Memories…
Given the interviews that James took part in, there is so much to write about. Rather than create a huge website, I have created links in this website to the 1972 IWM audio interview by David Lance, and the PDF summary. You really must listen to this as James really does give a full account of his time and also sings a few WW1 war songs. I have also created a link to the Cross and Cockade interview, by Alex Revell, again this is extremely interesting as there are so many stories, some of which are quite humorous. If you have limited time, I suggest you go direct to the audio interviews. James gives accounts of individuals who became quite well known, through their own experiences or the rank in which they rose to.
I could not resist in writing about James Gascoyne’s near death experience on the 9th of November 1918… enjoy!
"Narrowest escape of the war..."
On November 9th 1918, I had a rather amusing experience. I was engaged in low flying attacks on troops and transport when I observed a big fat German staff officer riding across a rather muddy ploughed field. On seeing me he dismounted and, still holding the reins, attempted to hide under the horse! This intrigued me but I did not want to harm the horse so I dived down, fired a few rounds from my guns to make a noise and then with engine going at full throttle zoomed over the horse, which immediately went off in a mad gallop with the German still clinging on to the reins. He soon released them but he looked a sorry mess, covered with rich mud.
Later the same day I had the narrowest escape of the war. Flying down a village street at just about rooftop height, looking for suitable targets, I was silly enough to fly straight and level for a little too long. At the end of the road was the village church and a German sniper.
In total disregard of any religious scruples he may have had, had taken up position in the tower with his machine gun and he behaved rather unkindly to me by firing this dangerous weapon at my machine. One bullet passed through my windscreen and several others hit various parts of the SE. One in fact hit my engine switch but fortunately did not affect its function. However the same bullet which passed through the windscreen carried on and actually went through my close fitting helmet. Fortunately, the flight of the missile was in line with my goggles on my helmet and by hitting the adjusting slide was deflected outwards again. The result was a hard bang on the side of my head and part of the metal slide was embedded in it. This removed later by a doctor at a field hospital.
For the full interview click below. Courtesy of Alex Revell – Cross & Cockade.
Thanks to the Imperial War Museum for allowing me to use their photographs and link to their website.
Thanks to Alex Revell and Cross & Cockade for allowing me to use their interview in this website.
