An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 25 One of his passengers in Waterford was a reporter from the Irish Times: "Without overcoat, hat or even goggles, Lord Carbery climbed into the aeroplane and I followed him. No sooner had we strapped in than we were off. There were a couple of jolts as the machine sped along the ground but in a moment or two it rose in the air. It swayed from side to side, then tossed backwards and forwards, and one had the feeling of being in a boat in decidedly bad weath- er. When I looked around we were several hundred feet up. There was a magnificent view of the surrounding district, the River Suir winding its way through the countryside before emptying itself into the sea, while the steamers in the river at Waterford ap- peared as mere model boats. Presently Lord Carbery, making a megaphone of his hand, said, 'Terrific lot of wind, more than usually bad.' This was certainly encouraging news for me. I was enjoying my first real flight. We were now going round in a circle, making a sharp spiral ascent. On one or two occa- sions as the machine banked, powerful squalls struck it and threatened to turn it over. Presently Lord Carbery took what I thought at first was a watch out of his pocket and turn- ing round showed it to me. 'Twenty-nine point something.' I read. One thousand, one hundred feet up was Lord Carbery's remark. With a wave of his hand Lord Carbery indicated that he was going to loop-the-loop. Next instant the machine shot rapidly upwards, went over on its back and in a moment or two came round to its normal position again. Looping the loop is quite a delightful experience." Carbery's next venue was Bray, whence his machine was taken by rail: "Ascending early in the afternoon from the Cricket Ground in a series of spirals to a height of 3000 feet, passing the mean- while over Bray Head, he executed several loops and tail slides. He then took up several passengers and caused some alarm by descending in a field outside. His reason for doing this was on account of the Cricket Ground being rather unsuitable for fast landing, and, moreover, somewhat unpleasantly crowded." He followed this before the end of the month with a flying visit to Powerscourt, and a free exhibition in the grounds of Castle Bernard, the seat of the Earl of Bandon: "After a circuit of the town Lord Carbery looped the loop twice, did the dead-leaf drop and other exhibition flying. On descending, he was given a most enthusiastic reception, and was presented with an address by the local branch of the Irish National Volunteers." In August further displays were given in Clonmel, Tralee Race Course and Youghal. Britain having declared war on Ger- many on 4th August, Flight noted that the remaining fixtures arranged had been cancelled, as Carbery, despite his strongly- held Nationalist political views, had offered his services to the Government. This offer was accepted and during the Great War he served with courage and some distinction in the RNAS until September 1918, when he was honourably discharged. Early on in the war he had suffered injury in several crashes: On 3rd September 1914 he was an observer in a Sopwith Trac- tor Seaplane, flown by Flight Sub-Lieutenant Sydney Pickles when it crashed at RNAS Calshot. Four days later Carbery ex- perienced a hard landing at Antwerp in a Sopwith S.S.1 Tabloid biplane. And then on 25th Sept 1914 Carbery flew a Sopwith Tabloid, which suffered engine failure on take-off at Dunkirk and crashed. Carbery was injured. His observer was the Prince de Ligne. It cannot be denied, however, that Carbery had a most unusual personality. After the war he sold Castle Freke, but not before taking a shotgun to the family portraits. He spend some time in the USA, where his application for citizenship was refused because it was alleged that he had been involved in bootlegging prohibited alcoholic beverages. Not long after- wards he became one of the notorious Happy Valley Set in Kenya, changing his name by deed poll to John Evans Carbery. His personal life was no less controversial with allegations of marital cruelty and vicious rows with his several wives. Despite all of this he lived to a fairly ripe old age. It can be asserted with some confidence, however, that owing to his skilled flying displays in Ireland in 1914, he inspired many a young Irishman to volunteer for the flying services. According to the historian, Joe Gleeson, no less than 6500 Irishmen joined the RFC, RNAS or RAF, with more than 500 being killed. Their fighting record was second to none. Lord Carbery come in to land his Morane. (via Terry Mace) Lord Carbery and his mechanic at the Mardyke in 1914 Carbery's Bristol Scout

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