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Thread: Book review.

  1. #1

    Default Book review.

    Chris (Fast git) has just drawn my attention to this Book review he did and I felt it might interest some of you chaps.
    Rob.

    WGFB - Diary and Letters of a World War I Fighter Pilot, The
    Author:
    Christopher Burgess
    ISBN:
    ISBN-13: 978-1844157419
    Category:
    Biography
    Format:
    Hardback
    Summary:
    From the Publisher:

    This is a first-hand account of the author's grandfather, Guy Mainwaring Knocker, and his experiences as a 17-18 year old pilot in the RFC in the First World War, compiled as a series of letters and diary entries. They follow life from his first day of training in April 1917, through his period of active service with 65 Squadron RFC in France from Oct 1917 - April 1918. The account continues to the end of that year, after he was wounded and sent back to England, where he continued flying and training other pilots. Guy wrote virtually every day to his parents, and the letters were also illustrated with amusing sketches in pencil or pen and ink. The diary entries help give a fuller picture of the daily life of a young officer at that time including his emotions, girlfriends, life in the mess, dinner, dances, theatre and visits home. There are remarkable and hair-raising accounts of dogfights and offensive patrols over the lines, but also the drudgery of daily life at other times when it was too 'dud' for flying. The book includes the names of colleagues and friends, so many of whom did not survive that War.

    ------------------------------------

    Product Details
    Hardcover: 224 pages
    Publisher: Pen and Sword (November 2008)
    Language: English
    ISBN-10: 1844157415
    ISBN-13: 978-1844157419
    Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1 inches
    Shipping Weight: 1 pounds

    ------------------------------------

    This was an interesting find. Comprised of a series of letters home to family (mother, father, sisters, and brother) and diary entries, this was an intimate view into the thoughts and activities of an 18-yr old Sopwith Camel pilot serving in the RFC on the Western Front. Credited with two victories and logging more flight hours (both combat flying and otherwise) then many in his squadron by the time of his wounding, GMK repeatedly described himself as being a rather unremarkable pilot... although his service was anything but unremarkable.

    A gifted artist, Knocker's pencil, pen, and ink sketches dot the monograph, bringing to life his narrative.

    This title can tend towards the repetitive, as letters and diary entries often recount the same events, but it is neither distracting, nor without merit. On the contrary, it's interesting to note the differences between GMK's revelations to family and those chronicled in his diary.

    This was a quick read, and one that I recommend to any interested in first-person accounts of the air war over the trenches.

    ------------------------------------

    Of note, GMK would continue to serve, finishing the war as an instructor... and then serving his country again in WWII, rising to the rank of Group Captain.
    Attached Images
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  2. #2

    Default

    Chris has added this Additional note.

    Additional Note #1:

    The private Papers of Group Captain G M Knocker are held by the Imperial War Museum (Catalogue number Documents.15339). The content description is below (as taken from the IWM site):

    "Collection of papers spanning his service with the RFC and RAF between 1916 and 1955 covering both world wars and including diaries kept while serving with No 65 Squadron RFC in France in 1917 - 1918, with No 20 Squadron RAF in India in 1920 and with No 28 Squadron RAF in India in 1921 - 1922, recounting his experiences in both areas; beginning in France with his arrival at La Lovie aerodrome in 1917, patrols and encounters with the enemy, squadron casualties, impressions of the Western Front with mention of Passchendaele, and comments on off duty activities until his wounding on 6 April 1918 and return to the UK; the 1920 to 1922 diaries written in India mention bombing raids, parades, gunnery and bombing practice, flying duties and the extreme heat. From 1923 until 1927 he was in the UK instructing at the RAF Cadet College Cranwell (where he was promoted Flight Lieutenant in July 1925), and then from 1927 to 1929 he was at RAF Calshot before attending the RAF Staff College in 1930 and going to the RAF Headquarters Far East in 1931. Also included are five flying logbooks dated between 1923 and 1955 covering both flights made by himself and those of his students as well as three volumes of ms letters (275pp) with ts transcription (143pp). An edited version of his diaries and letters has been published by his grandson Christopher Burgess under the title THE DIARY AND LETTERS OF A WORLD WAR I FIGHTER PILOT (Pen & Sword, 2008)."

    http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/it...ect/1030021653
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  3. #3

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    It is a great honour to have the grandson of a WW1 fighter pilot in our ranks and he is an author as well!

  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by Naharaht View Post
    It is a great honour to have the grandson of a WW1 fighter pilot in our ranks and he is an author as well!
    I second that, well said David



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