DRAMA OF THE DESERT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16408, 9 December 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

DRAMA OF THE DESERT.

AIRMAN'S SELF-SACRIFICE.

Heroic self-sacrifice was shown by Second-Lieutenant Stewart Gordon Ridley. a R.F.C. pilot, whose body, together with that of a m- '.Inic, was found by a search party in the Libyan desert. It appears that in the middle of June this year he went out alone on his machine as escort to another pilot, who had with him a mechanic named J. A. Garside. His maahine broke down when they had been flying for an hour and a-lialf, and ,'t was decided to encamp for the night. Next day the other pilot decided to go back to the base to make certain inquiries and return on the following day, Saturday, for the assistance of the other two. When he lurried, however, the men had gone. It was not until Sunday that the search party came on their tracks, and not until Tuesday that the machine and the bodies of Lieutc & Ridley and Garsido were found. j.d diary found on Garside was as follows :—

Friday.—Mr. Gardiner left for Meheriq, and said he would come and pick one of us up. After he went we tried to get the machine going, and succeeded in flying for about 25 minutes. Engine then gave out. We tinkered cap me up again, suc-<_"eac-.i in living about live miles next day (Saturdays but engine ran short of petrol. Sunday.—After trying to get engine started, but could not manage it owing to weakness, water running short, only half a bottle Mr. Ridley suggested walking up to the hills. Six p.m. (Sunday) : Found it was further than we thought.; uot there eventually ; very done up. No luck. Walked back; hardly any water, about a spoonful. Mr. Ridley shot himself at 10.50 on Sunday whilst my back was turned. No water all day; don't know how to go on ; got one Verey light; dozed all day, feeling very weak; wish someone would 'ire; cannot last much longer.

Monday.—Thought of water in compass, got half bottle ; seems to be some kind of spirit. Can last another day. Fired Lewis gun, about four rounds; shall fire my Verey light to-night; last hope without machine comes. Could last day.- ii had water.

The captain of the Imperial Came! Corps, with which the aviators were cooperating, formed the opinion that Ridley had shot himself in the hope of saving the mechanic, the water they had being certainly insufficient for two" The commanding _ officer of the R.F.C. states : " There is no doubt in my mind that he did this act of self-sacrifice in the hoga of paving the other mail,' 1