Algy Lacey: The Man Holding The Team Together

Last week on Alternate Biggles History we discussed the possibility of Biggles without Algy. The general consensus was that Biggles could not have survived WWI, let alone all his other subsequent adventures, without his best friend to watch his back. Algy is irreplaceable, and he and Biggles complement each other to such a degree that it is impossible to have one without the other. Whenever Biggles is in doubt about whether or not to go on an adventure, it is always Algy who holds the casting vote, and it is Algy he consults with about what plane to get, what equipment to buy, and so on.

But how about the Biggles team? Would they have stayed with Biggles had it not been for the easygoing, good-natured, and occasionally crazy Algy? I should think not!

Squadron Biggles
Image from http://arvee.com.my/prestashop/biggles/48-squadron-biggles.html

Take Ginger for instance. While Biggles is grateful to Ginger for helping him in Black Peril, it is Algy who gives Ginger his first flight, Algy who shows Ginger how to work the controls of the “Vandal”, and Algy who buys Ginger a flying cap and goggles. It is also Algy who subsides good-naturedly to Ginger’s accusation that he is like an elephant in the jungle, and Algy who muses to himself that he likes “the way that kid walks and the way he holds his head up”. In the meantime, Biggles is grousing about Ginger’s Americanisms, making remarks about his “found” egg, and hesitating as to whether or not to take him with them on the adventure. In fact, it is Algy who plays good cop to Biggles’ irritable and impatient cop. Would Biggles have kept Ginger on as a permanent companion had it not been for Algy? No. Would Ginger have stayed on under Biggles’ strict eye had it not been for Algy? No.

How about Bertie? We all know what Biggles is like whenever Bertie ventures any sort of idea. Remarks about Bertie being sheer bone from ear to ear can be found, in various forms, in quite a few of the air police books—sometimes several in one book alone! It is Algy who flies with Bertie during most of the air police era, Algy who foxtrots with Bertie in 666, and Algy who agrees to let Bertie come along in Fails to Return (I suspect that he deliberately concealed the fact that he had played tennis in Monaco just to give Bertie a chance—which, if you think about it, is the sort of thing Algy Lacey would do!) Would Biggles have put up with Bertie had it not been for Algy? No. Biggles is not one to suffer fools gladly at the best of times. Would Bertie have stayed on at Biggles’ side to endure years of verbal abuse had it not been for Algy? No.

Let’s move on to 666, the squadron put together to straighten out unruly officers using the force of Biggles’ personality. Look at how that turned out. In the first few pages of Spitfire Parade Biggles is already in shock, complaining that he has done nothing to “deserve this”, worried at how insane everyone else in the squadron will turn out to be, and snapping that crazy flying is not to be allowed in his squadron (really, Biggles! Remember all the crazy flying YOU used to do???!!) By contrast Algy is in turn bored, slightly amused, and vaguely interested at everything that is happening, even going so far as to laugh when Tug is being insubordinate to Biggles at their first meeting. Algy no doubt was the one who smoothed over feathers ruffled by the force of Biggles’ personality—the person who actually held 666 together despite the craziness and unruliness...

♥♥♥Algy Lacey♥♥♥