Issue No 21 THE AVIATION HISTORIAN 91
hell as the chasm appeared and disappeared in
the mist and spray.
We all managed to grope our way back to the
aerodrome. Victoria No 1 succeeded in taxying
back to its original position, but Nos 2 and 3
stuck fast in the middle of the aerodrome. It was
still raining as hard as it could and the weather
showed no signs of clearing, so we had to
abandon the aeroplanes until the ground dried
up and became hard enough for us to move
them. We returned to the hotel soaked to the
skin but feeling satisfied with our efforts. The
Governor’s reception went flat, because the band
couldn’t play in the rain.
The next day was cloudy but dry so we
dashed down to the aerodrome to dig out our
aeroplanes. With the help of 50-odd convicts we
constructed a trench in front of the mainwheels
and laid down iron railway sleepers to make
a runway. Then we tied a long rope to the
undercarriage, on which the convicts pulled
while Sorsbie opened up the engines and taxied
gently out of the mire. I was rather astonished
at the lack of fear of the aeroplane displayed by
these natives in performing what was actually a
rather dangerous task.
We taxied on to firmer ground, and undertook
emplaning practice with native troops of the
Regiment. I considered they were the smartest
native troops we met on the cruise; they created
a record on our machine by emplaning and
deplaning 19 troops in 45sec for each movement.
We took them for a trip in the air, and only just
escaped sticking again in the process. At first
the troops were frightened and hid their faces in
their hands; first, one looked out of the windows
and then another until finally they were all
laughing and pointing at objects which they
recognised on the ground.
On landing the troops deployed and defended
the aerodrome from attack by imaginary
enemies. One section entered into the spirit of
the game so completely that they captured two
natives working in a nearby field, trussed them
up and brought them back as prisoners thinking
it was a great joke. This is typical of their
outlook on life and soldiering in particular.ABOVE One of the series of photographs taken by the author from his Victoria during the squadron’s visit to
Livingstone in Northern Rhodesia. It shows, appropriately enough, Victoria Falls and the distinctive arch of the
Victoria Falls Bridge, which was opened in 1905 and straddles the border of what are now Zimbabwe and Zambia.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This feature is based on the
personal diaries and photographs of Gp Capt Shaw,
kept in immaculate order by his daughter, Jilly McLaren,
and her husband, Professor Ian McLaren; The Aviation
Historian would like to thank them both for making the
material available and their vital help with its preparation.TAH