Norman Prince : $b A volunteer who died for the cause he loved — John Shaqi
Norman Prince : $b A volunteer who died for the cause he lovedBabbitt, George Franklin
History
Norman Prince : $b A volunteer who died for the cause he loved
Babbitt, George Franklin
Prince, Norman, 1887-1916; World War, 1914-1918 -- Aerial operations; World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives
It was the proud privilege of both the Prince brothers to give their
active services to France on the battle fronts. Having passed their
boyhood and early youth together, performing the same tasks and enjoying
the same recreations, Frederick and Norman developed similar ambitions
and aptitudes, particularly in their more strenuous activities. Moreover,
they had obtained in part their early education in France, and the call
to the French colors at the outbreak of the war appealed almost as
strongly to them as to the patriotic Frenchmen. Norman’s early experience
as an aviator at home and abroad gave him a temporary advantage over
Frederick in that he already had the preliminary training for service in
the aviation corps in which both desired to enlist. He was consequently
first of the two to realize his heart’s desire and to take the oath of
allegiance to France and her cause. It was with pardonable hesitation
that permission was subsequently given by his parents to their only other
son to join Norman in the perilous aviation service but it was freely
given, with an appeal for God’s blessing, and Frederick sailed for France
with Norman on the latter’s return from his Christmas furlough at home
in 1915. He underwent the rigorous training at the Pau aviation school
and began his active service at the front in the late summer, flying at
first with the intrepid Captain Guynemer, at the latter’s invitation,
and subsequently joining the Lafayette Squadron on the western front. He
won the high esteem of his comrades for his courage and manly bearing,
performing his duty with joyous enthusiasm and taking active part in
twenty-two aerial engagements during the ensuing five months. When Norman
fell at Luxeuil, it was a trying moment to Frederick, who had lost
his only brother and the companion of his lifetime, but he promptly
offered his services to France in his brother’s place and he fought
with the Lafayette Escadrille until he came home on a short furlough.
He subsequently returned to France to rejoin his Squadron with courage
undaunted, and with unflagging faith in the ultimate triumph of the cause
he loved and for which he was proud to be actively enlisted.
[Illustration: _Frederick Henry Prince, Jr., with his Nieuport_]
VII
FROM THE FRENCH ENVOYS
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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