Diary of Second Lieutenant Harold Gordon Cornell- 1916-1917- Part 7
It appears there had been quite
a lot of fuss about my non-appearance.
The police had phoned from Shrewsbury
that a plane apparently lost was
cruising over the town, & Baclying &
the Major started out to look for me.
Flares were lit on the drome &
Very's lights fired off, but I had
landed long before this. The bus
was about 5 miles from Shanbury
where I landed. Adams was very
much worried at my absence &
the general opinion was that I
had come to grief in the storm
which had sprung up. I had
3 hrs 40 mins flying for that one day.
Found I was down for Orderly
officer today, but most of the work
had been done for me. Was
examined in Art Olo during the
afternoon. Had 20 mins flying
before supper landing quite well
I am going up early tomorrow on
the majors recommendation to practice
more landings.
Tuesday Sept 11th I was up for 70 mins this
morning & made 5 good landings: I
might have made several more but
at the last moment "revved" the engine
up again & took off, as I wanted to
be perfectly certain of not harming
the machine. Have now had 6 hrs 30 mins
solo, 10 hrs 5 mins in all
Am applying for leave from Thursday morning
to Saturday night, don't know what luck
I shall have.
Wed Sept 19th, On. Wed. last Florence wired
that they were leaving Colwyn Bay on Friday,
so I had my leave cancelled. Spent
the afternoon shopping in Shrewsbury &
prowling around the city. Thursday
morning with Power, Truscott, Lawson,
& schiler received notice of transfer
to No 30 Sqdn Tern Hill & left
same afternoon at 4 - 30 pm
Found Tern Hill Mess much better
finished & equipped than Shawbury.
Better food, two good billiard tables, &
better furnished rooms. No 30 Squadron,
"B" Flight had 27 pupils with ourselves
& only 3 Avros. Hence we stood little
chance of flying. Friday evening, to
my surprise. Capt Duigan arrived
to take over "B" Flight. Thurs & Fri
nights I visited Market Drayton but
it was too dark to see anything. Went
in early on Sat. (5pm) & had a good
walk round, called in the W.M. minister
& was invited to tea & church for
next day. Sunday morning was our
day off: morning walked round
Hodnet with Lt Paul, afternoon to
Rev Wilkin's for tea. Had a pleasant
time & have an invitation to come
at any time.
Monday morning our 5 were all
transferred to "A" Flight No 43
Squadron R.F.C. under Capt Payn.
Immediate good results as regards
flying. Had 30 mins came evening
with Hahkell, with a spin, vertical
spiral & a couple of side steps.
50 mins again Tuesday morning & 25
mins in the evening in the Nieport
which latter I did not care for
Today had ½ before lunch with
5 landings; & fair results.
On Monday a note arrived from Outhred
readdressed through Oxford & the various
squadrons. It told to my surprise,
of poor Hayles sudden death, & shell
having found his dugout on the
morning of Sept 4th, two days after he
had last written to me. I at once
wrote to his sister in London &
was surprised to learn from her
this morning that she had not
previously heard of his death.
Had some good sport yesterday
at the range, clay pigeon shooting. Managed
5 in 5 with my last few shots. Have managed
a fair bit of billards in the last few days.
Tuesday Oct Sept 25th Had 4 hrs 35 mins dual
up to Saturday morning, but no
flying since : yesterday morning was
inoculated & pronounced unfit for
duty for 48 hrs. Will start flying
again tomorrow afternoon. Power &
Truscott will probably start now in
the morning. Adams was here this
afternoon & expects to be posted to
No 34 Sqdn tomorrow. Jim Wood whom
I met in Market Drayton a week ago
wrote inviting me to tea on Sunday;
went & met the family. Have started
making my own photographic prints
again, partly for economy partly for
amusement.
Monday Oct 1st Did no flying till
Thursday of last week; had
3 flights on Friday, one each with
Rushton, Askell & Payne. Then Sat.
morning, 10 mins with Payne &
then solo; went 35 mins & landed
safely. Then 10 minutes again at
midday, & 30 minutes at night
with a Gnome, which I did not
enjoy particularly. Sunday I
remained all day in camp. tho' it
was a beautiful day: played billiards
slept & wrote letters. Today have
had 3 flights. 30 mins before breakfast
with a Mono -, 50 mins before lunch,
& 55 mins after tea, both with the
Gnome Avros. 15 landings in all for the
day. Have practised so far, stalls,
side-steps & "split-arse" turns.
