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Walmer Airfield Memorial April 1917- October 1918

WE PRAY YOU REMEMBER IN THE LORD THESE GALLANT AIRMEN

WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN FRANCE AND WHO WERE STATIONED

AT THIS AERODROME APRIL 1917 OCTOBER 1918 The above is the main inscription on the Walmer Airfield Memorial which was presented by Countess Beauchamp on Saturday 7 August 1920. In 1917 Walmer Airfield was opened at Hawkshill Common on the southern outskirts of Walmer, Kent, in the direction of the parish of Kingsdown. In some data sources it is sometimes referred to as Kingsdown Aerodrome. It was initially used by the Royal Naval Air Service, but when the Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918 with the amalgamation of the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps, it became a Royal Air Force Aerodrome and called R.A.F. Walmer. With the cessation of the hostilities it was closed after the Great War. In a different guise it was again put to use by the Royal Air Force for a number of years during the Second World War. The memorial was designed and executed by the Warham Guild of Marget Street, London, and the base, fencing and fixing were carried out by local builders Messrs. G.H. Denne and Son of Queen Street, Deal, Kent. The following extract was published in the East Kent Mercury:-"The

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memorial stands on a site given by Mr. F. W. Leith in a field forming part of Hawk's Hill Farm, in the occupation of Mr. C. May, which was used for the purposes of the air station during the war. It is in a railed enclosure facing the Downs, over which roadstead the gallant airmen so often flew in the course of their duty to protect the shipping in this vitally important examination anchorage from air attacks by the Germans. It was a beautiful August evening, the rays of the setting sun casting their glow on the wooded grounds of Walmer Castle, and on the ripe grain of the cornfields in Walmer's charming Glen, as a representative company assembled for the dedication of the memorial. From the Castle grounds a procession made its way across Hawks' Hill to the site of the memorial. A cross-bearer walked first followed by two robed clergy, the Chaplain-in-Chief; Royal Air Force, and the Vicar of Walmer, Rev. N. C. W. Radcliffe, D.D. Earl Beauchamp, in the uniform of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, was with Air-Commodore C. L. Lambe, C.M.G., D.S.O. who unveiled the memorial. On reaching the site the Air Commodore was received with the 'general salute' by a smart guard-of-honour furnished by the 5th Cadet Battalion Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, under the command of Colonel C. E. Bartholomew, O.B.E., and Captain Trevarthen, Adjutant. Within the railings of the memorial the clergy, the Lord Warden and Air Commodore Lambe took their stand for the brief but very impressive service. It was an interesting coincidence that as the words of the lesson, 'and as a ship that passeth over the waves of the water' were being read, a destroyer came into view and passed through the Downs in front of the memorial." The area of the former airfield is now a public common which is owned and maintained by Walmer Parish Council. Unfortunately whilst carrying out the following brief transcriptions it was revealed that the memorial, like numerous other forms of war rememberance appears to have several mistakes on it of various kinds, primarily being in the form of minor date and rank errors. It will also be noticed when viewing the following brief commemorations, that a number of the officers of the Royal Naval Air Service, and the Royal Air Force who are commemorated on the Walmer Airfield Memorial, lost their lives, are at rest in Belgium as opposed to France. Mention is made of same because like many other similar forms of rememberance post the Great War, France has been used to indicate their place of deaths to embrace all of the Western Front. In much the same way as that error, some of those commemorated died in the United Kingdom, and also in Egypt. Those fliers, who are commemorated on the memorial, are indicative of the part played by the forces from the former British Empire countries around the world during the Great War, including aircrew officers from Great Britain, Australia, Canada, and South Africa. It would be very remiss to not make mention of the fact that whilst at first glance the former aerodrome at Walmer was of little significance, that is far from the truth. It was the home station of 8 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service which was later absorbed into the new Royal Air Force on its creation on 1 April 1918, and later became 208 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Affectionately and proudly, No. 8 Squadron was known and referred to as ‘Naval Eight’ by its members, and was born when its original three Flights (eighteen aircraft) were detached by the Admiralty from duties with the Dover Patrol over the English Channel, and

