NO MORE SONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24101, 21 October 1941, Page 9

NO MORE SONS

THREE BARONETS LOST £25,000 FOR A BOMBER LONDON. Sept. 20 "I have no more sons to carry on the fight. . . • But I want to make a mother's reply, attacking in the way iny boys would have attacked —sharply, straight to the mark ... I give you £25,000 to buy a bomber to carry on their work." These proud words were written in a letter to the Air Minister by a mother who has lost her three sons —two of them on active service with the Royal Air Force. She is Lady Macßobert, of Douneside, Tarland, Aberdeenshire. Her three sons were: Sir Roderic Alan Macßobert, Bart , serving with a fighter squadron of the R.A.F. in the Middle East—killed in action on May 22, 1941, fourteen days after his 26th birthday. Pilot-Officer Sir lain Workman MacRobert, Bart., of the Coastal Cornmaud—reported missing on June 30, 1941. He was the youngest, 24. Sir Alasdair Macßobert, Bart., the eldest son, who was killed while flying his own aeroplane here in 1938. He was 26 when he died. Lady Macßobert's £25,000 is to buy a Stirling bomber, which is to be named "Macßoberts' Reply." Letter to Air Minister Here is Lady Macßobert's letter, as she wrote it to the Air Minister: - It is my wish to make a mother's immediate reply in thp way that I know would also be my hoys' reply; attacking, striking sharply, straight to the mark —the gift of to buy a bomber to carry on their work in the most effective way. . . This expresses my reaction on receiving the ne»3 about my sons. I am proud to read what, yon say about their worK. I never doubted but that they would do their duty. I appreciate your personal, expression of sympathy at this time. 1 can only hope that my youngest son may yet return. In any case, they would lie clad that their mother replied for them and helped to strike a blow at -the enemy. So I feel that a suitable name for the bomber would be "Macßoberts' Reply." Might it carry the Macßobert crest, two fronds of bracken, with hand grasping an Eastern crown—or simply our badce—a frond of bracken and an' Indian rose crossed? Let it be used where it is most needed. May good fortune go with thoso who ny it. I have no more sons to wear the badge ®r carry it in the fight. My eldest son. Sir Alasdair, was killed *ben his own aeroplane crashed soon after bs> had flown home from India in ir Roderic was tho third baronet and joined the Royal Air Force in ln.'ift. Tain, my youngest, had_ just become the fourth baronet. Kone of them ever looked for the easy way. If I had had ten sons. I know they would all have followed that line of duty. It is with a mother's pride that T enclose 4 cheque for /'i'.vnnn and with it troes my sympathy with those mothers who have alsn lost their sons and gratitude to all other mothers whose sons so gallantly carry on the Eght. Machine to Carry Crest Lady Macßobert said yesterday: "I presenter], the ninncv for the bomber so that we can hit the Germans hard and often. 'I shall attempt to follow the exploits of. the bomber, hut T have no particular place I would like to see bombed. "I hope other people will follow suit. ■iWe need all the bombers we can get." The Air Minister has acknowledged Ladv Mar-Robert's gift, saying that a Stirling bomber will be bought with it. The aeroplane, he adds, will carry the ■Macßobert crest and badge with the , c |an motto. "Glory is the reward of .Valour."