'File 6/1 I Aviation Imperial Airways' [‎174r] (362/416)

At the same time everyone knows also that in Spring and
during the nights especially, one frequently gets a sudden
and sharp change of wind, and it starts blowing from the
north-west (SHAMAL). The blow may continue for an hour,
24 hours, or 3 days as the case may be. This Shamal usually
comes with force (anything up to 45 miles an hour). Though
one does not like to say it, I myself warned Mr.Alcock
twfcce to place his aircraftfacing the north-west each night
as any danger that came would be from that quarter.
He, I fear, neglected my warning and his second
accident resulted.
8. Before concluding and without any intention of
being ungenerous or unkind, I should like to say that my
wife and I felt rather hurt at the way our efforts to make
Mr. Alcock and his gallant n shipwrecked crew” oomfor teb le,
were received.
Actually(a) tfe invited the whole crew to our house,
and prepared beds, breakfast, lunch
and dinner for them on two successive
days, but no one turned up.
(b) We sent up and had pitched on the
aerodrome, our own tent for the party,
as well as provided carpets, bath,
and blankets (our private supply);
(c) We also made bread for them and sent
25 tins of drinking water (one day):
(d) We sent up what books we possessed:
(e) We visited Mr.Alcock and his men at
least seven times, to see if they
wanted anything or we could be of
use.
Unfortunately we never received a single word of