The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-07
IS Squadron R. A. F., B. EFF,
France, July IS, 1918.

France, July IL, 1918.
MY Dear Mrs. Shaw:
Perhaps q message from one whG
has been a close companion to youl
son during his life in France may III
some measure make less heavy thf
burden Of your sorrow. In this hope
l take the liberty of writing to you,
u stranger.
To us he was Molly" a name he
brought with him, though how ht
came by it no one can guess. We Were
the first "Yanks" in the squadron
Call Americans being "Ianks' to tn:
English). Molly arriving just :;
few days later than l. Within weei-
we were joined by John Good, anothei
of our countrymen. We three nat.
urally became hut mates. for fellow
americans in this far off country seen
to bring one many miles neare.
home.
Not long ago Good, who was fyins
right beside me in our formation,
was shot down by one Of the enem,
machines attacking. 1t was his frs
show" over the line-poor chap VIZ
missed him, Molly and I, and we two
alone became great chums. Nov
there is but one American and he il:
finding France an empty place with
out his pilot mate.
The story OF "Molly's" success her;
I could tell you at length. but ns
doubt you have had from his own PEI
the account of his actual work IS
lighting pilot He did not tell yol
though how highly his work was re
garded by his fellow pilots This h
could not know and it is this that !;
purpose to tell you. In this life
ours out here there is little thought
compliments. If one does well it
but his duty done. But let a man no
do his best, he hears Of it shortly
no one hesitates a minute to inform
him of it. Among ourselves sharins
each day the same dangers we ar
not apt to think one another brave
one is abnormal only if he is no
brave. With Molly it was bit dif
ferent He not only always did h
best but from the day ne arrived h
best was the equal Of the squadron
best. I know that we all regarde
Molly" as the most daring and skiE
full pilot among US. A stout cha
we say out here, this among fyin
men being the greatest tribute we ca:
pay to our heroes. When Molly
was ordered to go back Of the lin
fifteen miles on a dangerous recon
naissance he went back eighteen o.;
twenty to bring in a better and NOR
accurate report When he met Hun
though the odds were greatly agains;
him he fought them. Molly" Shaw
has served his country we'll.
The circumstances Of his passn:
are not known 10 US here in any de
tail. 1t is known that us he was com
ing back to the lines after lon:
reconnaissance he was attacked b..
three Hun machines. Their fire mus
save cut some vital member Of tn
machines framing Tor it broke up il
the air according to Il report fro.
one of our advanced battery positions
l at the time must have been quit;
close. T was flying below a gree
white cloud. Just a bit Of a plan.
dropped through it and fluttered idly
down, down. I did not know then
did not even guess that one of ou
men was fighting alone above tn
cloud.
Molly" was my best friend ou
here and though I had known hin
but little while l was proud Of tn
knowing Always ct night before h
went TO BED he &nelt down b>' hi
cot and PRAYED. l loved him for tilat
In this time Of sorrow know tha
YOU have given to the great cause 70.
which our country is fighting, !
TRUE MAN.
Sincerely yours,
Ii. Bryan NJ. Battey.