Page contains 2 news clippings: one discusses Ottawa men who are soldiers in the Royal Flying Corps, the other announces that local athlete, Don Brophy was wounded in an air battle over the German Line. Because Canada had no flying corps during WWI, men who want to fly enlisted in England, often paying for their own training. Don Brophy died in a plane crash in December 1916. Page also includes two photographs with the general caption: Sgt Harry Charlton C. E. F. - "are we downhearted?"
[start clipping]
Hot Time Coming.
"Earl Farrow, of Ottawa, is another
homebrew in the R.F.C. He
was in France for a long time. Hedley
Camero transferred too when
the 77th was broken up. He is taking
his qualifying course in England.
I have been out here five months
with excitement enough to last a
lifetime. Have had several flights
over the lines and believe me, I think
the Germans are due for a hot old
time before long. Our big guns have
been pounding their trenches to
pieces. It is thrilling to whirl overhead
and see our shells plowing up
those Huns a mile or so in advance
of our own lines. Things are a lot
better than they were a year ago.
"by the way, put my name on the
Citizen subscription list. It will be
great to get a regular paper once
in a while. We are quartered in a
little village populated mostly by
flies and wasps and quite a sprinkling
of pigs. However it's all in the game.
Give my regards to all the boys and
don't overlook the fact, when writing
war news, that the Ottawa boys
and the Royal Flying Corps and the
Royal Naval Aerial Service have
been doing their share."
[end clipping]
[start clipping]
OTTAWA BOY WINGED
1 photograph
DON BROPHY
Well Known Athlete Wounded in
Duel with Enemy Airman over
German Line.
[end clipping]
OTTAWA BOYS ARE DOING THEIR
SHARE IN THE FLYING CORPS
---
Don Brophy Winged in Duel With Enemy Airmen.
Bunch of Young Fellows Showing Skill and Daring
in Aerial Branch of the Service.
From "somewhere in France" The
Citizen has received a very interesting
letter, written by one of Ottawa's
best known athlete, who has
been on duty since early this year
in the Royal Flying Corps. He tells
of the experiences of several Ottawa
birdmen, high over the British and
German lines; of the wounding of
one and of the transfer to the Flying
Corps of several local officers who
went ovrseas with other units of
the Canadian service. Among the
latter are Norman Scott, Canadian
and international figure skating
champion, crack golfer and hockey
player; also Hedley Cameron, who
was in the 77th Battalion until the
time of its break-up in England.
The letter was written at one of the
Royal Flying Corps squadron camps
three weeks ago and is as follows:
Some Misconceptions.
"You will probably be surprised
to hear from me, but I have been
reading all sorts of funny 'bunk' in
the Canadian papers about the 'Aviation
Corps' and other things, which
don't exist; so I thought I would
drop a few lines to let you know a
little of the facts about the boys
from home. We in the Flying Corps
evidently have some busy times
ahead so these tips may come in
handy. The Canadian papers have
presumably not learned much about
the aerial game. We have received
a few clippings from home and have
a lot of fun piecing them together.
There are so many Canadians in the
Flying Corps and so many of our own
friends, right from home in Ottawa
that it is hard to keep track of them
all. I have been in the Royal Flying
Corps for nearly a year and believe
me this is a life. I have had a few
thrills and close calls, but am
all right so far.
"Once cannot travel far these strenuous
times without meeting at least
a few old pals from home. Why, even
up in the air, I sometimes come
across the. It seems striking to
be shooting through the atmosphere
and see another one of the boys,
Jack Ryan or someone else, go whizzing
by and flashing a signal of
recognition. We have a wireless system
all our own and sometimes exchange
greetings thousands of feet
in the air.
[end clipping]