Monday Oct 8th Last Tuesday good
flying weather though misty. In morning
practised my first spins with complete
success. In the afternoon, failed to
spin so tried loops managing
fine with very little trouble, being
rather surprised to find they were so
easy. Did no flying Wednesday. Was
inoculated Thursday & had 48 hours off.
xx Rain most of W.T.& F. Visited
Drayton Friday afternoon & had tea
at the Parsonage, calling later at
Woods'. Sat. had 3 flights, two in
the Gnome," totalling 1-50 for the day
Sunday 25 mins only, during morning,
weather very rough; landed slightly
crosswind & machine went over in
windy tip, but without damage..
Today had 35 mins before breakfast.
Spins right-handed from 6000 to 2000,
& found myself giddy & straightening out
after engine refused to pick up. Discovered
at last, that pressure was down &
recovered engine about 500 ft. Had rather
a headache so gave up flying for
morning; weather set in wet about
11-30 am,; the last few days have
been very cold & wintery.
Monday Oct 22nd. In the past
fortnight, have completed about 19 hrs
Arvo solo, without mishaps. We have
been very short of machines, owing to
crashes, & forced landings, and have
had only only one Arvo for about
a week hence several of us are
unable to take our Cross country
flight, Friday afternoon, I started
on Bristols, & managed all right, &
since have flown 3 hrs 20 mins,
making 16 landings, without mishaps,
though some landings have been
very bad indeed. Got into an
engine spin from an Immelman at
1500 on Saturday, but got out again
without trouble; enjoying flying in
Bristols as they are so light to
handle & so swift in their movements.
Will graduate as soon as the C.C. flight
is finished. Expected to leave for
Turnberry last Friday, but all
pupils from this station were put
off another fortnight. Sheppard
is just back from grad. leave &
leaves for overseas today with his "wings"
but without a Turnberry course.
About a dozen or more of the cadets here
have now their commissions. Taplin left
for Egypt about 10 days ago.
Braddocks' were to visit here last
Thursday Sat week, but weather was bad,
then again on Thursday, but there was
another hitch. They now intend to
come if possible this Saturday.
Two pupils were killed here in the
past fortnight, one Ryder 34 Sqdn on a "Camel"
dived to earth from 4000 ft. Supposed
he fainted, not supposed to go active 3000.
Mayer, 43 Sqdn crashed last week in a
D.H.5 cause unknown, but thought
wing collapsed. Both Canadians.
Wednesday Oct 25th 12 months today
since we left Australia in the
Wynes. Yesterday morning the
new Sopwith 2 seaters were in considerable
use. I had ½ an hour as a
preliminary to a cross- country in
them with Bruce, Lawson, & Truscott
but bad weather prevents us going.
While I was up there was an
amazing triple tragedy. Hogben in
a Newport, collided in the air with
Jishling in a Avro both came down
1000ft or more.. Hogben killed outright,
& J did the same night. Practically
at the same moment a 3rd machine
a D.H.S.(Smith of 34 Sqdn pilot) crashed
to earth just beyond the 'drome &
the pilot was killed. His engine failed
while taking off & he attempted to
regain the drome. Hogben occupied the
next room to me & was a fine young
chap about 20, Jishling was about
the same age, & a Canadian; Smith
a married man about 35.
There was no more flying that day, but
the weather was unsuitaable. Left camp
at 6-30 & spent evening with Mrs Williams.
This morning got away in the Le Rhone
Bristol through a mistake of the
instructors & had a grand little time.
Was strafed mildly afterwards but
as I got in all right they couldn't
say much. At 11pm. our 4 cross-countryites
mounted their Sqrs to came in before
start off, but the rain came in before
we could start & has continued ever
since.
