Diary of Second Lieutenant Harold Gordon Cornell- 1916-1917- Part 6

we could expect the best of training

there. The only objection is the isolation

from any towns. Wednesday morning

we reported to M.O., Wireless Officer &

Flight Gunnery Officer, & started class

work. The afternoon from 12-30 to 5 was

our own & I walked into the village

of N'avon, through the rain, which

has practically washed out flying for

the last fortnight. A couple of men

pupil & instructor, had been killed

the day before our arrival. We were

billeted in very comfortable quarters,

mostly with sharing rooms with other

officers as accommodation was limited.

The food in the mess was excellent,

but the method of serving it quaint.

A Each man had to wait on himself

getting his food between courses

from the side table when attendants

served it out.

Wednesday evening word came through

that all 15 of us were to leave N'avon

next morning & report to No 29(Aust)

squadron, Shawbury. We left at 8-30

motoring to Pewsey, & proceeding to

Paddington. During the interval there

visited Horseferry Rd, for pay, & there

met Bert Faulkner, formerly of Q'town.

I should never have recognised him

if he had not picked me out. Arranged 

to meet him outside the War Chest

Club, but he did not turn up &

I had to hurry off to catch my train.

Left Paddington 2 p.m. arriving [[?Thimsbury]]

about 6 & were taken by tender 7 miles

to [[?Hawbury.]] we found the [[Hawbury]]

Station in pretty much the same state as

Carlton was in February; there are 3

sqadrons 2R.F.C. 10th & 67th, & one

Aust. 29th. forming 27th Wing. Each

has 1 hangar complete & one under

construction. 29th is also using 2 Bassaneau

hangars. I was allotted with

 

 

six others to "B" Flight under Capt Foster.

Four others of our of the Queen's College

squadron had already arrived from

Castle Bromwich & I understand 20

others are coming this week. I found

several acquaintances, in Cpl [[?Viviash]],

Harding (W.Op. & formerly A/Sgt of Farnbro) &

[[Prurs]]. The C.D. is Major Pehe, xx

formerly at Kal in Mesopotamia. Captain

Lang who was in Laverton when we left

& brought over No 71 Sqdn, is F.C. of B. Flt.

Last night we were allotted to rooms

already occupied by R.F.C. pupils much

to their annoyance, however most of them

have now been sent away. We were

given 2 blankets & had to sleep on the 

floor no beds, or mattresses, being available.

However I slept very well. All the

buildings here are in a rough state

& practically unfurnished. The mess itself

has not a particle of paint or decorations.

The food is fair though a long

way from the standard of Netheravon.

The machines in 29th are all M.F.

shorthorns. of which there are about 

15 in the squadron. "A flight has 3

serviceable & 2 instructors, so I

don't think we shall finish up here

very soon. I anticipate quite 2 months.

but hope I am wrong. The days

is filled in thus:- Report at hangars

9 8-55 a.m. Gunnery 9 - 10, Wireless 10 -10.30.

Work in hangars 10-30 to 11-30. 11-30 to 12

Exercise, either run or hockey. Gunnery

2 - 3, Wireless 3 - 3.30, Hangars 3-30 - 4.

Flying (or waiting for it) 5-30 to 7 or later.

Supper 7-15 after which more flying.

Early flying in morning if required.

every 2nd Sunday is a clear day, no

flying. Tonight had 10 minutes in the 

air with Lt. Badgery; held the controls

but did not attempt to move the

machine. Air very steady, & flight

enjoyable. Today my 26th Birthday.

 

Wed. Aug 15th Bad weather has interfered

greatly with flying during last few days.

Had 20 minutes with Captain Foster

on Sunday evening but was not

allowed to take control. Early flying

Monday morning & today but I was not

called out. On Sat. last 20 of our

cadets arrived from Northolt, Adams,

miller, Sheppard & Currie being among

the party. Apparently they were having

a great time there, so do not

appreciate the change. Adams now

shares my room, which I have made

slightly more comfortable by making

a table & putting up a shelf. We also

now have 3 blankets, with bedboards

& pallaisse. Log books were sent in

this morning nearly all incorrectly

entered up; most of "A" flight has

to do drill tonight in consequence.

I am lucky. A memo was

sent to each of us last night

from the Adjutant, requesting each

cadet to pay £5 in to the P.M.C.

There was nearly a mutiny, but

I think everyone has now decided

to ignore the letter, which by the

way carries no signature.

We all had a lecture from the

Major on Monday, because some were

seen chatting with N.C.O's & men.

We have been ordered not to speak

to them at all. Varied the

monotony a little this morning by

machine gun practice on the range.

Tuesday. Aug 21. The heads decided

not to press for their £5, but have

arranged instead to collect our

messing allowances and credit us with

the amount. Bill came in from

Netheravon for our messing expenses

there, amounting to 8/7; these we

paid. Colonel Reynolds with

his Adj. Capt. Bursmead visited

 

 

the squadron on Sat. & inspected

the cadets. Made a short speech again

trying to impress on us the necessity

for not mixing with or talking to N.C.O's

& men. Had a 15 minutes flight

on Thursday Wed. evening with Foster, [[?]]

for about ½ the time. Thursday

night was rather windy, & Lang

intended to wash out the Major

however came along tried the air

& insisted that flying should proceed.

The F.C's were very much put out over

it. Walked into Shawbury, Thursday

& Friday evenings, getting very wet

on the latter occasion. Decided

suddenly on Sat morning to apply

for leave, & was successful in

getting from 1 pm. Sat to 12 p.m. Monday.

Wired Oldham & arrived there

about 8 p.m. after a deadly slow

journey. Spent a pleasant quiet

week-end. The three girls were at

Parkleigh this time. had not seen

Nellie for 2 years. Reached Hadnell at

10 p.m. last night & took the short cut

through fields. However we missed the

track & got a few miles off our course.

Landed back in camp just on midnight.

Sunday Aug 26th. Had a flight of ½ an

hour on Tuesday night with Badgery, it

was my first real dual flight and I

was some time getting accustomed to the

controls, however was not doing too badly

at the finish. We made there landing,

 in all in which I had quite a

respectable share. have not been up since

& there has been no flying at all except

about ½ an hour this evening, owing

to the wet & windy weather. have

had several walks through the villages

round the aerodrome with Adams, &

yesterday we took the afternoon & went

into Shrewsbury, where we spent quite

a good time, looking round.