Weekend Feature: The Eagle and Harry

We all have a few treasures that we would not be parted from. I'll tell you about one of mine. I would never even consider an offer for it.
It evokes a memory of a most delightful man and an equally delightful day.

I was taken and introduced to Harry Milner by Ron. Harry was of an indeterminate age. His lovely little wife was so proud of him and he of her. He had in the garden a wooden shed which was his workshop. Mrs Milner told me that he spent eight hours of every day in his workshop and was not content until he had done his days work.

Hanging on the inside of his shed door was a rather ancient copy of a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds calendar. It was this that provided his inspiration for his work . He carved birds copied from the calendar.

I asked Harry if he would carve for me an eagle. Yes, he thought he might have a suitable piece of wood and yes he would carve an eagle for me.
About four weeks later I was summoned by Harry as my eagle was completed.

You see a photo of it here.

During the course of our conversation Harry said: "I understand Mr Farr that you have an aeroplane."
"Yes that is correct Mr Milner, are you particularly interested in aircraft?"
"Well I have not been in one though I have vivid memories of seeing them in the skies of Flanders during the war." Harry of course meant the First World War.

He went on to say that fighting his war in the mud and filth of the trenches, he had been most envious of the young men flying above him. They were clean, dry and able to return each evening to a comfortable billet and good food. They were indeed to be envied.

What Harry did not know was how those young aviators were vastly ill equipped to perform the tasks expected of them. They were ill trained for the simple reason that none of the instructors had much experience of fighting an air war. Their equipment was poor with very unreliable engines which spewed out a continuous spray of Castor oil which they had to breath and of course gave them permanent diarrhoea. Their expected life span was ten hours flying or three weeks on station. No they were not particularly to be envied, but Harry could not know that.

The upshot of our conversation was that I offered to take Harry for his first flight.
That was very game of him; after all he was in his late eighties.
I collected Harry at his house and took him to my aircraft. He showed no fear.

We flew a tour of the South Cheshire and North Shropshire area. It brought back to Harry memories that I could know nothing of. He was absolutely delighted and had waved to Mrs Milner from his lofty perch.

After we landed and taxied to the hanger I noticed that a couple tears were slowly descending his cheeks and dropping off his chin. Who knows what memories had been awakened for him. I affected not to see his discomfort so as to maintain for him his dignity.

Harry had given me a great prize and I had given Harry one in return.

Now there are no WW1 veterans alive, but I am proud to have given one of them a long awaited pleasure.

Cheers for now

Geoff

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