H. G. Hawker, airman: his life and work — Edition Insights

optimist, and the way he came out of his many troubles warranted his optimism. It was so natural if he had a smash to know he was not hurt, or if he had any trouble it would be righted very quickly. This feeling is so real that, even now, apart from all religion, I know he has come up smiling somewhere and all is well with him.

The production of this book has necessitated the collecting and sifting of a considerable amount of detail, particularly as regards the earlier chapters and those dealing with the Atlantic flight. In this and in the general plan of the book I have received considerable assistance from Mr. W. R. Douglas Shaw, F.R.S.A., who has rendered invaluable help in many ways through his wide knowledge of aeronautical matters.

This introduction would not be complete without my also acknowledging the help received from Lt.-Commander Mackenzie-Grieve, R.N., who has kindly read through the chapters dealing with the Atlantic flight; from Mr. Alan R. Fenn, formerly of the Sopwith Aviation Company, for details of Harry’s experiences at Villacoublay; from the authorities at Australia House in allowing me to consult their records, and from many others who have contributed in various ways to this work.

My acknowledgments are also due to the Press, on whose reports I have relied in many cases, and I would mention _The Times_, _Morning Post_, _The Daily Mail_, Temple Press, Iliffe & Sons, _Flight_, _The Aeroplane_, and particularly the kindness of the proprietors of the _Melbourne Argus_ and _Sydney Bulletin_ in giving me free access to their files of 1913-14.

Harry’s Parents—His Sisters and Brothers—Schooldays—Four Schools in Six Years—The Attraction of a Cadet Corps—Motor Work at Twelve Years of Age—The Expert of Fifteen—Managing a Fleet of Cars—First Desire to Fly—The Kindness of Mr. and Mrs. McPhee—Harry Meets Busteed—And Comes to England with Him—Kauper—Seeing London—Quest for Employment—A Job at Sevenpence per Hour—Another at Ninepence-Halfpenny—Thoughts of Returning to Australia—Forty Pounds in the Bank—Kauper Strikes Oil—And Helps Harry—Sigrist—How Harry was Happy on Two Pounds per Week—His First Flight—Reminiscences of Brooklands Days 25

THE BRITISH DURATION RECORD

Harry’s Aversion to Publicity—Circumstances of His First Brooklands Associations—The Sopwith-Burgess-Wright Biplane—Harry’s Effort in a Quick-Starting Competition—Beating His Employer—Early Attempts for Michelin Laurels—A Real Success—Tuning-up for the Duration Record—Raynham Makes a Race—And Secures an Advantage—Raynham Lands after 7 hours 31½ minutes—And Holds the Record for an Hour or Two—Opportunity Knocks at Harry’s Door—And is Well Received—Harry Lands after 8 hours 23 minutes—To Him the Spoils—His Own Account of the Experience—A Reminiscence of Cody—The Significance of Harry’s Achievement—Other Flights at Brooklands—The Growth of a Pioneer Firm 35

ABOUT ALTITUDE AND OTHER RECORDS

A Colleague’s Impression of Harry in 1913—Harry in the Passenger’s Seat—“Aerial Leap-Frog”—Competition Flights at Brooklands—Testing the First “Bat Boat”—End of the First “Bat Boat”—Harry as a Salesman-Demonstrator—Testing the Second “Bat Boat”—70 Miles per Hour in 1913—Asçent to 7,450 feet in 15 minutes—A Prize Flight—How Harry Deserted from a Race which He Won—How a Biplane Beat a Monoplane—More Seaplane Testing—The British Altitude Record—11,450 Feet—“Bravo, Hawker!”—A Journalist’s Tribute—Flying in a High Wind—To the Isle of Wight and Back 53

AMPHIBIANS—AND MORE HEIGHT RECORDS

An Amphibian of 1913—Harry Gets Up to 13,000 feet with a Passenger—Several Other Height Records—Three Climbs in One Day—The Progress of the Sopwith Enterprise—Several Types of Aeroplanes—And Seaplanes—Harry Wins the Mortimer Singer Prize—And Has Time to Spare—A Friendly Race with Hamel—A World’s Height Record—A Cross-Country Race—Preliminaries of the Round-Britain Seaplane Flight—Conditions Governing the _Daily Mail_ £5,000 Prize 63

FIRST ATTEMPT TO FLY ROUND BRITAIN

The Task of the Flight Round Britain—And the Machine for the Job—Public Interest in the Pilot—“Good Luck!”—The Night Before the Start—A Mayor’s Early Call—And the Sequel—The Scene at the Start—To Ramsgate at Sixty Miles per Hour—An Aerial Escort—The Ramsgate Cup—Fog in the Thames Mouth—To Yarmouth in Next to No Time—Harry Collapses—Pickles Relieves Him—And Meets with Misfortune—Starting All Over Again 77

SECOND ATTEMPT TO FLY ROUND BRITAIN