One of the conclusions arrived at by Grieve was that future navigation in the air undoubtedly lies with directional wireless, once that is perfected.
They spent Sunday night, a week after their romantic departure from St. Johns, on Admiral Fremantle’s flagship, H.M.S. Revenge, and on Monday morning, having received an Admiralty pass to London, they transferred to the destroyer F.O.8, which took them from Scapa Flow to Thurso in about 45 minutes. It being low tide, it was impossible for the destroyer to go into harbour, and so Harry and Grieve were rowed ashore by half-a-dozen bluejackets, once again to set foot on home soil at Scrabster Pier, whence the late Lord Kitchener had departed on his ill-fated voyage in the Hampshire. The sun shone gloriously, and away in the distance could be discerned the blue outline of the Orkneys.
As they reached the landing-stage cheer upon cheer rolled forth from those who had assembled to meet them. Provost and Mrs. MacKay, with members of the Thurso Town Council, several naval officers and men, and townsfolk, had motored out to Scrabster, where everybody and everything was en fête. Provost MacKay was the first to greet Harry and Grieve. Addressing them, he said:
“Mr. Hawker, in the name of the people of Thurso I offer you and Commander Mackenzie-Grieve a welcome, not only to Thurso, but to the shores of Britain. Throughout the length and breadth of the land, and of every land, to-day the news of your safe deliverance is ringing, and hearts everywhere are rejoicing. It is true that you have not achieved what you so gallantly set out for, but to-day you need not worry over that, because you have indeed achieved great things. The names of Hawker and Grieve will live for ever in the annals of Atlantic flight. You have brought a new lustre to the daring, the endurance, and the intrepid spirit of our race. Your countrymen greet you warmly and proudly as heroic pioneers and sportsmen. From the moment of your departure from St. Johns the world has been on tension for news of you; expectation gave way to anxiety, and then anxiety to gloom, but happily all fears and forebodings are to-day dispelled. The world-wide joy over your pluck and safety is so great because the sense of relief is so great. It was at this landing-stage that Lord Kitchener said farewell to the land he loved, and now we shall also know it and mark it as the place of wonderful welcome to two brave sons of Empire.”
Harry, on behalf of Grieve and himself, expressed his heartfelt thanks for this warm greeting, with the modesty and brevity which were so characteristic of him on such occasions. Provost MacKay then introduced the members of the Town Council and other Thursonians, after which Mrs. MacKay invited them to her house for luncheon, an invitation which they were happy to accept.
In the Provost’s car they drove through the beflagged streets, where many people, including parties of bluejackets, had foregathered. At North Bank House they enjoyed a quiet luncheon with Provost and Mrs. MacKay, Sir Archibald and Lady Sinclair, of Ulbster, and the senior naval officer, Lieut. Weir, and his wife. They were feeling very fit and their complexions were sunburnt. Briefly Harry recounted their experiences, telling of the cloud-banks, the clogged radiator pipe, the descent nearly to the water, the rough seas and tempestuous winds, and the sighting of the Mary and their gallant rescue.
Harry and Grieve were much amused by some of the newspapers which Provost MacKay showed them, containing their obituary notices. Grieve was particularly touched by a photograph purporting to be that of his wife, for he was not married! Before driving to the station Harry and Grieve spoke of the warmth of the hospitality they had received, not only at Thurso, but also at Scapa on the previous evening with the Grand Fleet.
During the luncheon, crowds assembled outside Provost MacKay’s residence, and at the station Thurso had never before seen such a throng. Cheers were ringing on all sides, handshakes, cameras, and autograph books were the order of the day. Thurso was en fête as never before.