THE RAID
The story “The Raid” was first published in “Wings” – Volume 1 Number 2 - Dated Autumn 1934 but actually
published on 1st October 1934
(Interestingly the index of this magazine says, after the
title and the author’s name, “This popular author has placed this story in
Iraq, a country that he knows well”)
The story was then published by John Hamilton as a hardback
called “The Raid” in April 1935 with four other W. E. Johns stories - 221 pages
“The Raid” was then republished in paperback as part of “Desert
Adventures” by Norman Wright in 2001 - 190 pages
It can be quite hard to tell a first
edition of THE RAID. I have been and
viewed the first edition copy in the Bodleian Library. Their copy is date stamped by them as being
received on May 11th 1935. The boards
are orange with black titles and the John Hamilton ‘sundial’ logo on the spine. At the front of the book there is a list of
four of Johns non-fiction books, then six Biggles books plus the book ‘Wings’ to
make a total of eleven titles by W. E. Johns opposite the title page. There is a thirty page
catalogue at back, which is undated, but headed 'Aviation General'. The first
book listed is ‘Max Immelmann – Eagle of Lille’. Importantly, there is an advert from John
Hamilton on the inside back cover of the book, the details of which can be seen
below.
THIS BOOK CONTAINS FIVE STORIES
THE RAID
The story “The Raid” was first
published in “Wings” – Volume 1 Number 2 - Dated Autumn 1934 but actually
published on 1st October 1934
Pages 7 - 146
Flight
Lieutenant Guy Baring is in love with Sheila Forbes, whose parents were both
killed in flying incidents. Guy cannot give up the Air Force and Sheila feels
that she cannot marry an airman, as she will never have a moment's peace. When
Sheila and her Uncle come to Baghdad with the
mysterious Professor Wiseman from Sweden to excavate at Prensis,
Guy accidentally sees a list of friendly and hostile Arab leaders amongst the
Professor's possessions. With his suspicions aroused, Guy makes enquiries and
eventually discovers that 'Professor Wiseman' is in fact a German spy, called
Erich von Lertzhardt. By this time, Sheila has become
engaged to the Professor and Guy finds himself in a difficult position, not
wishing to denounce a man who would be seen as a rival for Sheila's affections.
Flying out to Prensis, Guy warns 'Wiseman' that he
knows who he is and asks for his word that he will leave in order to save
Sheila and her Uncle from any embarrassment in the
affair. Von Lertzhardt agrees to go but Sheila
refuses to leave with Guy there and then and later, hostile Arabs raid the camp
at Prensis. Von Lertzhardt
is shot in the head whilst defending Shelia, who is then captured and carried
away by Arabs. Guy rescues Shelia by parachuting ahead of the Arabs (shades of Mossyface here). Escaping together, there are big shocks coming
before Guy is able to save the day.
ALL'S FAIR
The story “All’s Fair” was first
published in “Wings” – Volume 1 Number 1 - Undated but actually published in
1934
Pages 149 - 168
"All's fair in love and
business", says Captain Peter Logan. He is the Chief Instructor at South
London Aero Club and he has words with one of his pupils, Sheila Sanderson.
When Logan takes a dangerous photographic assignment for the Daily Pictorial he finds that Miss Sanderson has pipped him at the
post. Or has she? Logan has the last laugh in this battle of the sexes.
STRANGE FREIGHT
This story is NOT to be confused with the story “Strange Freight”
that appeared in “The Wilfred
Pickles Gay Street Book” in 1949
That was originally a story entitled “Questionable Cargo”
published in “The New Book
of the Air” that
had been renamed but is a completely different story!
The story “Strange Freight” was first
published in “Wings” – Volume 1 Number 3 - Dated Winter 1935 but actually
published on 1st January 1935
Pages 171 - 190
Bill Davenish
tells the writer of the story about where he has been for the last three
months. Hired by a mysterious stranger to go and collect some Elephant Ivory, Davenish finds that all is not as it appears. This short
story has a pleasant surprise for the reader at the end.
OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE
The story “Old Soldiers Never Die” was
first published in “Wings” – Volume 1 Number 1 - Undated but actually published
in 1934
Pages 193 - 199
Jerry Barton and Bill Reeves, old
comrades of 296 Squadron, have come up with a clever way to sell aircraft for
their employer, the Falkner Aviation Company.
The story “The Ace of Spades” was first
published in “The Cockpit” – in August 1934
Pages 203 - 221
This was a Biggles story. Biggles
is accused of incompetence by a General and has to clear his name. Biggles
flies without ammunition during a camera duel with Wilks and is attacked and
forced down by an orange coloured German plane with a
distinctive Ace of Spades on the side. A General sees this one-sided dual and
reprimands Biggles for not firing a shot. Rather than writing a report to
explain what happened, Biggles borrows Algy's Sopwith Camel and subsequently shoots
the German down. The fabric showing the Ace of Spades is sent to the General as
his report. This story was originally first printed in The Cockpit in August 1934 and then reprinted in Biggles of
the Special Air Police and it is interesting to note the differences between the original
adult version as printed in this book and the subsequent children's version in
the reprint. For example, the phrase "He swore, tersely but
effectively", relating to Biggles, is not in the reprint and expressions
like "My God!" become "My Gosh!"
Original Dustjacket showing the faded price of 3 shillings and 6
pence on the spine
This Dustjacket is from a later reprint and appears to be
identical to the first – the price of 3 shillings and 6 pence on the spine has
faded to such an extent that you can’t really see it, unless you hold a light
behind it.
This copy of ‘The Raid’ has been reduced to only a shilling –
Presumably because it wasn’t selling at the higher price
The first edition of the book has the above advert by John
Hamilton, seeking submissions, on the inside back cover.
2001 Reprint of the story 'The Raid' (with Desert Night)