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attached for ‘temporary duty’ with the British Expeditionary Force in France, during the of the Battle of the Somme in October 1916. Mention should also be made of the fact that the original squadron was entirely composed of aviators who were volunteers, and its élan and spirit-de-corps were high. The experiment of loaning a Naval Air Squadron for duties on land was so successful that four further Royal Naval Air Service squadrons then followed 8 (Naval) Squadrons lead in 1916, and in so doing also helped pave the way the way leading up to the creation of the Royal Air Force. Based at the airfield at Mont St. Eloi, which is a village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, approximately five miles north-west of the town of Arras, the squadron was equipped with Sopwith aircraft, the ‘Pup,’ the ‘Camel,’ and the ‘Snipe,’ in addition to the Sopwith machines the pilots also flew French Nieuport Scouts. 8 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service spent two years involved in some of the fiercest air fighting on the Western Front. As a fighting unit in the heat of the action, the squadron as a Royal Naval Air Service formation, and in its later guise as part of the Royal Air Force, suffered a heavy toll of casualties. On numerous occasions, in addition to coming into contact (and combat) with less well known enemy aerial formations, ‘Naval Eight’ clashed with several elite enemy Jasta units, and frequently faced German pilots that have been recorded in history as ‘aces.’ Although the aerial confrontations with enemy fliers cost the squadron dear, frequently its pilots came off best even when outnumbered, including when engaged in combat with some of the best pilots of the German Air Service. It should be noted that those casualties who are commemorated on the Walmer Airfield Memorial, are possibly not in fact all of those members of ‘Naval Eight’ that had served at the airfield, who subsequently lost their lives in the Great War. By using the superb search engine that has been painstakingly created by Geoff Sullivan, the transcriber of the following brief tributes quickly located an additional 11 casualties attributed to having been members of the squadron. It would seem likely that amongst the additional casualties found, some may have served at Walmer Airfield Memorial prior to the move to France in 1916. Geoffrey Rhodes Bromet, (later Air Vice-Marshal Sir Geoffrey Rhodes Bromet K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O.), who had a long and remarkable career, being one of the pioneering naval officers who joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1914, became the first commanding officer of Naval Eight when, in 1916, he formed the Squadron to join forces with the Royal Flying Corps in France. After service on the Western Front, the squadron returned to its former airfield on 3 March 1918, at which time its personnel thought that their time on active service during the conflict was at end. Primarily as the direct result of the German Spring Offensive 1918 which commenced on 21 March, the squadrons stay at Walmer was of less than a month’s duration, as it was recalled for active service, and on 30 March the first of its aircraft touched down at Tetegem, Nord, France. Sir Geoffrey Bromet formed the Naval Eight/208 Squadron Association in 1919, and he was its President for two long periods until his death at the age of 93, in November 1983. The transcriber of these brief commemorations had the pleasure of meeting and conversing with Sir Geoffrey on a number of occasions, the first of which doubtless he would have recalled for the rest of his life, I most certainly will. On 1 June 1965, Sir Geoffrey married Air Commandant Dame Jean

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Lena Annette "Billy" Conan Doyle C.B.E. (1912-1997), who was the daughter of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and the former Director of the Women's Royal Air Force. It was a few years prior to the marriage of Sir Geoffrey and Dame Jean, that Sir Geoffrey and I ‘met’ when our vehicles collided in the High Street, New Romney, Kent, it being shortly after the death of his late wife Ida. As I helplessly watched Sir Geoffrey’s dark green Ford Cortina bounce off my lorry, and hit a number of parked cars I fully expected him to be injured or worse, but thankfully he was only shaken. Sir Geoffrey’s main concern as we helped him from his wrecked car was for my well being, and at which time he was most apologetic for causing the accident. As details were exchanged and I was writing down his name, I made a comment along the lines of was he aware that he had he same name as a distinguished pilot of the Great War. With a wry smile Sir Geoffrey handed me his card, saying “this will save you writing down my details young man.” After thanking him, and glancing at the card of Air Vice-Marshal Sir Geoffrey Rhodes Bromet K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., I made some sort of pathetic inane comment re not recognizing him, to which in an attempt to probably spare my blushes, he replied something along the lines of there was no reason why I should have recognised him. When I said to him that I had seen numerous photographs of him taken during his time in the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force and should have recognised him, Sir Geoffrey said that he was “quite a bit older now and probably had a few more wrinkles.” Before we parted company, the Air Vice-Marshal asked me how was it that somebody my age would have been aware of his service in the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Air Force, and seemed to be taken aback when I told him of my interest in military history. Although I suffered no injuries at all, later that evening I received a telephone from Sir Geoffrey to ask if I was alright, prior to which he had written a lengthy, comprehensive letter complete with detailed diagrams to my employer, it being a full admission that the accident had been entirely his fault. About three weeks later I received a number of books from Sir Geoffrey which he thought would be of interest to me, one of which he had signed “Crasher Bromet.” A true officer and most certainly a gentleman, whose courtesy, concern and generosity made it quite hard for me to equate with his heroic exploits and daring-do, during the Great War. At the end of the brief tributes to the casualties who are commemorated on the Walmer Airfield Memorial, are other deaths to No. 8 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, and No. 208 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Doubtless there are also other casualties to the same squadrons which the transcriber has not yet accessed during other researches, which would have also been included here. If and when others are located they will in due course also be added to the additional list of the squadrons’ casualties. On Saturday 7 August 2010, Leigh M. Hogben and the transcriber were pleasantly surprised to find that with the passing of exactly ninety years, the memorial and the surrounding area were in remarkably good condition, more so when bearing in mind its position. It has since been learned that in November 2005, members of the South Foreland Rotary Club had helped Walmer Parish Council to clean up, replant and repaint the Aviators' Memorial at the former Walmer Airfield, which as well as being clearly very commendable, probably saved this important memorial.

