Smyrna times., 1940-08-29
AIRMAN FULFILLS MISSION
R.A.F. Pilot Leaves Letter of Hope
and Courage to His Mother

Reprinted from The London
Times, June IS, 1910.
Among the personal belongings
Of a young R.A.F. pilot in a Bonn
ber Squadron who was recently
reported missing, believed killed.
was letter to his mother--to be
sent to her if he were killed.
This letter was perhaps the
most amazing one / have ever
read simple and direct in its
wording but splendid and uplifting
in its outlook" says the young Of
ficer's station commander. 'It was
inevitable that / should read it--in
fact he must have intended this,
for it was left open in order that
/ might be certain that no pro-
hibited information was disclosed.
Il sent the letter to the bereav-
ed mother, and asked her whether
/ might publish it anonymously,
/ as 1 feel its contents may bring
comfort to other mothers, and
that every one in our country may
feel proud to read of the senti-
ments which support AN average
airman' in the execution of his
present arduous duties. 1 have
received the mother permission,
and 1 hope this letter may be read
by the greatest possible number
of our countrymen at home and
abroad"
Dearest Mother, Though I feel
no premonition at all, events are
moving rapidly, and I have in
structed that this letter be for
warded to you should I fail to re-
turn from one of the raids which
we shall shortly be called upon to
undertake. You must hope on for
month, but at the end of that
time you must accept the fact that
1 have handed my task over to the
extremely capable hands of my
comrades of the Royal Air Force,
as some of my splendid fellows
have already done.
First, it will comfort you to
know that my role in this war has
been of the greatest Importance.
Our patrols far out over the North
Sea have helped to keep the trade
routes clear for our conveys and
supply ships, and on one occasion
our information was instrumental
in saving the lives of the men in
"a crippled lighthouse relief ship.
Though it will be difficult for you,
you will disappoint me if YOU do
not at least try to accept the facts
dispassionately, for I shall have
done my duty to the utmost of my
ability. No man can do more, and
no one calling himself a man could
do less.
have always admired your
amazing courage in the face of
continual setbacks; in the way
you have given me as good an ed
ucation and background as anyone
in the country; and always kept
up appearances without ever losing
faith in the future. My death
would not mean that your struggle
has been in vain. Far from it. 1t
means that your sacrifice is as
great as mine. Those who serve
England must expect nothing from
her; we debase ourselves if we re-
gard our country as merely place
in which to eat and sleep.
History resounds with illustrious
names who have given all, yet
their sacrifice has resulted in the
British Empire, where there is a
measure of peace. justice, and
freedom for all, and where a high
er standard of civilization has
evolved, and is still evolving, than
anywhere else. But this is not only
concerning our own land. To-day
we are faced with the greatest or
ganized challenge to Christianity
and civilization that the world has
ever seen, and count myself lucky
and honored to be the right age
and fully trained to throw my full
weight into the scale. For this 1
have to thank you. Yet there is
more work for you to do. The
home front will still have to stand
united for years after the war is
won. For all that can be said
against it, I still maintain that this
war is a very good thing; every
individual is having the chance to
give and dare all for his principle
like the martyrs of old. However
long time may be, one thing can
never be altered-I shall have lived
and died an Englishman. Nothing
else matters one jot, nor can any
thing ever change it.
You must not grieve for me, for
if you really believe in religion and
all that it entails that would be
hypocrisy. / have no fear of
death; only queer elation. Il