CHIVALRY IN WAR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 129, 13 March 1931, Page 2

CHIVALRY IN WAR.

AN AVIATOR’S PREDICAMENT. AUSTRIANS’ .GALLANT ACT. One of the most remarkable features of the conflict in the air during the Great AYar was the spirit of chivalry which prevailed among the aviator-war-riors. Interesting disclosures regarding this phase of the fighting have been made by Colonel AV. A- Bishop, A.G., the famous Canadian “ace.” Speaking at the annual reunion of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, Colonel Bishop related an outstanding incident of tire airmen’s courtesy on the Austrian front. In the summer of 1927 the men of Squadron GO oi the R.A.F. carried out their dawn, patflols with only pyjamas under their flying kit because of the intense heat. This habit placed one fighting pilot, Lieutenant .Terrard, V.C., in an awkward predicament. • / He was shot down near an Austrian aerodrome after sacrificing himself to save others), and thus won the coveted Cross. Having set out on patrol in his scanty and unofficial summer flying rig, he was without the distinguishing Sam Browne belt, and was faced with the possibility of being sent to a privates’ detention camp. Jerrard’s captors flew to the* British aerodrome at the risk of their lives, and dropped a note explaining his predicament. Two bundles of clothing, including Sam Browne belt, were dropped over the Austrian aerodrome by British airmen. “I would like, to point out,” continued Colonel Bishop, “that, while on the way from the British aerodrome to the "enemy aerodrome the British machines were under continual fire of anti-aircraft batteries. But from the moment they dropped the bundles of clothing not a shot was fired, nor did anv enemy aeroplanes attempt to attack them.”