Considering these predominant traits of Norman’s character, as well as his achievements, I conclude that he could hardly have wished for a nobler fate than that which finally befell him on a battlefield of France.
Speaking for Norman’s mother I would say in her behalf:
“Light sorrows speak—great grief is dumb.”
A mother’s grief for the loss of a dearly beloved son is too deep to find adequate expression in words. Memories of Norman’s tenderly affectionate nature, of his fine character, his charming personality and his unfailing buoyancy and cheerfulness are so real, so vivid, and so abiding that it is difficult to realize that he has gone. Although he has indeed gallantly sacrificed his young life for a cause he dearly loved, his mother cherishes the firm faith that the fine spirit thus displayed by him remains undaunted and unquenched, and that it is still the blessed privilege of those near and dear to him to continue to enjoy this sweet belief.
A further measure of consolation has been found in the many and tender messages of sympathy that have come from near and far, testifying to the warm appreciation of Norman’s rare qualities as they were revealed in his life, and to the general admiration of his heroic self-sacrifice. These messages have helped to comfort and sustain the bereaved family.
Frederick Henry Prince.
V
A COMRADE’S TRIBUTE
In a contribution to the World’s Work, James R. McConnell, a sergeant-pilot of the original American Escadrille, gave the following graphic description of the engagement in which his comrade Prince lost his life. It is a pathetic circumstance that but a short time after he had written this tribute, Sergeant McConnell himself met the same fate as that which befell his American comrade, his dead body having been found within the German lines where he had fallen in an aerial combat with the enemy.
“On the 12th of October, twenty small aeroplanes flying in a ‘V’ formation, at such height that they resembled a flock of geese, crossed the Rhine River, where it skirts the plains of Alsace, and, turning north, headed for the famous Mauser works at Oberndorf. Following in their wake was an equal number of larger machines, and above these darted and circled swift fighting ’planes. The first group of aircraft was followed by British pilots, the second by French, and four of the battle ’planes were from the American Escadrille. They were piloted respectively by Lieut. de Laage, Lufberry, Norman Prince and Masson. The Germans were taken by surprise, and as a result few of their machines were in the air. The bombardment fleet was attacked, however, and six of our ’planes were shot down, some of them falling in flames. As the full capacity of a Nieuport machine allows but a little more than two hours in the air the avions de chasse were forced to return to their own lines to take on more gasoline. The Nieuports having refilled their tanks, went up to clear the air of any German machines that might be hovering in wait for the returning raiders. Prince found one, and promptly shot it down. Lufberry came upon three and he promptly disposed of them.