A Hero of Two World Wars MPArt0027.jpg
DH4s of 25 Squadron are engaged by Fokker DR1s of Jasta 14 near Lille on 8 June 1918. This is a special print dedicated to the memory of Rev. William H. G. Milnes OBE MC MA (1898-1962) Milnes flew DH4s with 25 Squadron on the Western Front in WWI and was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. This painting depicts the events when by skillful flying he enabled his gunner to destroy one of four attacking German aircraft. In two World Wars Rev. Milnes achieved an incredible threefold success. Firstly as a young decorated pilot in WWI. Secondly, in WWII in his early forties as Principal of Elizabeth College Guernsey, he organised the evacuation of the College just days before German troops occupied the Channel Islands. (The only part of Great Britain to be occupied by enemy troops in WWII). Once in England he somehow managed to establish the College in two separate locations - 12 miles apart- in the heart of the Peak District in Derbyshire. He then successfully guided the College through five difficult years of exile; during which time, the College achieved many academic and sporting successes. What might have been a disaster for the future of the College was turned into a triumph; not only did the College survive those exile years, it flourished and found new strength. Finally when the Channel Islands were liberated, he successfully re-established the College on its return home to Guernsey in 1945. He planned to retire at the age of 60 in 1958 but due to serious ill health, had to do so a year earlier, and though to a certain extent he recovered and regained strength, another heart attack proved fatal and sadly he died in 1962 aged 64. The Royal Air Force motto Per Ardua ad Astra is perhaps a fitting epitaph for the life of Rev. William Henry Goodenough Milnes OBE MC MA. Through hardship to the stars.
DH4s of 25 Squadron are engaged by Fokker DR1s of Jasta 14 near Lille on 8 June 1918. This is a special print dedicated to the memory of Rev. William H. G. Milnes OBE MC MA (1898-1962) Milnes flew DH4s with 25 Squadron on the Western Front in WWI and was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. This painting depicts the events when by skillful flying he enabled his gunner to destroy one of four attacking German aircraft. In two World Wars Rev. Milnes achieved an incredible threefold success. Firstly as a young decorated pilot in WWI. Secondly, in WWII in his early forties as Principal of Elizabeth College Guernsey, he organised the evacuation of the College just days before German troops occupied the Channel Islands. (The only part of Great Britain to be occupied by enemy troops in WWII). Once in England he somehow managed to establish the College in two separate locations - 12 miles apart- in the heart of the Peak District in Derbyshire. He then successfully guided the College through five difficult years of exile; during which time, the College achieved many academic and sporting successes. What might have been a disaster for the future of the College was turned into a triumph; not only did the College survive those exile years, it flourished and found new strength. Finally when the Channel Islands were liberated, he successfully re-established the College on its return home to Guernsey in 1945. He planned to retire at the age of 60 in 1958 but due to serious ill health, had to do so a year earlier, and though to a certain extent he recovered and regained strength, another heart attack proved fatal and sadly he died in 1962 aged 64. The Royal Air Force motto Per Ardua ad Astra is perhaps a fitting epitaph for the life of Rev. William Henry Goodenough Milnes OBE MC MA. Through hardship to the stars.
Aces of Jagdstaffel 17 MPArt0054.jpg
Jasta 17 ace Julius Buckler manoeuvres his Albatros DIII onto the tail of a Nieuport 23 flown by Albin Jaussaud of Escadrille 75 on 12th May 1917.
Jasta 17 ace Julius Buckler manoeuvres his Albatros DIII onto the tail of a Nieuport 23 flown by Albin Jaussaud of Escadrille 75 on 12th May 1917.
Combat over Douai MPArt0071.jpg
On 1 June 1916 RFC Ace Albert Ball flew over to Douai aerodrome—base for Oblt Max Immelmann’s Kampfeinsitzer Kommando, among others—and spent the next half hour circling at 10,000 feet before two enemy planes, an Albatros two-seater and a Fokker, finally took off. The Albatros attacked first, but after Ball fired 10 rounds at it, its pilot dived away and returned to the aerodrome. At that point the Fokker got on Ball’s tail, closed the range and opened fire. The moment it did Ball, who had been waiting for that all along, whipped his Nieuport around and returned fire. The Fokker then turned away, dived and alit in a field two miles from the aerodrome. Ball was credited with it as ‘forced to land’, as his fourth victory.
On 1 June 1916 RFC Ace Albert Ball flew over to Douai aerodrome—base for Oblt Max Immelmann’s Kampfeinsitzer Kommando, among others—and spent the next half hour circling at 10,000 feet before two enemy planes, an Albatros two-seater and a Fokker, finally took off. The Albatros attacked first, but after Ball fired 10 rounds at it, its pilot dived away and returned to the aerodrome. At that point the Fokker got on Ball’s tail, closed the range and opened fire. The moment it did Ball, who had been waiting for that all along, whipped his Nieuport around and returned fire. The Fokker then turned away, dived and alit in a field two miles from the aerodrome. Ball was credited with it as ‘forced to land’, as his fourth victory.
Combat over Messines MPArt0015.jpg
Australian pilot Lieutenant Patrick Gordon Taylor in his Sopwith Pup of 66 Squadron RFC shoots down a German reconnaissance Albatros C.VII on the morning of 7th June 1917, whilst the Battle of Messines Ridge plays out below. In the background, flight leader Jock Andrews can be seen engaging another Albatros C type.
Australian pilot Lieutenant Patrick Gordon Taylor in his Sopwith Pup of 66 Squadron RFC shoots down a German reconnaissance Albatros C.VII on the morning of 7th June 1917, whilst the Battle of Messines Ridge plays out below. In the background, flight leader Jock Andrews can be seen engaging another Albatros C type.
de Havilland DH9 MPArt0028.jpg
A de Havilland DH9 of 206 Sqn flown by Capt Rupert Atkinson is attacked by a Fokker DVII flown by Oblt Friedrich Roth of Jasta 16b who misjudged his line of attack and got both barrels from the DH9's gunner.
A de Havilland DH9 of 206 Sqn flown by Capt Rupert Atkinson is attacked by a Fokker DVII flown by Oblt Friedrich Roth of Jasta 16b who misjudged his line of attack and got both barrels from the DH9's gunner.
Fokker DVII MPArt0039.jpg
