Comments by "Big Blue" (@bigblue6917) on "Eugene Bullard, The Black Swallow of Death" video.

  1. I have come across Eugene Bullard's story before so I did know about him. Personal link here. My paternal grandfather served in the 124th Battery Royal Garrison and he fought at the Somme. So not far from Bullard. I think your figure for the number of black pilots is incorrect as I do know of at least one British pilot who was black. He was one of an unknown number of Black personnel who joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), the Royal Naval Air Service and, from 1 April 1918, the Royal Air Force. He was Sergeant Robbie Clarke and was accepted to undergo pilot training in England in December 1916 and having completed the course, Robbie qualified on 26 April 1917. in July 1918 he came under attack will flying conducting a photographic mission aboard R.E.8 when they were attacked by five enemy fighters. He was shot through the spine but later recovered. His observer survived unscathed. Interestingly he mentioned before becoming a pilot that he would like to transfer to another squadron to serve alongside a friend. A total of 15,600 Black volunteers joined the British West Indies Regiment, so was his friend in this squadron also like Robbie and came originally from this regiment. And if so did he also become a pilot. The British Army had at least one black officer, Walter Tull. Before the war he had been a professional footballer and with the outbreak of war joined the British Army as an enlisted man before eventually becoming a second lieutenant. Tull served in Italy and he was praised for his "gallantry and coolness" by Major-General Sydney Lawford, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 41st Division. He had led 26 men on a night-raiding party, crossing the fast-flowing rapids of the Piave River into enemy territory and returning them unharmed. He died in France on the 25th March during the First Battle of Bapaume, during the German Spring Offence. Despite the efforts of a number of people, and while under fire, his body was never recovered. He was greatly mourned by his men.
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  2. I came across him in a book I read by someone who writes short biographies but unfortunately I cannot remember then name of the book. My local library has a copy so next time I am over there I will see what |I can find.
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