The War Diaries of Neville Duke DSO, OBE, DFC (Two Bars), AFC, Czech Military Cross. 1941 - 1944.
I almost met Neville Duke once. It must have been around 1990, and our Concorde manager, Dave Leney, phoned me. “Neville Duke’s coming on your Round-the-Bay on Saturday. Phone him up and have a chat. Here’s the number.”
Wow! I’d seen this legend in action flying the Hunter at Farnborough in the 1950s. I still have his 1954 book ‘Neville Duke’s Book of Flying’, where a chapter describes a boy’s introduction to jet flying - in a two seat Vampire. The book describes various stages of aeronautical development, up to 1954 supersonic aircraft research and rocket achievement, but includes little mention of the author’s heroic status.
I phoned him up in rural Chertsey, not far from Hawker’s historic Dunsfold airfield. His wife answered. She sounded young and chirpy, “Here’s Neville.” “Hello Mr Duke. I’m delighted you’re coming along with us on Saturday. This is a great privilege for us, and I’m sure you will enjoy the ride (or words to that effect)?” We continued with some brief discussion. Did I say ‘you can have a go if you like?’ I don’t think so as this is against civil transport regulations, but we can never be sure.
A couple of days later his patently charming and with-it wife phoned me. “Neville’s feeling a little frail at the moment, and has decided not to come with you. He’s sorry.” I was sorry. Was it something I’d said?
But these brief telephone conversations left an instant black and white impression of the same home counties cottage, an impression so strong it could not be wrong. The cottage, its oak beams and roses is a couple of fields away from an airfield or harbour, inhabited by a couple with two nice children. Noel Coward, Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Dulcie Gray, Jack Hawkins, Celia Johnson again, Michaels Dennison and Redgrave, Richard Todd . . . They all lived in Neville’s house. The list is long but the cottage, its occupants and the story are similar.
I read Neville Duke’s War Diaries a few years later. My instant impression of the cinema hero of the 1950s had been spot on.
This 3 year diary is remarkable for its boyish enthusiasm for a dangerous, demanding and busy way of wartime life, and the successful combination of ability and confidence that produced this carefree heroic image. Highly recommended for all Biggleses.