"The American
Friend"
A new painting and
verse by John Howard Worsley
The story of
Pilot Officer Billy Fiske. Former bobsleigh gold medalist
One of the Few
He was the first American,
even before the Eagle Squadrons!
The painting was commissioned
by The Battle of Britain Historical Society of which I am a member.
Bill Bond, founder of the society together with Ted McManus who
is the N America Secretary and Chairman of the Trustees
made a special trip to the Isle of Wight to collect the original
canvas which they intend auctioning to raise funds for the society.
Their appointed day had to be put back by 24hours which made their
visit on Thursday the 28th rather hectic as
I'd already arranged to see Jon Eeles on that day and also had
a dental appointment in the morning.
However, everything slotted in exceedingly well and as John Bloodworth
who is an Isle of Wight Member of the
society had also wanted to meet our top billers (Bill and Ted),
we had a great get-together.
This page is about
the painting and our meeting but below the photo is my verse about
Billy Fiske. For starter information about Billy Fiske see:
"The American
Friend : Echoes of the Home Front" page on this website.
Click here.
Below: a photo of the
gathering of society members from left to right:-
John Bloodworth, Bill
Bond, Ted McManus, Myself and Jon Eeles
Bill is holding the
original Billy Fiske canvas and
Jon is holding a canvas print of the original painting he commissioned
depicting Sgt Eric Bann's final flight over
Brading Marshes on the Isle of Wight, Sept 28th 1940. As planned,
the day following the meeting at our Shanklin gallery, Jon and
I went to
the crash site of Eric Bann's Hurricane and found a few more small
pieces similar to those reported in the last news letter
jonzonline 28
The canvas print will
have a piece of the crashed Hurricane attached and is also to
be auctioned to
raise funds for the
Battle of Britain Historical Society
Thursday 28th August 2003 outside
Little-Pearl Art Gallery
A peom to Billy Fiske:
Once he "The
Billy Boy of play and light." Quick-silver blades on icy
wall
Until games' end
'neath jack boot blight
He heard the call
and pledged his all, with cornered friend in mortal fight
One of The Few,
in cloud and blue arena.
His brother-blood
in battle blending
Until that day beneath
the shrieking air, defending ground crews rubbed their gritted
eyes against the flash and blinding glare.
They took a risk.
There: Homing in
with crippled wing, through smoke and
dust the battered boys had seen a : God descending. 'twas Billy
Fiske.
Through bomb and blast they made their way to flaming wreck and
pilot saved.
The burns and pain he boldly braved. A-bed, that night he even
waved,.. and joked. ...
.. But come the morn' young Billy's dead.
Within his heart
his nation's spirit-seed : Justice. Freedom. To fight barbaric
creed.
Through creeping
ash of tyranny, his lonely footprints came
to show the way for other men : Inspire to do the same.
Ten thousand fold,
yet more they stamped until a solid road was tamped.
They pay their way
with flesh and blade yet, to this very day outrageous slant is
made
on motive by those enslaved,... Mind-stained from birth.
So this the battle
in the end, to place the sprite in hearts...
Aye!.. and minds to mend.
Yet never forget
for all life's worth, the likes of Billy :------
The American Friend
Verse by John Howard Worsley ©
Click here for more verse by John Howard Worsley