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The Battle of Flowers is a short story which was first published in Popular Flying in October 1932 and was subsequently collected as the 12th chapter of the very first Biggles book The Camels are Coming, published in September 1932. The story was subsequently republished in The Modern Boy Issue 268, 25th March 1933 where it was given the title The Battle of the Flowers.

The story also appeared as the fifth short story of Biggles Pioneer Air Fighter published in 1954

Synopsis[]

Algy is proud of the sunflower bed which he has built for 266 Sqn. However, when it is destroyed by a German bomber, he decides to take retaliatory action.

Plot[]

(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read)

Characters[]

Aircraft[]

Places[]

Visited[]

  • 266 Squadron, Maranique
  • Aerodrome 29

Mentioned[]

Editorial Changes[]

Other Research Notes[]

  • Other R.F.C. / R.N.A.S. units mentioned: 55 Sqn had its wine store bombed some days before.

References to the past[]

Incongruities[]

  • See Chronology below for anachronisms.

Chronology[]

(see also table at Timeline of the Biggles Stories)

  • Algy is cheerfully planting flowers so he could not have been long at the front. This story is probably set just after his arrival, August or early September 1917.

Publication History[]

  • Popular Flying, Aug, 1932
  • The Camels are Coming, John Hamilton, 1932
  • The Modern Boy, Issue 268, 25th Mar 1933 (as The Battle of the Flowers)
  • Biggles in the Camels are Coming, Boys' Friend Library, 1938 (as The Battle of the Flowers)
  • Biggles Pioneer Air Fighter, Thames, 1954 and reprints
  • Biggles: The Camels are Coming, Red Fox, 1993 and subsequent reprints and editions
  • The Camels are Coming, Norman Wright, 2010

References[]

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