Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. A story of the Great War   By: Percy F. Westerman (1876-1959)

By PERCY F. WESTERMAN

THE MYSTERY SHIP THE RIVAL SUBMARINES BILLY BARCROFT OF THE R.N.A.S. A WATCH DOG OF THE NORTH SEA A SUB. OF THE R.N.R. THE DREADNOUGHT OF THE AIR

Publishers PARTRIDGE LONDON

BILLY BARCROFT, R.N.A.S.

[Frontispiece: "THE FLAMING WRECKAGE WAS PLUNGING EARTHWARDS, LEAVING A FIERY TRAIL IN ITS WAKE."]

BILLY BARCROFT

R.N.A.S.

A STORY OF THE GREAT WAR

BY

PERCY F. WESTERMAN

AUTHOR OF "A WATCH DOG OF THE NORTH SEA" "A SUB. OF THE R.N.R." ETC. ETC.

S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO. 4, 5 & 6 SOHO SQUARE, LONDON, W.1

MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN First Published December , 1917 Reprinted 1928, 1929, 1930

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I. "YOUR BIRD!" II. A PRICE ON HIS HEAD III. CONCERNING PETER BARCROFT IV. WHEN THE ZEPPELIN WAS OUT V. AT LADYBIRD FOLD VI. KIDNAPPED VII. THE RAID VIII. 'MIDST THE SCENE OF RED RUIN IX. BETTY X. THE SEAPLANE'S QUEST XI. THE TERRORS OF THE AIR XII. THE RAIDER'S RETURN XIII. EXIT SEAPLANE NO. 445B XIV. BUTTERFLY XV. RECALLED BY WIRE XVI. CAPTIVES IN A SUBMARINE XVII. THE MIDDLE WATCH XVIII. AN OCEAN DUEL XIX. HELD UP IN THE NORTH SEA XX. INVESTIGATIONS XXI. ON THE TRAIL XXII. THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS XXIII. ON THE ROCKS XXIV. ENTWISTLE'S DECISION XXV. THE BOMBING EXPEDITION XXVI. A FUTILE RESCUE XXVII. FUGITIVES XXVIII. TRACKED XXIX. GASSED XXX. THE BARN BY THE RIVER XXXI. THE FRONTIER XXXII. AN AVERTED CATASTROPHE XXXIII. VON EITELWURMER'S OPPORTUNITY XXXIV. KIRKWOOD'S WINDFALL XXXV. ONE CARTRIDGE LEFT XXXVI. THE ELUSIVE OBJECTIVE XXXVII. "THE GREAT STRAFE" XXXVIII. SNATCHED FROM HER PURSUERS XXXIX. AND LAST

PREFACE

THE GREAT WAR OF 1914 opened the floodgates of hatred between the nations which took part and this stirring story, written when feelings were at their highest, conveys a true impression of the attitude adopted towards our enemies. No epithet was considered too strong for a German and whilst the narrative thus conveys the real atmosphere and conditions under which the tragic event was fought out it should be borne in mind that the animosities engendered by war are now happily a thing of the past, Therefore, the reader, whilst enjoying to the full this thrilling tale, will do well to remember that old enmities have passed away and that we are now reconciled to the Central Powers who were opposed to us.

BILLY BARCROFT R.N.A.S.

CHAPTER I

"YOUR BIRD!"

Two Bells of the First Dog Watch somewhere in the North Sea.

To be a little more definite it was bordering that part of the North Sea that merges into the narrow Straits of Dover and almost within range of the German shore batteries of Zeebrugge.

It was mid October. The equinoctial gales had not yet arrived to convert the placid surface of the sea into a regular turmoil of short, broken waves. Hardly a ripple ruffled the long gentle undulations. Not a cloud obscured the sky. The slanting rays of the sun played uninterruptedly upon the sloping deck of H.M. Seaplane Carrier "Hippodrome" as she forged slowly ahead, surrounded by an escort of long, lean destroyers.