CHAPTER VII
Harry and Kauper received many messages of appreciation immediately after their failure. Sir George Reid, High Commissioner for Australia, wired: “Win or lose, Australia is proud of you both.” Mr. Robinson, the Agent-General for Queensland, also wired: “Queensland warmly congratulates you both on splendid achievement, the merit of which is not detracted from by the regrettable accident that prevented you from reaching the goal.” Mr. Winston Churchill, who was then First Lord of the Admiralty, and was on board the Admiralty yacht at Deal when Harry passed overhead, to the Daily Mail wrote:
“Mr. Hawker has achieved a wonderful result, and the accident which prevented complete success in no way detracts from the merit of a feat at once memorable and serviceable. The whole competition has been of real value to British flying. Though we started last, we must persevere till the first place is gained and held.”
As various false reports as to the cause of the smash off the coast of Ireland were circulated, the Royal Aero Club found it expedient to issue an announcement as follows: “With reference to certain reports that the accident to the Sopwith biplane, used by Hawker in the recent race round Great Britain, was caused by the wings breaking in the air, the Royal Aero Club has carefully investigated the matter, and finds that the wings were entirely intact at the time the aeroplane struck the water.”
On the Saturday, Harry was busy at Brooklands testing two machines and carrying many passengers, including the late Mr. Pizey, instructor at the Bristol School, Salisbury, who was afterwards invited by Mr. Sopwith to pilot the tractor biplane, which he praised highly. Rain prevented any flying on Sunday. On the Monday, Mr. Sopwith, Mr. Green, Mr. Fred May, Mr, Perrin, and Harry were the guests of Mr. Thomas Marlowe, Editor of the Daily Mail, at a luncheon in the precincts of the Royal Automobile Club in commemoration of the flight. Mr. Harold Harmsworth, Mr. Hamilton Fyfe, Mr. Ashworth Briggs, and Mr. Sutton were also present. After luncheon, the company adjourned to the Daily Mail offices, where Harry received the handsome consolation prize of £1,000. Addressing him, Mr. Marlowe said:
“In handing you this cheque for £1,000 I may mention that this is the eleventh prize—making £24,750—that the Daily Mail has given for the encouragement of airmanship, and, like all the others, it is due to the direct initiative of Lord Northcliffe, the chairman of our company. I am sorry that, owing to his absence in America, he is unable himself to present it to you as a tribute to your courage and in recognition of the fact that you are the first man—and a British subject, too—to fly 1,000 miles over the sea. That, as I think we all agree, was a very great performance, one that shows that the waterplane is a weapon which will become of great value for military and naval purposes, and consequently a prime necessity of this island country.
“I have also to hand you a gold medal presented by the Mayor of Margate for the first airman to pass that town in this race, and another medal, which he asks me to hand to you for Mr. Kauper, your passenger. There is a third medal from the Mayor of Margate which he asks me to hand to Mr. Sopwith, the owner and designer of your waterplane.
“Here is a great bundle of letters which I have received for you. I have no doubt they all contain wishes in which we join—that you will be the first home when the race takes place next year.
“Finally, let me say that our greatest thanks are due to the Royal Aero Club, and especially to Mr. Perrin, the secretary of the club, for the admirable arrangements they made for the control and observation of the flight.”
Harry briefly expressed his thanks.