Sunday Oct 25th Thursday we made
another unsuccessful attempt at the cross
country, rain preventing us again. Strong
winds during the afternoon & I went in
to Drayton races with Miller & George
however that was uninteresting, so I left
& called on my friends Williams & Woods
with whom I had tea & supper. Severe
storms on Wed night blew down several
large trees in the Park. The same gales
partially destroyed the aerodrome at Turnberry.
Friday we made no attempt at flying owing
to strong winds. Saturday morning at 7-10
I started off on the formation the others Tuscott
& Lawson picked one up are over the drome at
7-40 but there was no sign of Power so we
left. Passed over Crewe, Nantwick, N Scrtchurch
Wim & landed at Shawbury at 8-25.
Stayed for breakfast. Lawson's engine declined
to start, (several dud plugs).Truscott went
up, I followed, my own engine not too good.
I waited ½ an hour for Lawson, who still
failed to start. Tuscott had already
departed so I followed, went over
Shrewbury Wellington Newport then home.
Found my engine trouble was due to a
bent toppsel rod. Lawson turned up an
hour or so later. Power had had
engine trouble at the start & after
two just starts, landed in a potato turnip
field & turned over. He completed his
C.C. later on another machine. We
applied for grad leave but it is
being granted from Tuesday, as we
are not allowed on railway for the
week-end under new orders. In the
afternoon, to my surprise Capt Woolard
sent for me to take up a D.H.S. Didn't
like the prospect & nearly had a crash
through engine failure, but I got it
going again & had a good take-off
& a good landing, but I am not fond
of the bus by any means.
34 Sqdn is flying today to finish off
a number of camel pilots, several of
whom are going to 71 Sqdn A.F.C.
Wed Oct Nov 7th I xx On Monday of last
week, I was put back on to Sopwith's
as it had been a mistake putting me
on D.H.5 s before Grad leave. Had an
argument with our adjutant regarding
free pass to London, with the result
that I found it was not necessary to
go to London & decided to cut it out.
Was granted an extra day for dental
treatment. Walked into M.D. & caught the
4 p m train to Crave, hence to Liverpool.
Visited the Y.M. where Weston, recommended
me to Montgomery's station Hotel, across the
way & I found it a very decent place.
The same evening visited Mrs Uzell & the
Clarke's, then came back to Y.M.C.A. &
met several old ramtlers, Jude, Barton
&c.Tuesday morning roota went over C O Is
& looked up Kate Murphy at the Dining-room
In the afternoon Mrs Uzell & Mrs Brindley, evening
took Maud Clarke to "Shakespeare Theatre" to
"7 Days Leave". Wednesday midday left for Manchester
& arrived Oldham about 3.30 pm. Mr Braddock
offered to take me up to Harrogate for the
week-end if my leave could be extended,
so Thursday, I visited the dentist into
found sufficient for 3 days &
I accordingly wired for extension to
Monday which was granted same evening.
Thursday Wednesday evening visited Mrs Robt Hague
Thursday night, whirl drive at Abbey Hills
Hospital, Friday after lunch left for
Harrogate where we stayed at Cairn Hyder,
15/- per day. Nellie was able to join us
for meals most of the time. Sunday
we were visited by an airship of a novel
type to me, which descended to the
level of the house tops. Spent a pleasant
week end at H'gate, at the B's expense
leaving Monday working at 10-40. Oldham
for lunch, finished up with dentist,
Manchester at 7-10, & Drayton at 9-45, then
walked to camp. Found that owing to
trouble in Ireland, all leave had been
stopped & it my extension had been
granted just in time. Four machines
(D.H.5s) left Shawbury to bomb Ireland
but 3 had forced landings in Wales & the
other returned. Tallent was killed at
Shawbury is a Camel during my
absence. I took up a Bristol Tuesday
afternoon, then a D.H.S. managing 2 landings.
Parsons & spent Tuesday evening at Viel. Read
with Mr & Mrs Williams, arriving home about
1 am. Early flying for me this morning.
Took up a DH5, zoomed off the ground
on the gravity tank, with the result
that my engine stopped when I flattened
out; could not regain it, - suppose I
choked the thing & made a forced
landing in turnip field south of aerodrome.
