Chapter 80, RAF Church Fenton, Yorkshire, 21 August 1940
“And you say that you can defend our shores against an aerial assault?” The King seemed impressed. Halifax, Hoare and Dowding, escorting the Royal Family, watched a squadron of Hawker Hurricane Is swoop low over the airbase, before a squadron of the newer Supermarine Spitfires followed in their wake. Dowding calmly pointed out the difference in design and functionality to his guests, before the station CO beckoned them over to a table draped in the RAF flag, where lemonade and ginger ale were waiting to refresh them.
Hoare gratefully took a lemonade after conducting a brief inspection of some of the base personnel. “They look impressive, Sir Hugh!”
Dowding assumed that his minister was talking about the planes. He nodded without conviction. “Not enough of them, Minister. I need more squadrons.”
The King, concerned (and pleased to be included) rounded on Hoare. “W-well, Sir Samuel?”
“We are trying to bring new squadrons of both Hurricanes and Spitfires into service.”
The King looked suspiciously at Hoare. He glared at the Air Minister. “A-are you sure?”
Dowding, realising that this was his chance, turned to face his Sovereign. “We can build the planes, it’s the pilots that concerns. At one point in the Battle of France we had nearly two-thirds of my pilots missing, dead, wounded, or long overdue for relief. I must have a pledge to continue the Commonwealth Air Training Plan!”
Halifax, so far trying to avoid being involved in a debate in which he was clearly not an expert, nevertheless found the King staring at him expectantly. “Air Chief Marshal, as I briefed the Dominion Pwime Ministers, we shall continue the scheme.”
Dowding, like a terrier, wouldn’t relent. “They need modern training aircraft, renewed funding.”
Hoare, as ever outmanoeuvred by his Chief of Staff, looked uncertain. “But, Hugh, the war is over! We can adopt a more measured pace!” The King, embarrassed to be present in this dispute, led Halifax away from the arguing pair.
“Edward, I am concerned with Sir Samuel. He lacks,” the King struggled, trying to find the right word. “He seems to lack the mastery of his brief that I would have hoped for.”
“I doubt that it is a lack of mastewy, more a lack of agweement with Dowding. But he and I have already discussed his future, and I feel now is the time to move him to another ministwy.”
“I also hear rumours, Edward, that Sir Hugh may not be the popular leader of the Air Force that we hoped he would be.”
“Weally, Sir?”
“I hear, unofficially, of course, that there are those working for the Chief of the Air Staff who doubt his policies for the Air Forces.”
“Dowding wemains my favoured choice as CAS,” Halifax said, wary of further scheming in the RAF. “So far his ideas for the Air Defence of the Home Islands have pwoven reliable.”
“Just so, E-Edward, just so. I merely thought to counsel you that I look for a strong, unified team in our forces.”
The warning was obvious. The King had been speaking to someone within the RAF and was using his regal power of warning the Prime Minister. Halifax would, in time, find out who the court gossip was; though presumably it was someone reasonably high within the Air Force’s senior echelons. A quiet chat with the King’s people would provide the name, Halifax hoped. Usually the court gossips were a nuisance, and one that Lascelles would be pleased to get rid of. Deciding that military in-fighting was best left for another day, Halifax sought to change the subject.
“I hear, Your Majesty, that the Brazilian Ambassador is to be recalled.”
“W-what, oh well.” The King had failed to get the point. Halifax’s expectant look caused the King to think hard for a moment. “Oh lorks, you don’t mean?”
“I’m afraid I do, Sir. I have already failed to get another extension on the Ambassador’s length of service from his government. Which means...”
“Oh C-Christ!” For the King to blaspheme so openly was exceptionally rare. He turned to Halifax sharply. “You m-must do something!”
“There is nothing we can do, short of ensuring that Madame Maisky comports herself in the standard expected. The role of longest serving ambassadorial couple will go to the Maiskies. Do you wish me to bwief Her Majesty?”
“I’ll b-break it to her. So, Edward, so that I am clear...”
“Madame Maisky will, shortly, assume the role of senior diplomatic wife. Every new ambassador’s wife will be presented by her to Her Majesty the Queen. In addition there will be functions to organise, and to guide Her Majesty with. It is a jealously coveted wole, my wife assures me.”
“B-but, after this spy thing! How can we trust them?”
