HAWKER AND GRIEVE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16822, 30 May 1919, Page 7

HAWKER AND GRIEVE.

LONDON'S WELCOME. AUSTRALIANS' ENTHUSIASM. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. LONDON, May 27v ' A tremendous crowd at King's Cros'' •Station welcomed Hawker and Grieve who were astonished at the .enthusiasa of the reception. ; Several thousand Australians werl> among the crowd. Men climbed on the roofs of the railway carriages "aiid. motor cars. 7. An Australian guard of honour lined up on the platform, and a band played "Australia Will be There." ' ■■■ ~ The Hon. G. F. Pearce (Australian Minister of Defence) accompanied "the Australian flying officers, and welcomed and crowned Hawker and Grieve with Australian hats. The Australians carried Hawker on their shoulders to a car aud dragged it up tho street. Others carried Grieve into the street and they drove off together, amid wild cheering along tha crowded route to the Aero Club. There was a similar welcome at Kingston, where the workmen of the ■ SopwitJi Company dragged the moto rear a mile and a half.

On the arrival of the train carrying Hawker and Grieve, Australians climbed on top of the carriage, pulling thenlady friends after them. Then, amid piercing coo-ees, and singing "Australia Will be There.'"' Lieut. Hawker was carried to a motor car which the trahans had prepared. When it was found impossible to move this, Lieut. Hawker crawled over the heads and shoulders of the crowd in order to reach a policeman's horse, which' he rode to the Aero Club.

On arrival there Hawker was lifted from the horse and borne by a burly policeman into the building. Commander Grieve reached the CluJ> aboard a motor lorry.

- _. LONDON, May 28. The King invested Hawker and Grieve with the Air Force Cross. This was the first personal investiture, Hl3. Majesty receiving the airmen at Buckingham Palace. Immense -crowds gave them an ovation in the streets. Subsequently the Queen and Prince of Wales received them. LUNCHEON SPEECHES. Received 8.35 p.m., May 29th. LONDON, May 28. Hawker and Grieve were entertained at a luncheon at the Savoy Hotel. Mrs Hawker was the only 'woman present. General Seely presented the aviators with a, cheque for £SOOO, and read greetings from General Trenchard on behalf of the Air Force.

It is noteworthy that the King disregarded red tape and took the earliest opportunity of decorating th.9 aviators.

Mr Hawker, in responding to the toast, soid he had waited impatiently until the people of Newfoundland believed he would never leave. The weather on the British side of the Atlantic was reported to be good and finally the conditions were such that, apart froni the question of a prize, any man would make the attempt. Commander Grieve explained the difficulties of obtaining bearings of stars or moon owing to clouds. The venture would be a valuable lesson for the benefit of future air navigation.

Mr Fisher, toasting the chairman, pointed out that it was not the men who failed; it was the machine. If they had two engines next tmra they would succeed.

Harry Hawker was born in Victoria in 1890. He went to England in 1911, and working in several motor factories entered the Sop with aeroplane works, in which he eventually held a share. During the war he was the chief test pilot for the Sopwith machines. Just prior to the war he gave flying exhibitions in Australia, and he had previously distinguished himself in the contest for the Daily Mail prize for a seaplane flight round the British. Isles. Commander K. McKenzie Grieve, R.N., was, during the early period of the war, in charge of a flotilla of minesweepers engaged in the North Sea. In 1916 he joined H.M.S. Campania, (seaplane carrier for the Grand Fleet), which was sunk on November sth last in the North Sea. _ In that vessel he served as ' navigating officer. Commander Grieve spent most of his life in the British Navy. He received his training as a cadet at Osborne, Isle of Wight, and subsequently served a? navigating officer in various ships ia the British Fleet. He is 36 or" age.