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Roll of Honour April 1917- October 1918

ARMSTRONG, FREDERICK ‘Army’ CARR. D.S.C. Flight Commander. 3 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Monday 25 March 1918. Aged 20. Born Toronto, Ontario, Canada 13 June 1896. Youngest son of Fred and Emily Armstrong. Commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France, and on page 583 of the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance. Frederick is also commemorated on an impressive private memorial plaque, which is located in The Church of the Redeemer, at 162, Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Frederick, who had the nickname ‘Army,’ joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1915 and initially served with 3 Wing prior to being posted to 3 (Naval) Squadron at Dunkirk in February 1917. On 6 April 1917 Frederick scored the first of his five victories whilst flying a Sopwith Pup aircraft. In July 1917 Frederick was placed in command of ‘C’ Flight, 3 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Between 16 September 1917 and the day before his death, he was credited with shooting down 8 enemy aircraft, the last of which was a Albatros DV on Sunday 25 March 1918, over Vaux which was a ‘shared kill’ with other pilots, one of whom was South African Flight Lieutenant Edwin Tufnell Hayne, who is one of the other casualties commemorated on the Walmer Airfield Memorial. Frederick was killed in action after strafing enemy trenches, when his Sopwith Camel (B7218) was shot down in flames near Ervillers which is a commune of northern France, in the Pas de Calais département. By the time of his death Frederick had claimed 15 victories in aerial combat, and credited with 13 confirmed ‘kills.’ Supplement to the London Gazette, appertaing to the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Frederick, dated 30 November 1917 reads: - “In recognition of his services with a Wing of the R.N.A.S. at Dunkirk between February and September, 1917. He has destroyed several hostile machines, and has led his flight with very great skill and gallantry.” In addition to the award of the Distinguished Service Cross, Frederick was also awarded the Croix de Guerre (France). Hauptmann (Captain) Adolf Ritter von Tutschek of Jasta 12 had mistakenly thought that he had shot down Frederick’s Sopwith Pup on 10 May 1917, but had wrongly identified the aircraft that he had shot down on that occasion. Adolf Ritter von Tutschek was shot down and killed by an S.E.5a aircraft, flown by the South African ace Harold Redler near Bancourt on 15 March 1918.

