BIGGLES DOES SOME HOMEWORK

by Captain W. E. Johns

First published February 1998

But written in 1968 and left uncompleted following the author’s death.

When it comes to the numbering of pages, the paperback first edition counts the very first blank page as Page Number 1. The title is then on Page Number 3

Page 5 – Black and white frontispiece illustration by Andrew Skilleter.

Page 7 – TITLE PAGE – 300 copies of this first edition of Biggles Does Some Homework are for sale of which this is Number:

Page 8 – PUBLICATION DETAILS – First limited edition privately published in 1997 by Norman Wright and Jennifer Schofield. (Actually, it wasn’t published until February 1998, the book had been typeset earlier. I confirmed this by e-mail correspondence with Norman Wright himself).

ONLY THE HARDBACK SECOND EDITION HAS A CONTENTS PAGE AND THIS EXTRA PAGE MEANS THE HARDBACK INTRODUCTION STARTS ON PAGE 11.

THE NUMBERING HERE REFERS TO THE FIRST PAPERBACK EDITION WITH THE HARDBACK CHAPTER NUMBERING IN BRACKETS AFTERWARDS AS THE HARDBACK HAD THE TYPESET CHANGED AND ALL PAGE NUMBERS DIFFER

Page 10 – INTRODUCTION – Page 10

Page 14 - A facsimile copy of W. E. Johns own hand written first page of the novel

I. CHAPTER 1 – A HEART TO HEART (PB - Pages 15 – 24) (HB 17 – 23)

“As soon as Biggles walked into his chief’s private office he knew from the expression on his face, and the way he held his hands with the finger tips together, that something unusual was afoot. “You wanted to see me, sir,” he prompted. Raymond says the subject he has been asked to raise “is more embarrassing for me than it is for you”. Raymond starts by talking about the original formation of the Air Police organisation. “It was natural that the first person who came into my mind should be you. You had worked for me during the war, not only on normal combat tactics but what were called special missions, which demanded more than ordinary nerve, courage and intelligence, combined with a sense of responsibility. I put the proposition up to you and you came into the new service with the rank and pay of a police sergeant – plus, if I remember, four shillings a day flying money”. (See Sergeant Bigglesworth C.I.D. published in 1947, but written in 1946. A pound in 1946 is worth £34.50 in 2024. There were 20 shillings in a pound, so 4 shillings was one fifth of a pound, so that extra allowance would be worth £6.90 in 2024). Biggles grinned. “I hope I earned that extra four bob a day. At the time I thought it was a bit mean and something of a come-down for an ex-Squadron Leader. But it wasn’t the four bob that tempted me. The job offered possibilities – if you see what I mean, as Bertie Lisse would say”. (In 1946, a police sergeant earned 150 shillings and this was raised to 165 shillings a week. That would be £8 and 5 shillings a week or £429 a year. In 1945, a retired Squadron Leader with 20 years service got £453 pension a year). “You were allowed certain privileges not enjoyed by the regular force,” reminded the Air Commodore. Unsmilingly he went on. “You were allowed to choose your own assistant pilots, and I must say you deserved full marks for getting together a pretty good team, although at first I was a little doubtful about Lissie”. Biggles says “You didn’t know him as well as I did …. Not only was Bertie an exceptional pilot and a cracking good shot, but I never, ever, saw him get ruffled or rattled. He never lost his head. He always came home cool, calm and collected. And usually smiling. Such a man is good for morale”. Biggles asks what all this is leading up to. Raymond says it has been decided to increase the size of the Air Section. Raymond tells Biggles “You are not as young as you were – to put it nicely. That’s not your fault. No man can stay young for ever. You need more help. Whether you like it or not the day is not far distant when you will be forced to retire. The question that will then arise is, who is going to take your place.” Biggles smiled wanly. “Is this a polite way of giving me the sack?” The Air Commodore made an impatient gesture. “Most certainly not. That’s the last thing the Chief Commissioner has in mind”. Raymond says he is not far from retirement himself, “and I’d rather you took this from me, while I’m still in office, than from my successor”. Raymond tells Biggles “I’m not suggesting you pack up right away. You’ve done a good job and it’s appreciated in more than one government department, for which reason it is hoped you’ll carry on for as long as possible if only in an advisory capacity. No man can go on flying indefinitely, and had your nerves not been tough they’d have cracked long ago. For the time being you can think it over. Take your time and come to me with any proposals that occur to you”. Biggles says the first and most important thing is to start looking around for a suitable recruit. “I’ve already taken it upon myself to do that,” returned the Air Commodore with a hint of apology in his voice. “The final decision would of course be left to you,” he added quickly. The Air Ministry has sent Raymond the names of some junior officers due for retirement with copies of their Confidential Reports and Raymond has one present now. Biggles asks for a minute or two to go through the man’s documents and “warn my lads about what goes on”. Biggles is handed a manila filing jacket with a wad of paper pinned in it. “Alexander Gordon Mackay” he read aloud. Raymond says the man is from Inverness and he’s a son of General Alexander Mackay V.C., one time commanding officer of the Royal Scots. “Good. A man from a soldiering family can usually be relied on to start off on the right foot.” Biggles got up. “I’ll let you know as soon as I’m ready, sir. I shan’t be more than a few minutes”. He left the room.