elzell?]] & Mrs

Clark ( the girls were at work). Stayed

for lunch, called on Mrs Brindley, &

caught 3-45 from [[?]] St Lincoln at

8-30, [[?]] at Arcadia, & car home.

Tuesday back to work. Cl [[?]] Walker

had bad smash during my absence.

Thursday visited Lincoln & spent evening

at Mawers, & playing  cards. Marriott

left camp for a couple of days that morning

Friday took xx Bailey & Downing from

carpenter's shop, to shift materials into

station. W.O. Dennison Ellison made a great fuss

& put the men under open arrest for leaving

their job (cleaning up the shop) Orderly

[[?]] [[preformed?]] till tomorrow, & always

losing his head over rifles. Got ready for

a shoot At 4p.m. toda but machine

[[?]] out & did not appear till

after 5 -50 pm at which time we packed

up. Pay-day today but I did not hand

in my pay-book so did not draw.

Saturday Bailey & Downing had their case

dismissed this morning & (as I expected)

I got a blowing up from Ross, which

made very little impression on me, beyond

that I have decided for the future to bustle

myself over work or worry over delays.

There were no shoots [[?]] the day

though we expected one.

Sunday Received six extra men &

started the work of laying wires for

the [[?]] target, for observers practice, Laid

out xx 10 lines using up about 800 yards

wire. Marriott rather surprised at the news

at compulsory church parade held this

evening at 6.30 in the Y.M.C.A. The men showed

[[sheer?]] disapproval bey remaining [[?]]

throughout, & leaving the singing to the

officers. F. Woods is reported to be well

again & expected back any time now.

Monday Very cold weather today with

frequent snow showers. Received a

squad of 5 & continued the job of

digging in wires between storms.

Finished all but 150 yds by 4pm

Detailed [[?]] during morning to take

over picture target. Put in an

hours practice on P.T. after tea

with Millington.

Tuesday Finished digging in wires

[[?]] for ^ squadron or duty sgt from 4-30

Sgt F.W. appeared during day but

did not take over duties

Wednesday Had a little [[trouble?]] over

men not present at  [[?]] the previous

night, & who failed to report to me

[[later?]], however no action was taken

against them. Obtained a leave pass

& went into town after tea spent

a pleasant evening at cards with

the Mawers. Sgt F.W. left me

pretty much to myself during

 

the day, & I had a chat with him

during the afternoon which should

go [[?]] was to establishing an

understanding between us.

Thursday F.W. expect to leave

shortly for further training & is

not therefore taking the [[?]] of the

wireless out of my hands. Experimental

today with the [[Puff?]] Target with good

results. [[?]] [[?]] in the evening at

the wireless station for machine [[?]]

Friday Marriott very pleased with Puff Target

Day passed off quietly. Latest rumour is

that squadron leaves for France on June 8th

At work in station again tonight

Saturday No events of importance, walked

into Lincoln for bath & supper after tea.

Sunday April 1st 2 [[?]] crashes before breakfast today

Heavy snowfall from 7.30 to 10pm; took

things easy during morning & wrote letters

Monday Extremely cold weather, snow

all morning, snowfight [[?]]

finishing up with air attack in [[?]] B

with the result that [[?]] was put

under arrest.

Tuesday [[Jillbart?]] let off & admmisted

Spent evening with Ted at Mawers in Lincoln

Wednesday No less than six crashes

yesterday 3 while we were having tea

but no one was injured. Today had

instructions at 4pm to make ready

puff target: shoot was not completed

till after 7pm. About [[?]] new

naval [[?]] came down killing

[[Warren?]] the cadet observer, but [[?]]

the pilot escaped with a shaking & the [[?]]

of a few [[?]]. I hear the cadet loss his

head & [[?]] on to the joy-stick.

Thursday another shoot today announced

for 11, came off at 2p.m. finished at 4.

2nd shoot did not come off, as

machine landed in next field with

defective engine.  Several letters from

home yesterday; first for many weeks.

 

N.C.S observers put up their stripes &

left today for Brooklands for training

Friday (April 6th Good Friday) 1 shoot this morning, second started

at 2pm, but ceased owing to bumpy

air, 3rd at 4 oclock prevented by machine

smashing prop in landing. No [[?]] than

12 crashes in the wind today though only

two here.

Saturday visited Lincoln for bath & supper

Sunday Ok obtained pass xxx from 4pm

& visited Lincoln with Hayles had

tea with his friends the [[?]]

an to Meth Church, then for evening

with my camp being [[?]] chambers

Returned for supper then back to

camp, a very enjoyable evening though

it turned out very well.

Thursday 12th [[Snow?]] has fallen

[[?]] day, mostly at night & [[?]]

have been some very heavy falls.

Last night look [[through?]] to [[?]] [[?]] [[?]]

in which Mrs Mawers & Mrs [[?]] were

[[?]] Hayles received [[?]]

 

prize. Arrived home at 12pm. very tired.

