CHAPTER XXIV

HEROES OF THE ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE

Here we shall see afresh that the British Naval Air Service is rich in men who possess to a remarkable degree the qualities named in the foregoing chapters. Flight Sub-Lieutenant Dallas, for example (who in addition to performing consistently good work in reconnaissances and fighting patrols since December, 1915), has been brought to notice by the Vice-Admiral Dover Patrol for the specially gallant manner in which he has carried out his duties. Amongst other exploits is the following: On May 21, 1916, he sighted at least twelve hostile machines, which had been bombing Dunkerque. He attacked one at 7,000 feet, and then attacked a second machine close to him. After reloading he climbed to 10,000 feet, and attacked a large hostile two-seater machine off Westende. The machine took fire and nose-dived seawards. Another enemy machine then appeared, which he engaged and chased to the shore, but had to abandon owing to having used all his ammunition. For these heroic exploits he has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

The same honour has been conferred upon Sub-Lieutenant Oxley, who acted as observer with Flight-Lieutenant Edward H. Dunning, D.S.C., as pilot, on escort and reconnaissance patrol for a flight of bombing machines on the Bulgarian coast, on June 20, 1916. Two enemy machines were engaged at close range and forced to retire, and as our machine withdrew Flight-Lieutenant Dunning was hit in the left leg, and the machine itself was badly damaged. Sub-Lieutenant Oxley, having first improvised a tourniquet, which he gave to Flight-Lieutenant Dunning, took control of the machine, whilst the latter put on the tourniquet. The pilot was obliged to keep his thumb over a hole in the lower part of the petrol tank in order to keep enough fuel to return to the aerodrome, where he made an exceedingly good landing.

The Distinguished Service Cross has also been awarded to Flight-Sub-Lieutenant Donald Ernest Harkness, R.N.A.S., and Flight-Sub-Lieutenant Ralph Harold Collett, R.N.A.S., in recognition of their services on the morning of August 9, 1916, when they dropped bombs on the airship sheds at Evere and Berchem St. Agathe. Flight-Sub-Lieutenant Collett dropped all his bombs on the shed at Evere from a height of between 300 and 500 feet, under very heavy rifle, machine-gun, and shrapnel fire from all directions. Flight-Sub-Lieutenant Harkness could not descend so low owing to the very heavy anti-aircraft fire which had by this time been opened on the machines, but he dropped some of his bombs on the shed, and then proceeded to Berchem St. Agathe, which he also bombed.

Honour has also been conferred upon Flight-Commander T. Harry England, R.N.A.S., in recognition of his services on August 26, 1916, when, accompanied by a military officer as observer, he flew a seaplane forty-three miles inland from the Syrian coast, crossed a range of hills 2,000 feet high, with clouds at 1,500 feet, and after dropping bombs on the station of Homs, returned safely to his ship. The machine was exposed to rifle fire at extremely low altitudes for long periods, and Flight-Commander England showed remarkable pluck, determination, and skill in carrying out the flight under very adverse conditions.

Another officer to be decorated is Flight-Sub-Lieutenant Ronald Grahame, R.N.A.S., for exceptional gallantry in attacking and beating off four enemy seaplanes whilst on escort duty off the Belgian coast, September 22, 1916.

Mention must also be made of Flight-Sub-Lieutenant Stanley James Goble, R.N.A.S., who has been decorated in recognition of his services on September 24, 1916, when he attacked two hostile machines in the vicinity of Ghistelles at close range, and brought one of them down on fire in a spiral nose-dive.

With each passing day the list of R.N.A.S. heroes grows, calling forth just pride. Further reference to individual cases will be given later on in these pages. It may be stated here, however, that the following officers, together with many others in the Royal Naval Air Service, have been decorated by the King:—

Squadron-Commander Reginald Bone, Flight-Commander Redford Mulock, Squadron-Commander Francis Haskins, Flight-Commander Douglas Evill, Flight-Commander Vincent Nicholl, Flight-Lieutenant John Petre, Flight-Lieutenant Roderic Dallas, Flight-Lieutenant Ralph Collett. The first two officers named have been invested by the King with the Insignia of Companions of the Distinguished Service Order. The last-named officers have been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.