There were plenty better trick-flyers, and plenty who knew more about the science of the game, but there was no one with quite Peter's genius for an actual scrap.

He was as full of dodges a couple of miles up in the sky as he had been among the rocks of the Berg.

He apparently knew how to hide in the empty air as cleverly as in the long grass of the Lebombo Flats.

Amazing yarns began to circulate among the infantry about this new airman, who could take cover below one plane of an enemy squadron while all the rest were looking for him.

I remember talking about him with the South Africans when we were out resting next door to them after the bloody Delville Wood business.