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Although he is commemorated as F.E. BAYLEY on the former Walmer Airfield Memorial, the date of death shown on it exactly matches that of the following casualty, who is briefly commemorated below. BAYLEY, FREDERICK GORDON. D.F.C. Lieutenant. 204 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Wednesday 23 October 1918. Aged 23. Born 1 March 1895. Buried Cement House Cemetery, Langemark, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave Ref: XX. A. 8. Frederick was killed in action above Termonde, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium, whilst taking part in a high offensive patrol which was comprised of Sopwith Camel’s that had taken off from their base at 0830 hours, at which time Frederick was flying machine (No. E4420). Leading the patrol was 27 year old Captain Thomas Walter Nash D.F.C. from Littlehampton, Sussex, flying Sopwith Camel No. D9608), who was also killed and is buried in grave XX. A. 9 (next to Frederick) at Cement House Cemetery, Langemark, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. A total of five 204 Squadron, Royal Air Force aircraft were lost when the patrol was involved in aerial combat with twelve enemy aircraft of Marinefeldjasta 1, which had taken off from their base at Aertrycke. In addition to Frederick Bayley and Thomas Nash, also killed were Lieutenant Osbourne J. Orr D.F.C. flying machine (No. D9613), from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Sergeant Cecil M A Mahon flying machine (No. D8223), and 2nd Lieutenant G. Sutcliffe of the United States Air Service flying machine (No.F3101). Two of the German pilots appear to have been credited with shooting down the 204 Squadron, Royal Air Force aircraft, they being Vizeflugmeister (Aviation Chief Petty Officer) Alexandre Zenses, and the Commanding Officer of Marine-Feldjasta 1, Oberleutnant zur See (Naval Lieutenant) Gotthard Sachsenberg. In January 1919 Gotthard Sachsenberg formed and led the large Freikorps formation Kampfgeschwader Sachsenberg fighting in the Baltic States until December 1919. In later life he worked for the Junkers Aircraft Company, and held a number of important positions within the company. He died at Bremen, Germany on 23 August 1961, aged 69. Gotthard Sachsenberg was related to the Second World War Luftwaffe ‘ace’ Heinz Sachsenberg. Anybody viewing these brief commemorations will doubtless be aware that we are actively engaged in trying to help redress the wrong of those from Kent (and elsewhere), who are numbered amongst the thousands of Commonwealth casualties of both world wars that are still not commemorated by the CWGC. It was noted that in all the books and other data sources etcetera accessed, that Sergeant Mahon (above) is always shown with just his initials C.M.A., and as such initially appeared to have been a non commemoration. Born in Dublin, Ireland on 25 June 1894, he was the son of Luke and Helen Marcella Alen-Mahon, of South Africa, and the Husband of Betty Alen-Mahon of The Rubies, Links Road, Tooting, London. As Sergeant, 50487, Cecil Maurice Alen-Mahon, aged 24, he is commemorated by the CWGC, and is the sole Commonwealth casualty buried at Baarle Churchyard, Ghent, Belgium. Cecil obtained his Royal Aero Club Aviators Certificate on 29 November 1916, at which time his home address was 57, Church Street, Isleworth, Middlesex.

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BUCKLEY, ERIC JAMES KERSHAW. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. No.4 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. (Dunkirk). Died Friday 28 September 1917. Aged 22. Born Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales 15 April 1895. Only son of Charlotte Buckley (née Crockford) of 6, Dry Hill Park Road, Tonbridge, Kent, and the late James Kershaw Buckley of Rochdale, Lancashire. Buried Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern Cemetery, Zeeland, Netherlands. Grave Ref: II. 2. 4. Commemorated on the Tenby, Pembrokeshire civic war memorial, and in the Dover Patrol Book of Rememberance, at the parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Tonbridge, Kent. At the time of the 1901 census, Eric resided with his widowed mother at 3, Langdon Villas, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Eric was a recipient of the Cross of the Order of the Crown of Belgium, and of the Croix de Guerre (Belgium). Educated initially at Yardley Court School, Tonbridge, Kent, which was followed by going to Tonbridge School, Kent, from September 1909 to July 1914 where he was a Day Boy. After Tonbridge he went up to Queen’s College Cambridge, where he was studying with a view to taking up Holy Orders. Whilst at Queen’s, Eric worked with the troops on behalf of the Y.M.C.A., but after a while he felt that he was not contributing enough to the war effort, which led to him enlisting in the Royal Naval Air Service as a Temporary Flight Sub-Lieutenant on 16 July 1916. Early in 1917 Eric obtained his Royal Aero Club Flying Certificate, and confirmation of his rank as a Flight Sub-Lieutenant appeared in the London Gazette dated 13 March 1917. In May 1917 Eric was posted to France, where on his first patrol he shot down an enemy two-seater aircraft. In August 1917 Eric was flying at 15,000 feet when he spotted and attacked an enemy scout aircraft which he shot down approximately 5 miles North-East of Dixmude, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, which crashed in the sea. Whilst carrying out the above attack, Eric’s machine stalled at about 5,000 feet and he and his aircraft like his opponent also ended up in the sea, but fortunately Eric and his machine were rescued by a French destroyer. At the beginning of September 1917 Eric returned to his home at Tonbridge on eight days leave. On 21 September Eric

