MILITARY CROSS TO FLYING PERSONNEL

by Hal Giblin & Norman Franks

 

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Savannah Publications, 90 Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill, London SE21 3HZ
685pp, 175×250mm, hardback, ISBN 1902366433, ₤70.00

 

This is an astonishing work of detailed research and industry, by two masters of the craft. About one thousand heroes are listed alphabetically, most with pictures. This is a remarkable number as the Medal, approved by King George V on 14 October 1914, really only started being awarded in 1915. Browsing through, I was interested in who was not in as much as who was. I was surprised to find no mention of Aidan Liddell, who was amongst the first to be gazetted (on 18 February 1915). Gwilym Lewis and McScotch do not appear so presumably they did not get it. McIrish does. Most biographies are fairly complete, and there are many footnotes of interest – that for William Avery Bishop VC, for example, is a masterpiece. How many other brave Canadians also appear.

This is a book for the writer, scholar and researcher, but I (who am none of the above) loved it as an additional source of information. For example, Peter Wright’s article on the Boxer Rebellion in 39/3 had an interesting piece about Sapper William George Stafford who was there. I looked him up in the book, and I bet Peter wishes he had had access to this when he wrote about him.

It is understandably a heavy tome, and I hope the binding survives the wear and tear it will suffer. The price may disturb some. The Society is keeping a copy for the Membership in its archives.