Flying High
In memory of Margot Duhalde (12 Dec 1920 - 5 Feb 2018), Chile's first female pilot, who served with the Air Transport Auxiliary of the RAF in World War II.
Margot Duhalde APA photo.
Speech as delivered by H M Ambassador Fiona Clouder on the occasion of the Royal British Legion Garden Party on 9 Nov 2017:
Thank you for coming along today to this important annual remembrance of all those connected with the British armed forces and the sacrifices many made, and to support the important work of the Royal British Legion here in Chile.
Many brave men and women from Chile fought in the two World Wars of the last century, Here in the Residence garden I have placed a plaque to the ‘West Coast Boys’, the c, 2000 volunteers who went from west coast of South America, principally Chile, to fight for Britain in World War I.
In highlighting military connections between the UK and Chile, we often focus on the naval links, which stem back to Lord Cochrane, the man, whose portrait is in the hall of the Residence. In 2018 we will celebrate with the Armada de Chile, the bicentenary of his arrival in Chile and contribution to freedom, democracy and independence.
In 2018 we will also celebrate the centenary of the formation of the Royal Air Force, the oldest independent air force in the world. We also hope to participate in FIDAE, the region’s leading air show, in April 2018. And so today, I would like to take a moment to reflect on some of the brave men of Chile who took part in those early days of flying.
In the Residence we have a copy of the South Pacific Mail book which profiles each one of the West Coast Volunteers and the support to the war effort from Chile. Reading some of the entries is heartbreaking. For example the Cumming family from Viña del Mar:
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Robert Cumming, Valparaiso - son of the late Mr James Cumming of Viña del Mar. Seaforth Highlanders. Prisoner of War. He left Valparaiso to take part in the European war in March 2017. He served in France and in April 1918 was reported wounded and missing. A month later information was received stating he was a prisoner in Germany. After release he returned to England at the beginning of 1919.
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Victor Cumming, Valparaiso. Royal Field Artillery. Mentioned in Dispatches. Left Valparaiso November 22nd 1914 with a large contingent of volunteers. After training in June 1915 he was sent to France and promoted. In 1917, as Acting Captain, with his division in Belgium, he was mentioned in dispatches.
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J S Cumming, Concepcion. Left Valparaiso on October 31st 1918 with the last contingent of volunteers from the West Coast. At the signing of the armistice the men were officially informed their services would not be required and they returned from Callao.
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A W Patrick Cumming, Valparaiso. Royal Air Force. Sailed from Valparaiso to join the Forces on September 18th 1916. He was enrolled in the Royal Air Force on January 1st 1917. He served in France. He is the fifth son of the late Mr James Cumming and has now returned to the West Coast.
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Lionel Cumming, Concepcion, Royal Air Force. Killed in Action. The fourth son of the later Mr James Cumming, he had lived all his life in Chile until he decided to leave for England to volunteer. He joined the Royal Flying Corps and was trained at Lincoln. In May 1917 he had fully qualified as a Pilot and ‘got his wings’. A month later, on June 16th 1917 he met his death in France in the discharge of his perilous work.
Sadly the fate of Lionel in the nascent Royal Flying Corps is a feature of many of the airmen profiled in the book. illustrating the grave dangers of those early flying days.
There was brave flying from Chile too in World War II. Including Margot Duhalde, Chile’s first female pilot, who served with the Air Transport Auxiliary of the Royal Air Force in World War II. There is a profile of her on the website of the Anglo-Chilean Society in London . This states that Margot Dulhalde originally volunteered and travelled to Europe, intending to join the French Free Forces as a pilot. On arrival in Liverpool she was initially detained as a suspected spy, and on release was informed that the French Free Forces did not accept women pilots and was assigned kitchen duties. She then learnt the Royal Air Force was willing to accept women pilots and joined the Air Transport Auxiliary.
Over the following four years she moved more than 900 aircraft from English bases to combat zones in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. After the war she flew planes for the French Air Force, and in 1947 returned to Chile. She had hoped to join us today but sends her apologies, but she is well known to many of you.
In this centenary year of the Royal Air Force, and in marking the importance of international collaboration, I would like to close with a poem ‘High Flight’. This is by John Gillespie Magee, an American, who joined the Canadian Air Force in World War II. He was sent to England. Only 3 months after writing this poem, he was killed, during exercises, whilst flying a Spitfire over Lincolnshire. He was 19 years old.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . . Up, up the long, delirious burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or ever eagle flew — And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
And so please support the work of the Royal British Legion, in remembrance of all those who have served in conflicts and the sacrifices made, which allow us to live in peace. The Royal British Legion supports the Armed Forces community - serving men and women, veterans and their families, as well as helping everyone understand about the importance of Remembrance.