“We cannot, Sir. Lady Halifax offers herself as a companion to Her Majesty in her dealings with the Maiskies, and I will lunch with our ewwant Russian diplomat to make sure that he understands the obligations placed upon his wife. But more than that, we cannot do.”
The King looked at Halifax with resignation. “You’d better tell Dorothy to get used to diplomatic presentations. I t-think that the Queen will need her assistance!” The King, his stammer pronounced after this unpleasant news, lit a cigarette, sucking in its smoke to calm himself.
At that exact moment three aircraft, twin-engined, thundered over the aerodrome. The King looked at Halifax, who shrugged. Seeking the identity of the aircraft, the two rejoined Dowding and Hoare.
“Blenheims,” Dowding answered their question. “Our medium bombers. These, the Wellingtons, the Wellesleys and the Whitleys make up our bomber force. As for the Battles and the Lysanders..." his voice trailed off.
“Pwesumably, you have a plan for Bomber Command?”
“Indeed, Prime Minister. I intend to build them up in time, though for the moment I’m foccussing on Fighter Command. We do have a new squadron of Blenheims due to enter service soon, but the fighters remain my priority. Soon, we will need good aircraft to support the Army and Navy, as well as to be wielded as a powerful weapon in their own right.”
“Excellent!” The King was beaming. “Presumably your mention of training also links in to the bomber force as well?”
“Absolutely, Your Majesty. The training programme is for all aircraft, from across the Dominions.”
“I-in which case it would seem vital to further develop it, eh Sir Samuel!” Hoare inclined his head, acknowledging the King’s argument.
The visit had come to a close. The King and Queen, due to resume their journey to Balmoral, thanked the station staff for the display and prepared to take their leave of the Prime Minister.
“Edward, I shall not see you again before the election.”
“Indeed, Sir. I hope that we will pwevail.”
“Make sure that you do, Edward!” And with that the Royal couple departed.
[Game Effect] – And so our first real look at the RAF. In this AAR, though spared the trials of the Battle of Britain, the RAF started June 1940 in a worse position – due largely to their sacrifice over France. Thankfully, the King and Dowding are in agreement as to the importance of continuing the excellent Commonwealth-wide schemes for providing pilots, something that Dowding (as well as El Pip in an earlier discussion!) has seen as crucial.
Hoare seems out of his depth, as well as devoid of regal favour, and I think that he would struggle against a Halifax deeply ignorant of the realities of aerial warfare and a Dowding who doesn’t care how he achieves his aim of a strong RAF, just as long as he gets it. It the situation continues expect Hoare to go first; after all it was Hoare who engineered Dowding’s appointment anyway. Historically, he was packed off to Spain; in this AAR I think that Halifax would be kinder, giving him a sideways promotion to something less controversial.
The King’s allusion to RAF internal rumblings is based on historical fact, though I have moved the context and timings. Leigh-Mallory (aided by Bader) was instrumental in unseating Park (and eventually Dowding) during the ‘big-wing’ squabble. Here it is a lot less bitter: someone in the RAF has whinged to the King that Dowding is not doing well, probably someone in the (at-present) not-prioritised Bomber Command. And Halifax, surprisingly, has refused to budge; perhaps, like the senior army appointments, he is wary of causing further chaos. Bottom line: Dowding is safe.
Finally, the gossipy bit about Maisky’s wife is also true. When the then Foreign Secretary Halifax was faced with the Brazilian ambassador’s departure he begged Brazil not to recall their man. This they kindly did, and Maisky’s wife was denied her important position. Here, the Brazilians have recalled him again, and this time the unthinkable will happen.
Sir Humphrey: I think you're right, and this wagnerian forecast will be one that would appeal to Halifax, keeping him (and the Empire) out a war that he dreads.
Kurt_Steiner: Halifax is more of a port and sherry man. Whisky probably gives him a sour stomach.
Sir Humphrey: Halifax will struggle to understand nuclear weapons.
DonnieBaseball: It's a gamble, but a tempting one for the British; sit it out whilst the Russians and Germans slaughter each other. But it's very shortsighted: whoever wins such a struggle would undoubtedly dominate Europe.
El Pip: To be honest, bar the Royal Commission on the Army and this gentle building up of the RAF not much is going on until the election is resolved.
Morsky: The idea of Halifax being a Russian spy was just too hilarious!:rofl:
Enewald: No, he couldn't get away with it earlier (when negotiating with Germany) so he won't now.
Johnny Canuck: