Australians in the Battle of Britain. 8 August 1940

Just after midday, 238 Squadron scrambled to intercept a raid on the ‘Peewit’ convoy. Stuart Walch was leading. According to the squadron’s ORB, a confused dogfight occurred, with nine enemy aircraft falling to 238’s guns. Stuart is not recorded as claiming anything, but the squadron certainly acquitted itself well that day. Unfortunately, the cost was high. The A Flight commander, Flight Lieutenant Donald Eric Turner—who had replaced Jack Kennedy a few short weeks ago—was lost, as was Flying Officer Derek MacCaw. Making things worse, Squadron Leader Fenton went out to look for Turner. He spotted a German seaplane and attacked it but as it was going so slow, he overshot and copped a blast from the seaplane’s gunner. Shortly afterwards his engine seized and, as he did not have any height, he had to bale. Somehow he managed to bang his head on the way out and, dazed, bobbed in the water for some time until he was picked up by a friendly (or sorts) trawler. He had some adventures on board until he was put ashore at Gosport later that evening. He required seventeen stitches in his forehead and three weeks sick leave from the squadron. Happily, even though he was not able to resume command, he was well enough to receive visitors in hospital.