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had returned to England to collect a new aircraft and on that occasion at 1800 hours he had flown over his old school at Tonbridge, it being the first day of term, and had circled over the park. On the day that he lost his life, Eric had been flying in a formation at 15,000 feet over the English Channel, when his Sopwith Camel was involved in a mid-air collision with another aircraft which resulted in both machines crashing into the sea off the coast of Nieuport, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Although an intensive search was mounted by aircraft and boats, no trace was found of either of the downed pilots. Six weeks after the accident, Eric’s body was washed up in Holland and recovered from the sea, and was initially buried at Renesse, near the port of Fushing, Zeeland, Netherlands. It was a much grander occasion when Eric was re-interred at Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern Cemetery, Zeeland, Netherlands on 2 June 1918 when he was laid to rest with full military honours, in the presence of the British and Belgium Consuls, several Dutch officers and a host of other people including members of the local populace. Eric was the holder of the Cross of the Order of the Crown of Belgium, and the Croix de Guerre (Belgium). Thanks are due to Susan F. for kindly providing the photograph of Eric’s commemoration, in the Great War Book of Rememberance at the parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Tonbridge, Kent

EDWARDS, STEARNE TIGHE. D.S.C. & Bar. Captain. 209 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Friday 22 November 1918. Aged 24. Born Franktown, Ontario, Canada 13 February 1893. Son of the late Mr. E.P. Edwards and Mrs. Annie Caroline Edwards of Carlton Place, Ontario, Canada. Buried Tadcaster Cemetery, Yorkshire. Grave Ref: B4. G. 25. Commemorated on page 586 of the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance. Stearne was educated at public and high schools, after which he became a Civil Engineer. At the start of the Great War Stearne was working at Port Nelson, Hudson Bay, Manitoba, Canada, from where he walked 200 miles to a railway station to get a train bound for home, and to enable him to enlist for military service. After spending a few days with his mother and his brother Edward at Carlton Place, Ontario, Stearne then made his way to Ottawa to enlist there. At his own expense Stearne obtained his Aero Club of America, Pilots Certificate on 11 October 1915, at the Wright Aviation School, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A., flying a

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Wright Biplane. Having successfully obtained his certificate, he joined the Royal Naval Air Service on 31 October 1915. Initially Stearne had served in 3 Wing, Royal Naval Air Service engaged on flying operations until February 1917. On 9 March 1917 he then joined the 11 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, before being posted to 6 (Naval) Squadron on 19 April 1917; when 6 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service was disbanded in July 1917, Stearne was transferred to the 9 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. On 30 January 1918 he became a flight commander. Totally exhausted, Stearne eventually suffering a nervous breakdown on 23 May 1918 which was directly attributed to his war service, and was hospitalized. Following his recovery he became a flight instructor, but tragically on 12 November 1918 having survived his time in combat over the Western Front he was injured in a flying accident and succumbed to his injuries ten days later. Supplement to the London Gazette, dated 2 November 1917 reads:- “Act. Flt Cdr. Stearne Tighe Edwards, R.N.A.S. In recognition of his services on the following occasions: - On the 3rd September, 1917, with his flight he attacked a two-seater Aviatik. The enemy machine was observed to go down in a vertical nose dive, and the enemy observer was seen to collapse in the cockpit. On the 21st September, 1917, he drove a two-seater enemy machine down out of control. On the 23rd September, 1917, he attacked an Albatross scout, which crashed into the sea. On the same date he attacked three Albatross scouts. One got on the tail of another officer's machine at very close range, shooting him up very badly. Flt. Cdr. Edwards attacked him from above, and the enemy machine turned on its back and went down in a vertical dive. He followed the enemy machine down to 8,000 feet, when its wings came off, and it fell to the ground.” Supplement to the London Gazette, dated 21 June 1918 reads: - “Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Stearne Tighe Edwards, D.S.C., R.A.F. For conspicuous bravery and most brilliant leadership of fighting patrols against enemy aircraft. On 2 May 1918, whilst leading a patrol of four scouts, he encountered a hostile formation of eight enemy scouts and drove down one enemy machine completely out of control. Soon afterwards, he engaged another formation of six enemy scouts, driving down one to its destruction whilst his patrol accounted for another. He only broke off the fight owing to lack of ammunition. He has destroyed or driven down out of control many enemy machines since he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and has at all times shown the greatest gallantry and a fine offensive spirit.” Stearne grew up at Carlton Place, Ontario, Canada, where amongst his friends had been future Canadian ‘aces’ Arthur ‘Roy’ Brown D.S.C. & Bar, and Daniel Murray Bayne Galbraith D.S.C. & Bar. Until fairly recent times, ‘Roy’ Brown was credited with shooting down Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the legendary ‘Red Barron’ on Sunday 21 April 1918, but the wonders of modern technology have now proved to some extent that, as was one of the claims back in 1918, Manfred von Richthofen was shot down and killed by a single shot fired by an Australian soldier on the ground. Daniel Gilbraith was the first pilot of Stearns squadron to be officially credited with a victory on 9 November 1916, it being number four of his six ‘kills.’ After returning to England for rest, Daniel became flying instructor, and later participated in anti-submarine operations in Italy during 1918. Having

