Revell, A. The Happy Warrior. James Thomas Byford McCudden VC

This is the story of a remarkable young man: James McCudden.VC;DSO+Bar; MC+Bar; MM; Croix de Guerre; America Medal of Honour and Merit. Following his familys military tradition, James McCudden began his career as a professional soldier in 1910, at the age of 15, as a bugle boy in the Royal Engineers. In the class dominated society of Great Britain of his time, his relatively humble origins meant that he could expect to rise through the ranks no further than sergeant major, that of a commissioned officer beyond his reach. The war of 1914-18 was to change that. Opportunities for commissioned rank were awarded on merit rather than autocracy. At the outbreak of war James McCudden was an engine mechanic, but within four years, by sheer hard work and devotion to duty he and risen through the ranks to be a highly decorated Major: a fighter pilot with 56 official aerial victories to his credit. But his success as a fighter pilot was only part of his worth. Unlike many of his contemporaries McCudden studied the tactical aspects of airfighting, applying them to what he saw as his most important duty as a Flight Commander: to minimise the casualties suffered by his Flight. He was tragically killed in a flying accident in July 1918, flying to France to take command of a squadron. The story is supported by 275 rare photographs.