FROM SEA TO SKY

mfaute, a soHd block of ice the next. Later, all went well till the
coffee stage, when we searched for an Egyptian cigarette which
we knew the Princess smoked; eventually one was found and it
was handed to her on a tray. We had aU taken to smoking
Virginian cigarettes principally because the stronger brand did
not seem to suit us in the early hours of the morning. Hitherto
no self-respecting naval officer would have thought of smoking
"stinkers/' and it took a great war to change the fashion, probably
for a similar reason to the one which influenced us.

As ground crew and handling party we had a collection of
bluejackets and marines who took to their strange duties with
great energy and zest, but I regret to say there were moments
when their enthusiasm took a form which was distinctly embarrass-
ing. They were very short of the necessary tools for aircraft and
engine maintenance and so they decided to make up this deficiency
from the smart cars which brought some of our rich friends to see
the flying. They had a most effective technique, which consisted
of inviting the chauffeur to see round the sheds whilst another
rascal rifled the tool-box of the victim. It worked well till one day
they made a mistake and tried it on with an Admiral's car, with
very embarrassing results.

At Hendon a flying demonstration took place in May at which
I saw Hamel perform in his Bleriot monoplane. He was regarded
as one of the most finished pilots of the day and he certainly
handled his Bleriot most beautifully. Others who took part were
Qrahame White who took up iny uncle, Sir Archie Murray;
Cbcty, who arrived from Aldershot in his large biplane, and
Anthony Drexel, who crashed In his Bleriot through hkvlng his
ekvator wires crossed during assembly but was unhurt. I

In June the four of us decided we must go further afield in our
flights than just round the Isle of Sheppey, so we selected Brook-
knds as the first objective- Samson and Gregory were to fly our
two Short biplanes over there and Gerrard and I were to bring
them back On the first suitable morning Samson started but
something went wrong with the other machine and so Gregory
did not get away. Gen-aid and I followed in a car with a mechanic
and a small supply of such spares as we thought might be required
m this momentous crosscountry flight of some fifty miles. Samson
had one forced landing and broke a wire, which we repaired, after
there was no holding him for he overshot Brooklands and'
landed on Hawthorn HGfl racecourse. He came back to Brooklands
am day safe and sound, and with the machine intact In time
16 *