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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0030.PDF
"SOLDIER AMD AVIATOR—A TRIBUT] p» "WHAT a long time ago Easter Day, 1911, seems ! That was the day my brother Patrick came home from India on leave. In a letter received from him just before, he wrote : ' I have a great scheme in my mind, and want you to help me.'" These are the opening words of a little volume written by Miss Ethel Hamilton, sister of the late Capt. Patrick Hamilton, who was killed by the fall of his monoplane during the Army manoeuvres in September last—a little volume in which the authoress reveals some thing of the inner feel ings of one brother who met his end in the service of his King. Every page of this simply-written memoir has a pathetic interest. It tells of the good nature of the brother, the courage of the soldier, and the enthusiasm of the aviator. And it touches the heart all the more when, in her closing words, Miss Hamilton gives the names of her brothers, "who counted not their lives dear unto themselves," but gave them at the call of King and country. They were :— Alastair, Royal Irish Fusiliers Kenneth, Ceylon Contingent > Killed in South Africa. Ernest, Bethune Mounted Infantry I Patrick, Royal Flying Corps. Killed on manoeuvres. The " great scheme " her brother Patrick had in his mind, Miss Hamilton goes on to tell, was that he would learn to fly. At first he was persuaded not to, but his mind was made up, and nothing * Publishers: C. W. Daniel, Ltd., 3, Amen Corner, E.C. would deter him. Yes, there was one thing that would have influenced him. Had his mother asked—but that was not her way, for " she said that no one's personal feelings ought ever to interfere with any man's career provided it was an upright and honourable one to follow." Was not the mother as courageous as the aviator in thus expressing her opinion ? Readers will remember the late Capt. Hamilton learning to fly, how he met Mr. G. M. Dyott, and how they decided to go over to America to fly, taking with them two Deperdussin monoplanes, a 60-h.p. two-seater, and a little 28-h.p. single. During his tuition he had the misfortune to hurt his knee, and it was hardly well again when the time arrived for him to sail. Recalling his departure in the boat-special from King's Cross, Miss Hamilton writes: "It wrung my heart to see him, such a slight, solitary figure he looked on his two sticks, being pushed and hustled by a noisy American crowd ; but even there I saw him help some woman with her parcels,"—a little incident which beauti fully illustrates the kindly trait in his character. Some few months after his arrival, it will be remembered, he had an accident while flying in Mexico, which might easily have cost him his life, for on the little single-seater he was caught in an eddy which turned him completely over and brought him down 100 ft. heavily to the ground. Writing to his sister after the accident he said : " Don't be alarmed, as I have not so much as a scratch, but I have had about the limit in smashes." He went on to describe the details that led up to the fall. Later he resumed : " The propeller was not even good for matchwood, the tip of the skids went like paper. One wing is as good as a sick headache and the other we can repair. When we struck my legs were caught in the bridge (the control bridge) and luckily kept me there, and I watched the oil and petrol pouring out of the tank, and wondered if it was going to fire, but nothing happened, and by the time I realised I was not in another world, I crawled out and started looking over the wreck. Then I began to realise I'd had about the most wonderful escape anyone could possibly have." His only fear was that, following on such an accident, he might be afraid. Anyone who has personal acquaintance with a pilot will readily understand this. But he found himself not afraid. All the time he seemed to realise the importance of military aviation in a serious way, thinking it necessary strength for our nation. He said *• It has got to come, and we have got to do it." For his keenness, it is but necessary to recall a remark he once made. " If I have to go absolutely broke," he said, " I am going to take out a machine to India." Returning to London from America, an article in the Daily Mail isiassw ;:.*V -•-—:— :««# THE RESULT OF FLYING AFTER SUNSET AT MEXICO CITY.—The machine turned completely over and vol planed down on its back. Everything was smashed except the wheels and the pilot—the unfortunate Capt. Patrick Hamilton, who met his death not long since during the Army manoeuvres. 30
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