Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S.

BILLY BARCROFT, R.N.A.S.

Reading edition

"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

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.