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Duke, Lancelot de Saumarez: my Air Force recollections (August 24, and 28, 1978)

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An interview/narrative of Lancelot de Saumarez Duke's experiences during World War I. Wing Commander Duke served with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Interview took place on August 24 and 28, 1978.

ABSTRACT: Wing Commander Lancelot de Saumarez Duke Royal Flying Corps Royal Canadian Air Force Duke_L_0047_01.mp3 (Side 1) Born on Oct. 3, 1896 in Ceylon (d. 1980). His father was a doctor and an early rubber plantation owner. Moved to England in 1906, then to Victoria in 1912. Brief comment on Victoria at that time, especially on a single man, working for the Merchants Bank at a salary of twenty-five dollars per month. On the outbreak of the Great War he joined the Victoria Fusiliers (88th Battalion), Canadian Expeditionary Force commanded by Lt.-Col. Cullen. Commissioned as a lieutenant. The unit was stationed at the Willows exhibition grounds. Training consisted largely of drill, route marches, and target practice at the Clover Point Range, which extended westward to Cook Street. The battalion went overseas in May 1916 via the Princess Charlotte, the train, and the White Star liner, Olympic. Shortly after his arrival he applied to the Royal Flying Corps and, after an interview board and a medical, was sent to Oxford to learn the theory of flying. After about one month he volunteered to go to France as an aerial gunner. At the gunnery school in Kent he became familiar with both the Vickers machine-gun and the Lewis gun. One month later he joined No. 35 Squadron and was sent to France in Feb. 1917. Flew in Armstrong-Whitworth aircraft, the carburetors of which had an alarming tendency to catch fire. Describes the interrupter gear for firing the Vickers through the propeller. The Lewis gun was fired from his position in the rear seat. These guns were equipped with extra large magazines holding ninety rounds together with four spare magazines. Served with No. 35 Squadron for about nine months, then took pilot training. His air experience was an advantage, particularly in identifying enemy aircraft. Points out that flying, without parachutes and with fire a constant threat, was a dangerous business. Many instructions on engines, both radial and rotary types, the latter being much more compact. Trained at Northolt air station on Maurice Farman aircraft, then Avro two-seaters, and finally the Sopwith Pup. The Sopwith was an unreliable aircraft and one had to be constantly on the lookout for a field in which a landing was possible. In France joined No. 84 Squadron, flew SE 5 single-seater fighters with twin Vickers machine guns and a Lewis gun mounted on the upper wing. (50:00) (Interview 2) Duke_L_0047_02.mp3 Repeats some details of pilot training. Solo flight after twenty-nine hours of dual flying instruction. Given a booklet on aerial tactics, but no practice! By 1918 fighting in the air was much more intense. Fought against Richthofen Circus almost daily. A tiring life: two or sometimes three two-hour patrols a day. (16:00) As a novice pilot he was taught to avoid fights if possible. Mentions Canadian "Wop" May, the last pilot to escape an attack by Richthofen. During the 1918 German retreat he engaged in much ground strafing. Anecdote regarding the British retreat in March 1918. Squadron equipped with Leyland trucks and thus could move fairly rapidly. There were about twenty-five pilots and 125 ground crew to a squadron. Toward the end of the war he encountered many "green" German pilots. Comments favourably on the Wolseley Viper engine. In Apr. 1918, the day after Richthofen was killed, five British fighters attacked nine German. During the "dogfight" he was seriously wounded in the arm, but managed to fly fifteen miles to his aerodrome. (38:00) Duke_L_0047_03.mp3 (Side 2) Describes casualty clearing station, hospital care. After three months leave he was posted to a training squadron, but soon returned to No. 84 Squadron (Sept. 1918). After the war ended he was demobilized and farmed at Courtenay for a few years. Prior to World War II he owned the Ford motor car agency in Victoria. Joined the Royal Canadian Air Force; administrative job in Ferry Command (wing commander). Returned to Victoria car dealership. Sold it in 1950. (11:00)

Interviewer: Main, Chris D.

Interviewee: Duke, Lancelot de Saumarez, 1896-1980

Rank: Wing Commander.

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.
  • References: 1) by Marshal of the Royal Air Force, Sholto Douglas, Baron Douglas of Kirtleside, Combat and Command: the Story of an Airman in Two World Wars. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1966, p. 209; 2) pictures in Croft and Cockade (?), Society of W.W. I Air Historians, v. 8, no. 3 (1977).
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 3 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic Coverage Coordinates
  • 54.75844, -2.69531
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
Additional physical characteristics
  • One original sound tape reel (ca. 105 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 2 sound cassette copies : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
Physical Repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • DLS_047
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • May 13, 2010
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF and SC, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. ; WWI Transferred from audio reel to audio cassette between 1987-1997. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2010. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
Rights
  • This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
DOI
Thumbnail Title Date Uploaded Actions
file details SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail
file details Duke_L_0047_01.mp3
file details Duke_L_0047_02.mp3
file details Duke_L_0047_03.mp3