By Ralph Robinson.

Nephew of WWI hero.

WARRANT Officer Alf Grundy from Blackburn completed a three-year tour with the newly-formed Royal Flying Corps during the First World War - flying sorties over enemy lines and risking his life as he struggled, under constant shelling, to free precious engines from crashed planes.

Arrested by Tommys during one sortie to rescue an aero engine and marched to brigade hq until his story could be verified, he wrote a diary of his experiences, which left him both mentally and physically exhausted.

It has been edited by his nephew Ralph Robinson and in this final instalment, Alf tells of a near miss, as he prepared to return home, having completed his tour of active service.

"Desperately tired and stressed, three days before I was due to leave for Blighty, I started to pack. My clothes were covered with oil stains, from running and testing engines. I had to look presentable when I got back.

Cleaning them with petrol, he: "He heard a muffled explosion. Suddenly, to my horror, everything burst into flames. The fire leapt into my face and I staggered back with my hands alight. Looking up I saw long tongues of flame shooting all over the hut.

"Burning vapour filled the air, threatening to overpower me. I had to get out.

"Everything I touched seemed to burst into flames. Outside I flapped at the flames on my hands and arms, running aimlessly, till some of the men dashed to help."

Some ran for the fire extinguishers. Others called out the fire picket. The hut was a raging inferno with flames shooting 30 feet into the night sky."

Spotting his Commanding Officer and, too shocked to face him, Alf left them all to it. He was at the end of his tether.

"With my hands stinging and my head spinning, I stumbled into the next field. From afar, I watched the figures dancing round the ruins of my hut. Exhausted and distressed, I stood there sobbing.

"For three long years, I had worked myself night and day to a state of physical and mental exhaustion. Now, three days before my reprieve, I had caused this disaster - petrol vapour had been ignited by hot cinders in the stove - and lost practically everything I owned.

"Later, when the fire was out, I went to the medical orderly’s room to get my burns attended to. The orderly also gave me two blankets and I bedded down on the floor of his hut."

Three days later, reassured by Major Russell not to worry, he said goodbye and started the long journey home.

It was the first day of spring, the day the final German offensive started - and the beginning of the end of the war.

On his return to Blackburn, Alf and his wife, Eveline, later ran the Bute Cafe opposite the town hall, in the building that became the Lewis Textile Museum.

There, in May 1929, they received an accolade from Ramsey MacDonald, who was to become Prime Minister and was on the campaign trail during the General Election with Mary Agnes Hamilton, who became Blackburn's MP a few days later.

He left a note: 'On the way to Liverpool during the General Election of 1929, after a most delightful meal at the Bute Cafe.'

Alf and his wife were also responsible for the catering at Alexandra Meadows cricket ground in the late 1930s. They lived in Woodbine Road, Billinge.