A Short Life in the Sky - Action Abroad






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Unit 2: Action Abroad, January-July 1916

The image shows Royal Naval Air Servicemen in Mesopotamia, 1916. National Records of Scotland reference: GD486/209a Douglas was posted to Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) where he flew reconnaissance missions, bombed enemy installations and dropped supplies to allied troops. His letters reveal that in this short period, he experienced the thrills and excitement of front line action and extremes of emotion as he coped with danger, illness and possible death.

View the timeline for an outline of John Douglas Hume's life.

Source 1
Censorship
January 1916

Source 2
Action in Turkey
February-March
1916

Source 3
Kut al Amara
April-May 1916

Source 4
Hospitalised in
Basra
June 1916

Source 5
Recovery in
Bombay
July 1916

Detail of a letter from John Douglas Hume to his mother. National Records of Scotland reference: GD486/98

Detail from letter from John Douglas Hume to his mother. National Records of Scotland reference: GD486/102

Detail from letter from John Douglas Hume to his mother. National Records of Scotland reference: GD486/105

Detail from letter from John Douglas Hume to his mother. National Records of Scotland reference: GD486/110

Detail from letter from John Douglas Hume to his mother. National Records of Scotland reference: GD486/111