ere flown over were a various
assemblage--three B.E. biplanes, two Sopwith biplanes, two Bleriot
monoplanes, one Henri Farman biplane, one Bristol biplane, and a
converted Short seaplane fitted with a land undercarriage in place of
the floats. Warrant Officer J. G. Brownridge, R.N., was in charge of the
repair and upkeep of the aeroplanes. In these early days there were no
distinguishing marks on aeroplanes; it was arranged that every machine
should fly a Union Jack lashed to one of its struts, but this was not
done.

[Illustration: Prepared in the Historical Section of the Committee of
Imperial Defence.

Commander Samson's Operations in Belgium.]

The whole force arrived in safety, with only one or two minor mishaps.
Wing Commander Samson was fired at by rifles as he was coming down, and
after landing was stalked by a couple of British marines, who had come
to Belgium to shoot Germans and were aching to get to work.

The force remained at Ostend for three days only. There was no artillery
except the guns of the ships lying off the port, and the Marine Brigade
had only about half a dozen machine-guns. The defence of Ostend against
a German attack in force would have been more than difficult. The
aeroplanes carried out reconnaissance flights daily over the area
between Bruges, Ghent, and Ypres, and, on the suggestion of General
Aston, who commanded the Marine Brigade, Wing Commander Samson made a
motor-car reconnaissance as far as Thourout and Bruges, in two cars, one
of them fitted with a Maxim gun. 'At Bruges', says Air Commodore Samson,
'we were received with great enthusiasm, the streets being crowded with
people. The popular delusion, which we did not contradict, was that we
were the advance party of a large British army. The Civil Guard hastily
donned their uniform on our arrival, and turned out briskly, with
weapons and valour. They used, we found out later, to be quick-change
artists, from uniform to plain clothes, and vice versa, according to the
circumstances. Having gained some information in the town, we returned
to Ostend. The whole party enjoyed themselves immensely, although some
of the more bloodthirsty members were disappointed at not getting a
fight. This trip made us consider the question of motor-car operations,
and ideas were discussed for armouring the cars.'

On the 30th of August orders came that the Marine Brigade and the
aeroplane squadron should return at once to England. It was a depresse