Chapter XXI: The Passing of a Brave Aviator 317

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Harry George Hawker, A.F.C. _Frontispiece_

_Facing page_

Mrs. George Hawker, Harry’s Mother.—Harry as a Cadet at the age
of 12.—Mr. George Hawker, Harry’s Father 30

The Sopwith Tabloid, the Prototype of the Fighting Scouts, designed
by Harry, in its modified form for Looping-the-Loop, after his
return from Australia 56

The Sopwith Dolphin, put through its Initial Tests by Harry.—The
Sopwith Camel, a world-famous Fighting Biplane. Hundreds of
Machines of this type were tested by Harry during the War 94

The Sopwith Rolls-Royce-engined Biplane, “Atlantic,” in which Harry
and Grieve attempted the Atlantic Crossing. The top of the Fuselage
was made in the form of an Inverted Boat, which they detached in
Mid-Atlantic. The Undercarriage was dropped soon after the Start,
in order to reduce Air Resistance 108

Testing the Lifeboat. On the back of the original Photograph
Harry wrote: “Note the broken ice between the boat and
shore.”—This picture shows some of the difficulties in getting
the Aeroplane to the Starting-Ground in Newfoundland. The
Driver apparently took things lying down 122

The Detachable Boat carried on the Atlantic Flight.—The Sopwith
Trans-Atlantic Biplane in the Hangar near St. John’s,
Newfoundland 142

The Derelict Aeroplane, in which Harry and Grieve had attempted
the Crossing, was recovered from the Atlantic by the U.S.
Steamer _Lake Charlotteville_.—Harry at the Wheel of the Racing
A.C., the Body of which was designed by him and proved a
remarkable advance in efficiency 156

Our House at Hook, soon after News of Harry’s Rescue from the
Atlantic.—Home Again! Harry and Grieve at Grantham
Station, after the Atlantic Flight. Mr. Sopwith is standing in the
doorway 174

The Scene outside King’s Cross Station, London, when Harry
returned from the Atlantic. The Australian Soldiers decided
that Harry must have something more triumphant than a Civic
Reception 198

Harry and Grieve leaving Buckingham Palace after having been
decorated by the King. Although a Civilian, Harry received the
first Air Force Cross—a Service Decoration 244

A Souvenir of the first Transatlantic Air Mail 264

Trans-Atlantic Aviators’ Reunion Dinner. The late Sir John Alcock is
on the extreme left; Mr. F. P. Raynham on the right (nearest the
camera); Sir Arthur Whitten Brown in uniform (opposite the camera);
and on his left Lieut.-Comdr. K. Mackenzie-Grieve, A.F.C.—Harry is
third from the left of the picture 282

Harry on Board a Yacht during one of the Periods which he devoted
to Motor-Boat Racing.—Pamela sets the Pace on the Lawn at
Hook 300

The 12-cylinder Racing Sunbeam after Harry’s Smash at Brooklands,
when several yards of corrugated iron fencing were torn
down.—Mr. T. O. M. Sopwith, C.B.E., and Harry, with the
Hawker Two-Stroke Motor-Cycle—a Post-War Enterprise of
the Hawker Engineering Company 312

Floral Tributes being taken to Harry’s Grave, at Hook, Surrey, on
the 225 h.p. Sunbeam, by my Brother, Captain L. Peaty 318

CHAPTER I

EARLY STRUGGLES

Harry’s Parents—His Sisters and Brothers—Schooldays—Four Schools in Six Years—The Attraction of a Cadet Corps—Motor Work at Twelve Years of Age—The Expert of Fifteen—Managing a Fleet of Cars—First Desire to Fly—The Kindness of Mr. and Mrs. McPhee—Harry Meets Busteed—And Comes to England with Him—Kauper—Seeing London—Quest for Employment—A Job at Sevenpence per Hour—Another at Ninepence-Halfpenny—Thoughts of Returning to Australia—Forty Pounds in the Bank—Kauper Strikes Oil—And Helps Harry—Sigrist—How Harry was Happy on Two Pounds per Week—His First Flight—Reminiscences of Brooklands Days.