Uploaded August 2014 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Here's a virtual movie of a recital of a World War Two Poem by The British R,A,F Wing Commander Dennis McHarrie a flight lieutenant in the Middle East "Luck" which he wrote in honour of one of his comrades in arms who was killed in a defective plane which he nearly took out himself. The poem Deflates the pious humbug surrounding Heroism and War. Today we get the same old lie served up as the media and politicians try to persuade us the public that state sponsored mass murder under the banner of war has any merit, alas today's conflicts involving British soldiers have more to do with greedy arms dealers and the ego's of easy come easy go politicians than fighting a menacing dictator like Hitler.
Heres a brief biographical sketch of Dennis Mcharrie kindly provided by his daughter Judy..../
Born 1916 in Wallasey, Cheshire, educated at St.Edward's Liverpool, he was accepted as officer candidate at RAF Cranwell in 1940. In 1941, as Pilot Officer, second officer, his Whitley Bomber was attacked by German Junker fighter planes and he was seriously wounded, shot through the thigh. According to the Times account, he took over the gun position,and despite his own wounds, kept up fire until they landed more in less in one piece. He spent the duration of the War stationed in the Western Desert, Berca 111, with 38 Torpedo Bomber Squadron, attaining rank of Squadron Leader.
Post war he dedicated his life to the RAFVR, and retired in 1978 with Rank of Wing Commander. He was invested with the OBE (military branch) in 1979.
In his civilian life he taught English Literature and Drama in Blackpool. He wrote prolifically throughout his life. though most of his works (in my possession) were for private enjoyment and in his lifetime remained unpublished., with the exception of "Luck" and a short novel "Out of the Blue", was widely distributed throughout the school system in the UK in the 80s.
The poem "Luck" was a very personal comment on the irony and waste of war. His friend Harry B.....was the officer killed. McHarrie had reported that his plane had engine trouble. McHarrie, insisting plane was unsafe, and Flight Engineer took plane up again and the Engineer found nothing amiss. Next day a new crew with Harry B...took up said Wellington, and it nose-dived and exploded with full load of bombs on board. Conclusion, McHarrie was correct, there was a problem, plane could not handle full load of bombs and fuel.
A Big Thankyou to Donald M. McHarrie and Judy Tejani the daughter of Dennis McHarrie for sending me this very rare photograph of him and for the biographical information. Dennis wrote a book called "Out of The Blue" Long, Short and tall stories of the Royal Air Force. He continued after the war as a reservist, with the RAF. Received his OBE. in 1977, he was a teacher of English and Drama in Blackpool.
Kind Regards
Jim Clark
All rights are reserved on this video recording copyright Jim Clark 2014
Here's a virtual movie of a recital of a World War Two Poem by The British R,A,F Wing Commander Dennis McHarrie a flight lieutenant in the Middle East "Luck" which he wrote in honour of one of his comrades in arms who was killed in a defective plane which he nearly took out himself. The poem Deflates the pious humbug surrounding Heroism and War. Today we get the same old lie served up as the media and politicians try to persuade us the public that state sponsored mass murder under the banner of war has any merit, alas today's conflicts involving British soldiers have more to do with greedy arms dealers and the ego's of easy come easy go politicians than fighting a menacing dictator like Hitler.
Heres a brief biographical sketch of Dennis Mcharrie kindly provided by his daughter Judy..../
Born 1916 in Wallasey, Cheshire, educated at St.Edward's Liverpool, he was accepted as officer candidate at RAF Cranwell in 1940. In 1941, as Pilot Officer, second officer, his Whitley Bomber was attacked by German Junker fighter planes and he was seriously wounded, shot through the thigh. According to the Times account, he took over the gun position,and despite his own wounds, kept up fire until they landed more in less in one piece. He spent the duration of the War stationed in the Western Desert, Berca 111, with 38 Torpedo Bomber Squadron, attaining rank of Squadron Leader.
Post war he dedicated his life to the RAFVR, and retired in 1978 with Rank of Wing Commander. He was invested with the OBE (military branch) in 1979.
In his civilian life he taught English Literature and Drama in Blackpool. He wrote prolifically throughout his life. though most of his works (in my possession) were for private enjoyment and in his lifetime remained unpublished., with the exception of "Luck" and a short novel "Out of the Blue", was widely distributed throughout the school system in the UK in the 80s.
The poem "Luck" was a very personal comment on the irony and waste of war. His friend Harry B.....was the officer killed. McHarrie had reported that his plane had engine trouble. McHarrie, insisting plane was unsafe, and Flight Engineer took plane up again and the Engineer found nothing amiss. Next day a new crew with Harry B...took up said Wellington, and it nose-dived and exploded with full load of bombs on board. Conclusion, McHarrie was correct, there was a problem, plane could not handle full load of bombs and fuel.
A Big Thankyou to Donald M. McHarrie and Judy Tejani the daughter of Dennis McHarrie for sending me this very rare photograph of him and for the biographical information. Dennis wrote a book called "Out of The Blue" Long, Short and tall stories of the Royal Air Force. He continued after the war as a reservist, with the RAF. Received his OBE. in 1977, he was a teacher of English and Drama in Blackpool.
Kind Regards
Jim Clark
All rights are reserved on this video recording copyright Jim Clark 2014