Heavy snaw fall all evening, though it

ceased for our walk home. We have

been building a wireless hut lately

off the aerodrome under difficulties,

having to [[win?]] both our material &

tools. Work going ahead

but contractors

are making a fuss & require a lot of

calming down. Wireless room, charging

to a [[?]] [[?]] office, [[?]] &

buzzer room. Capt [[?]] of 45th

killed yesterday evening while flying,

nose dive from 1000ft. Sgts E.& A. made

[[?]] [[/]] by reporting self & Thompson

& Murray for leaving [[bathing Parade. Tuesday

night, report stopped by Sgt F.W., but we

remember the men.  Water hurried on at

the camps today for the first time.

Tuesday 17th April During past week

work has proceeded quietly: Started

football last Friday & had a [[?]]

round for an hour or more. Have

 

been very stiff in consequence [[?]]

since. Saturday evening [[out?]] Hayles in

town xxx & went with Nancy [[?]] & Edie

Chambers for the evening. Visited Pictures

Acadia for supper, then walk home,

back to camp about 12-30. enjoyed the

evening, But am not inclined to repeat

the experience for a while. Sunday we

were out taking shoot during morning.

Most of the squadron being at church parade

[[?]] to our surprise most of the

squadron was given a half holiday.

I was tired or did not bother & had a

sleep in the station instead. Yesterday

I was not feeling especially well, but

joined the f'ball party after tea for a

[[?]]. Became puffed out very quickly, &

after 3 attempts, after each of which I

got worse, I stopped playing. Sat down

on the ground but grow worse instead

of [[better?]] & after about 10 minutes I got

up to walk back to the hut. Next

thing I knew I was half way then

in the arms of five of the boys

[[?]] saw me stagging ran up &

caught me as I fell in a faint; I

brought him down pretty heavily &

bruised him somewhat though he

broke my fall. I fell all right

in a couple of minutes but [[laid?]] down

for about an hour. Have been off

colour all today, head aches & stomach

trouble & have done nothing. This evening

about 6.30, was called out for [[?]] Signal

& [[?]] work.

Thursday April 19th   45th Sqdn is replacing

[[?]] [[?]], Vickers & [[?]] machines, by

[[?]] [[?]], & Bristols. Nothing

of importance last two days. Picked

up message from torpedo vessel yesterday.

S.O.S. R.H. [[?]] [[?]] [[?]] Still

remain rather off colour, but have not

stopped work,^ up for early flying today, but

no flying took place.

Saturday April 28th  Regained health

gradually during past week & am

 

now quite fit. On Friday evening ([[?]])

had a short fly (my 1st) with Captain

Raife. We were up about 15 minutes the

object being to test the [[?]] [[?]] signals.

& the effect of shortening aerial. Was surprised

at lack of anything sensational in the

experience, & the xxxxx [[fast?]] that one

loves all impression of speed, & motion

Have been haunting aerodrome since for

a second trip, without success so far.

Finished model of [[?]] for P.T. &

it works very satisfactorily. Sgt. Woods

left for training at Brooklands, last

Tuesday, for six weeks. Will probably return

as Wireless Officer. New wireless station

now practically complete, with new double

aerial [across?]] hangars, & short aerial.

On duty as [[?]] Sgt. till 4-30 today

Haad slight trouble with [[?]], yesterday

& today. He paraded to O.C. over the matter

& was promptly [[?]]. He won't love me

for it however. Visited Lincoln on Thursday

[wiring?]] & called on the Mawers

seven letters from [[Millie?]] in less than

a week. Letter from Dad, gave me

first real knowledge of Miller's condition

Called in Tuesday to [[Mother?]] to send on

₤50 to her, for emergency. Notice of

draft of ₤25, so my credit, in Com Bank

arrived this week. Coys [[?]] left

today for special instruction with [[?]]

([[?]] weeks); I take over [[but?]] Fortunately

Sgt Downing takes over [[Till?]] Sergeant's duties.

Monday Yesterday afternoon ^ [[?]] the

Vickers inspector (a Major) arrived. He

is senior Officers, of wireless in England,

& he took both Mr Marriott &

myself rather by surprise, although

we knew he was coming some time

in the next few days. All the

operators were away, [[?]] myself

[[?]] [[?]] on duty at the station; we 

made a tour of inspection & the [[?]]

expressed himself as highly pleased

with the whole turnout, promised

 

us some extra gear, & [[?]] arranged

that myself & Thompson should go for

a short course of instruction to

Brooklands. His recommendation

carries a lot of weight so we can

[[?]] on going pretty soon. Also I

heard from [[?]], that my succession

as Sgt , will follow as a matter of course.

Today heard from Downing, that [[?]] xx is

having a splendid time, & has already

got his commission. [[?]] buzzer

[[?]] today for our operates with [[Brook?]]

& it should write my monthly.

A long fine day today & everything went

satisfactory.

Tuesday May 1st Another perfect day, the best

yet, though the sun made me feel

rather [[?]]. Was up at 5-15 with

the early fliers, but no wireless [[?]]

Couldn't get a fly with too many new

pupils: Sent the men out this

morning on out station work in the