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survived the Great War he was tragically killed in an automobile accident in Yorkshire on 29 March 1921, while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

GREENE, JOHN EDMUND. D.F.C. Captain. 213 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Monday 14 October 1918. Aged 27. Born Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 2 July 1894. Son of Loftus John Greene and Frances Jane Greene of 9926, 112th Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Buried Coxyde Military Cemetery, Koksijde, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave Ref: II. K. 9. Commemorated on page 587 of the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance. John obtained his Flying Certificate on 19 December 1916 at the Curtiss School, Toronto, Canada, flying a Curtiss Biplane. At the time of obtaining his Flying Certificate, John’s address was 137 Sherbrooke Street, Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. John joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1916. Toward the end of 1917 he was posted to 13 (Naval Squadron), Royal Naval Air Service, and during the time that the squadron was still part of the Royal Naval Air Service he scored 3 of his 15 victories flying Sopwith Camel aircraft. On the day that the Royal Air Force was formed, and his squadron was re-named 213 Squadron, John shot down an enemy Seaplane (DES) at Zeebrugge, Belgium at about 1430 hours. He was shot down by 27 year old Leutnant, Carl "Charly" Degelow of Jasta 40, on Friday 4 October 1918, to the North-West of Roulers, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Fortunately John survived his encounter with Carl Degelow, but ten days later he was killed in action when he was shot down over the Belgian lines and his body was buried at the crash site. Miraculously Carl Degelow survived the Great War,

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during which time he shot down 30 aircraft, John’s Sopwith Camel being victory 23, and he was the last German pilot of the Great War to be awarded the Pour le Mérite. Carl Degelow later served as a Major in the Luftwaffe during the Second World War, and again survived. Aged 79, he died in Hamburg on 9 November 1970. Following the introduction of the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Cross, Distinguished Flying Medal, and Air Force Medal into the honours system, the first recipients of the awards were announced in the London Gazette dated 3 June 1918. Amongst the recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross announced on that date was the then Lieutenant John Edmund Greene. It would appear that John’s father, mother, and some of his siblings were Irish, as at the time of the 1881 Canadian census a family matching their Christian names and surname resided at Bastard & Burgess South, Leeds South, Ontario.

HAYNE, EDWIN TUFNELL. D.S.C., D.F.C. Captain. Royal Air Force. Died Monday 28 April 1919. Born Johannesburg, South Africa 28 May 1895. Son of Tufnell Ward Hayne and Emily Ethel Hayne of Kerry Road, Park View, Johannesburg, South Africa. Buried Castle Bromwich (SS. Mary and Margaret) Churchyard, Warwickshire. Commemorated on the King Edward VII School, Johannesburg, South Africa, Great War Roll of Honour, and on the South African War Memorial, Delville Wood, Longueval, Somme, France. Edwin joined the Royal Naval Air Service on Wednesday 5 July 1916, and in 1917 was posted as a pilot to 3 Naval Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service which later became 203 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Edwin scored his first victory on Wednesday 22 August 1917, when at 1550 hours he shot down an Albatros D.V. to the south of Middelkerke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. By the end of the hostilities, Edwin had achieved a total of 15 aerial combat victories, all of which were with Sopwith Camel’s, eight of his ‘kills’ were whilst flying his ‘faithful’ machine No. D3376. In July 1918 his superiors took the decision that Edwin

