I have that book and have read it a few times. It is interesting for what he does NOT say, like he talks about the 'quick release' boots he had made without saying why he would need them He and his pals seem to have had a fine time with girls when on leave without mentioning sex in any way in the book.

I found it interesting that he talks about his invention of 'Whisky on the Rocks' at the Savoy hotel bar in 1918. This I can believe as when I first started frequenting pubs in England in or about 1966 it was rare to have ice available and it was not ever put into whisky. I think it was kept for the saloon bar Gin and Tonic brigade only.

If you study the successes and losses of 24 Squadron you can easily see that they were not a bunch to be taken on easily.

As a point of interest, I worked with the granddaughter of Southey the South African. Her name was also Southey and I asked her if her relation was a WWI pilot. She said that he was, but she never knew him. Like many fighter pilots he was on the short side and so is she!