Today is the century anniversary of a letter I have framed and hanging on my wall in my store in bridgeville. The letter is from king George to my grandfather Sidney Gane.This butifulley written letter starts GEORGE by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, ,and of British Dominions beyond the Seas, King Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India. The date of this letter is December twenty fourth 1914. I will not read you the whole letter but I would like to share with you a newspaper clipping my wife found going through old pictures AIRMAN WHO FELL SIX TIMES, HOME lieut, Sidney Gane, Royal Flying Corps, Returns from War CHANNEL GIVES BATH lieut. Sidney Gane son of Mr and Mrs Robert W. Gane member of the Royal flying corps of Canada, has just returned home after many months of service overseas.Though he participated in a number of scraps with Hun airmen, was shot down once and sustained five other falls during his flying career, Lieut.Gane insists that his part was no more than what anyone would have done in doing his duty and it was only under protest he was induced to say anything about himself. Perhaps the most harrowing experience was when he fell into the British channel while trying to take a plane across to france at a time when machines were urgently needed there. The commanding officer had asked for volunteers to make the trip, since conditions were very bad with a low bank of fog and clouds which extended down to within fifty feet of the water. Seventy-five of them which included all, volunteered. I had intended to take only my heavy coat on account of the cold and leave my life preserver behind, but at the last moment I changed my mind and took my life preserver at the expense of being cold. It was a lucky decision while above the channel my engine went dead and because i was flying so low I hit the water without having a chance to recover. I jumped and when I emerged on the surface again the plane was just going down. IS PICKED UP I floated around a while rather looking for help because of a machine failed to arrive at its goal on the other side a patrol of the channel was usually instituted. But after about an hour and three-quarters by my watch I decided I was about done for.Just a few minutes later I was picked up and so I didnt go west after all.Part of lieut. Ganes training period was spent in Scotland, England and Ireland. It was in Scotland that he fell first and as it happened he was injured worse that time then any other he lost control of his machine when 300 feet in the air. Besides his own injuries the pilot was killed and the plane of course was smashed. his second mishap also took place in Scotland . His engine stopped and there was no suitable place to land. Faced by the devil-deep-sea combination of a choice between descending in a group of trees or a river Lieut. Gane took the trees. He was un hurt. ADMITS HE WAS SCARED lieut. Gane admits that the first time he got into action against a German plane he had vertical gust up for fair which is British slang for the sensation when youre frightened almost to death and decide your time has about come. But after you get started , says the Lieutenant, you forget about being frightened. Your fighting for your life. All your energy is concentrated on getting the other man. After its all over with you remember what a close call youve had and begin to get scared. The air is no place to lose your head. Every little trick a man has learned in training comes into play . If a man loses his head for just a minute or two the chances are therell be a new face in heaven. Questioned as to the number of victories to his credit Lieut. Gane at first was loath to tell but finally blushingly admitted he had 7 offically. He left you with the impression there must have been others that the record keepers did not get hold of. It was a ill fated organization into which he was placed while in training in Canada . Eighty-five percent of the class met death either there or overseas. A considerable number were Americans. Flies Hun Machine. When the armistice was signed it was decided to hold a celebration in London . Some of the 2000 German planes turned over to the allies by the terms of the armistice were desired for exhibition and Lieut. Gane had the distinction of flying the first captured machine across the channel. A short time previous to that he had been forging ahead with the British army as the Germans retreated. Brussels. he said was bustling with activity when the allies entered and had all the appearance of a metropolitan city in peace time. It had Chicago and London and Paris beaten. Travel by air has developed to such an extent that literal flying trips are made between Paris and London with scarcely a thought. On one occasion the Lieutenant had an engagement at a dance in London for the evening . But that particular abandon hope of being at the dance but made the journey to west England in short order, caught another machine to Paris and flew back to London again in time to arrive at the dance at 5 oclock.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 18:15:15 +0000
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