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should be rested, probably based on the number of combat hours flown by that time. On Monday 28 April 1919, Edwin was killed in a crash while flying a Bristol Fighter at Castle Bromwich Aerodrome, Warwickshire. Shortly after take-off the engine of the Bristol Fighter stalled, and eyewitness reports stated that Edwin had attempted to return to the aerodrome, but that his stricken aircraft had rapidly plunged to earth. Prior the war Edwin had attended the King Edward VII School, Johannesburg, of the 474 Old Edwardians who are known to have gone on active service during the years of the Great War, 66 of their number did not return having all made the ultimate sacrifice. Supplement to the London Gazette, dated 30 November 1917 appertaining to the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to the then Flight Sub-Lieutenant Edwin R.N.A.S. reads:- In recognition of his services with a Wing of the R.N.A.S. at Dunkirk between March and September, 1917. He has had numerous engagements with enemy aircraft and on the 16th August, 1917, attacked an enemy aerodrome and placed a whole flight of machines out of action by machine-gun fire. During a flight of over two hours, during which time he attacked transport and railways, he never exceeded a height of 1,000 feet. Supplement to the London Gazette, dated 21 September 1918 appertaining to the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to the then Lieutenant (Honorary Captain) Edwin R.A.F. reads: - During the recent enemy offensive this officer carried out forty-eight special missions. Flying at extremely low altitudes he has inflicted heavy casualties on massed troops and transport. In addition he has accounted for ten enemy machines, destroying three and driving down seven out of control; in these encounters he has never hesitated to engage the enemy, however superior in numbers. On one occasion he observed ten hostile aeroplanes harassing three Dolphins; he attacked three of the enemy, driving one down in flames.

HICKEY, CHARLES ROBERT REEVES. D.F.C. & Bar. Captain. 204th Squadron, 61st Wing, Royal Air Force. Died Thursday 3 October 1918. Aged 21. Born French Creek, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada 10 September 1897. Enlisted Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 17 March 1916. Resided Parksville, British Columbia, Canada.

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Son of Major Robert H. F. Hickey (11th Canadian Mounted Rifles) and Charlotte E. Hickey (née Reeves) of Parksville, British Columbia, Canada. Buried Coxyde Military Cemetery, Koksijde, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave Ref: II. K. 12. Commemorated on page 588 of the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance, and at St. Anne’s Anglican Church, Parksville, British Columbia, Canada. Charles was a Farmer and a bachelor who like his father; had initially served with the 11th Canadian Mounted Rifles before he transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service. Following his flying training Charles was posted to 4 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service in August 1917. A Sopwith Camel pilot, he scored 4 victories before the Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918, the last of these four being a shared ‘kill’ with other pilots, one of whom was Lieutenant Frederick Gordon Bayley, who is one of the other casualties commemorated on the Walmer Airfield memorial. On 21 April 1918, Charles forced down a Rumpler C near Wulpen and after landing beside it, was attempting to protect his prize from Belgian citizens when the German aircraft exploded killing several bystanders and injuring Charles. A month later, he was back in action, scoring 12 more victories before he was killed in a mid-air collision with another Sopwith Camel which was flown by his wing-man whilst diving out of the clouds during an attack on enemy aircraft. Charles’s Distinguished Flying Cross citation, London Gazette dated 3 August 1918 reads: - “He has been engaged in numerous air battles with marked success during a period of twelve months. On a recent occasion, he flew to the assistance of one of our machines which was being pressed by two enemy machines and succeeded in destroying one of them.” Citation for the Bar of Charles’s Distinguished Flying Cross in the London Gazette, dated 2 November 1918 reads: - “A very determined air fighter who has destroyed seven enemy machines and brought down nine completely out of control during the past three months. His skill and initiative as a flight commander have made his flight very successful. Last month he destroyed two machines and brought down two more out of control in one day, and the remainder of his flight, at the same time succeeded in dispersing several more enemy aircraft without sustaining any casualties.” Charles was also recommended for the award of the Distinguished Service Order. HILL, R.A.S. Flight Lieutenant. Died 12 October 1919. No trace as commemorated on the memorial, but is possibly the following Royal Air Force officer, and former Royal Naval Air Service pilot whose photograph and brief details are shown below. More in-depth research will have to be carried out on this casualty as the memorial details might be correct, although it was noted that the memorial does contain a number of significant errors. If this casualty has been correctly commemorated on the memorial it would mean that the officer might be numbered amongst the thousands of the British Commonwealth war dead of both the world wars, who are still not officially commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It is probably of significance that 204 Squadron, Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918 at Bray Dunes near

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Dunkerque (Dunkirk) on the birth of the R.A.F. It was formed from 4 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. For the remainder of the war it carried out fighter and ground attack missions on the Western Front.

