But there was no retreat for the young British airman. “He flew straight on,” wrote the officer in command, “until he must have been riddled with bullets. The machine then put its nose right up into the air and fell over and went spinning down into the sea from 14,000 feet.” The brave boy was entangled in the wires of his machine and though a patrol boat dashed out to the rescue he could not be saved. The observer shared the same fate and the same glory. For it was a glorious death to die for the mother city of the Empire and to fall upon the sea which knits that Empire together, but which no longer serves England --“in the office of a wall Or as a moat defensive to a house Against the envy of less happier lands.” IN MEMORIAM _P. M. and A. C. D., killed in action, 1915._ Let pride with grief go hand in hand: They join the hallowed hosts who died In battle for their lovely land: With light about their brows they ride. Young hearts and hot, grey heads and wise, Good knights of all the years foregone, Faith in their England in their eyes, Still ride they on, still ride they on! By altars old their banners fade Beneath dear spires; their names are set In minster aisle, in yew-tree shade: Their memories fight for England yet. Let pride with grief go hand in hand, Sad Love with Patience side by side; In battle for their lovely land Not vainly England’s sons have died! And well may pride this hour befit; For not since England’s days began More fiery clear the word was writ: Who dies for England dies for Man! HELEN GRAY CONE. [Illustration: THE TEMPLE PRESS LETCHWORTH ENGLAND ] Transcriber’s Notes Punctuation, hyphenation, and spelling were made consistent when a predominant preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed. Simple typographical errors were corrected. Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Post of Honour, by Richard Wilson