Was just slowing up nicely when u'carriage
struck a mound of earth about 2ft high
which I had been unable to see. &
the bus turned completely over on its
back, wrecking it completely; by a
miracle I was not even scratched but
I had some difficulty in crawling out
of the wreckage. Walked back to drome
with ½ a prop as trophy & took up
another DH5 for ½ an hour &
managed very well. making quite a
good landing at the finished. The other
bus is an absolute write off. Have a
slightly stiff neck, & got some liniment
Doc advised no flying for today, so
I have been swinging it - mostly
playing billiards, & letter writing.
Received my graduation certificate yesterday.
Monday Nov 19th Missed flying again
Thursday, & spent the day in Drayton
writing Williams for lunch, Wesley House for tea.
& recalling in Woods' about 8-30, to arrange
about a trench-coat. Started flying on Friday
again. Saturday after lunch was sent with
several others to Pres Heath to be fitted
with gas-masks. Returned to Market Drayton
by 5 & had tea with the Williams family at
Mrs Rogers, leaving about 8 p.m. & going home
with Mr W for the rest of the evening.
Sunday morning we were flying the holiday
being postponed till Tuesday owing to new
railway regulations. Had two short Bristol
flights, I was down for aerial firing (DH5)
at midday. Orders came through from the
wing, that I was to complete 500 rounds
that day. Fired 100 NW & shot 3 holes in props.
Gunnery Officer wanted to enter up 500, but on
my demurring, sent me up again with 700. Had
about 8 stoppages & finally gun broke after
about 120 rounds & had to come down but,
had satisfaction of hitting target, which
the others had not done. No one in 30 or 43 seemed
to know why I was being pushed through
but about 3 p.m. the adjutant informed me
that I was to report Mason's Yard on Tuesday.
I had only done 3 hours 50 & 7 landings, so in afternoon
put in 50 mins (till dark) & finished my landings.
Spent the evening after church with the
Williams & saw also the Woods & Wesley House People
Monday was dud & it was midday before I
could complete my 20 minutes flying.
Left Tern Hill at 5-50 with Miller who was off
on grad leave. Reached London 11 p.m. & spent
night at R's Palace. Next morning to H Ferry
road, to have promotion verified, paybook
altered, draw cash, wings, S.B. etc.
Purchased quite a lot of kit, but not all
I wanted. At H'ferry road ran into Jack
Grant of B'rat who is a clerk there now.
Was at Monn's Yard at 3 p.m. & was told to
rail catch 7-35 train next morning, however
I complained that I had not purchased
kit & was given 24 hours extra. Was sent
in to Hotel Cecil for warrant & final
instructions. Had photograph taken in
afternoon & left after tea looked up
Con F. at Bayswater, & we went to the
"Crituron",(A.l. b. of Fluff")spending a very
pleasant evening. Couldn't get in at the
R.P. on my return but secured a room
at Jimny xxxxx Court Hotel. Spent all W day
Friday collecting various odds & ends of kit,
secured a room at the S.Pal, took my
luggage there & repacked it & took it
by taxi to Victoria Station. Spent tail end
of evening writing letters. Early b'fast on
Thursday & caught 7-50 to Folkstone.
Had lunch there, & boarded Princess
Clementine for Bologne about 4 pm
& reported to A.M.L.O. Posted to 1 H.S.D
train to leave at 11-50. Some scramble
to collect kit, as xxxx crane dumped it on
the pier, but was fairly lucky, & hadn't
carried to Gare Central. Joined 3 observers,
who knew a bit about the place, had tea
& a stroll round, dinner, another stroll &
an hour or two at the Hotel de Louvre.
Visited station about 11 pm. got luggage on
train crawled in & went to sleep. No lights or
heat. Train arrived St Ormer about 5 a.m.
turned out & started to collect luggage
Train cleared off before I got mine so
threw it out on the move & followed myself.
Reported to R.T.O. & dozed till tender came
from the Port about 6 a m. No one stirring at
Port & dozed in the mess another hour. Then
had breakfast & reported. About 60 pilots
wanting posting at the Pool, one A.F.C. chap
Williams for 69 Only duties at Port, attend
two roll calls per day 9 a m & 2 p m
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