HILL, RICHARD ALEXANDER CAWTHORNE. Lieutenant. 'A' Flight, 204 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Monday 12 August 1918. Aged 20. Born Poole Court, Yate, Bristol, Gloucestershire 24 May 1897. Son of Charles Cawthorne Hill J.P. and Gertrude Isabella Hill (née Jones- Mortimer) of Claverton Manor, Bath, Somerset. Commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France, and on the Durnford School Great War memorial plaque, which is located in the parish church of St. George, Langton Matravers, Dorset, also on the Yate, Bristol, Gloucestershire, civic war memorial. At the time of the 1901 census, the Hill family resided at Poole Court, Yate, Bristol, Gloucestershire. Head of the house was 42 year old Clifton, Bristol, Gloucestershire native Charles Cawthorne Hill, who was recorded by the census enumerator as being a local Justice of the Peace. Richard formerly served in the Somerset Light Infantry. He obtained his Royal Aero Club Flying Certificate on Friday 6 April 1917 at the Royal Naval Air Station, Cranwell, Lincolnshire, flying a Sopwith Biplane. Richard was killed in action whilst commanding 'A' Flight of his squadron. On the day that Richard lost his life the German naval fliers of Seefrontstaffeln 2, Marine-Feldjasta 1, and Marine-Feldjasta 2, between them destroyed 11 British and American aircraft. Flugmaat (Aviation Petty Officer) Clemens Kähler of Seefrontstaffeln 2, claimed to have shot down a Sopwith Camel of 204 Squadron, R.A.F. at 1129 hours over Wenduine, it being his second victory, and Leutnant (Lieutenant) R. Spiess of the same unit claimed to have shot down another Sopwith Camel of 204 Squadron, R.A.F. over Middelkerke at 1140 hours to claim his third victory. Unfortunately it has not been possible to ascertain for inclusion here, which of the two Seefrontstaffeln 2 pilots it was that actually shot down Richard. Lieutenant S.C.J. Akin, who was the other

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pilot of Richard’s squadron that was shot down by the two Seefrontstaffeln 2 pilots fortunately survived the day’s events, but was captured.

LITTLE, ROBERT ALEXANDER. D.S.O. & Bar, D.S.C. & Bar. Flight Commander 203 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Monday 27 May 1918. Aged 22. Born Hawthorne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 19 July 1895. Son of James Little of 263, Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Husband of Vera Gertrude Little (née Field) of “Centeway,” 263 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia. Buried Wavans British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave D. 7. In addition to having a number of forms of commemorations in his native Australia, Robert is also commemorated on a Great War memorial plaque which is located in the parish church of St. Margaret of Antioch, St. Margaret at Cliffe, Dover, Kent. Robert had resided at 113, Punt Road, Windsor, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Having sailed at his own expense from Melbourne, Australia to England “Bob” Little joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1915, and he obtained his Royal Aero Club Flying Certificate on Wednesday 27 October 1915, at the London and Provincial Flying School, Hendon, Middlesex, flying an L&P Biplane. In June 1916 Robert was posted to Dunkirk, and joined the 8th (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service in October 1916, at which time it was equipped with Sopwith Pups. On 1 November he scored his first aerial victory, rising to 3 by the end of 1916. In March 1917 he was credited with nine enemy aircraft shot down; and he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant in April. Robert’s tally of victories started to rapidly increase when the squadron converted to Sopwith Triplanes, with eight victories each in April and May; four in June; and fourteen in July 1917 when he began flying a Sopwith Camel. Robert Little was nicknamed Rikki by his squadron mates, after the cobra killing mongoose Rikki-Tikki-Tavi in the Rudyard Kipling stories. By August 1917 he was stationed in Kent for some well deserved and doubtless welcome rest having by that time scored an impressive 37 victories in aerial combat. Robert’s successes and gallantry resulted in him being

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awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the Distinguished Service Cross and Bar, and the Croix de Guerre (France); adding a Bar to his D.S.O in September, and promotion to Flight Commander in January 1918. Credited with 47 victories over enemy pilots, “Bob” Little was Australia’s highest scoring “ace,” during the Great War. He died after attacking a German Gotha bomber at night, near Noeux-les-Mines, Pas de Calais, France and being forced to land, unfortunately before assistance came he bled to death from a bullet wound to his groin. Robert ranks eighth of all the British Commonwealth aces, and fourteenth of all aces from both sides during the Great War. On at least two well documented occasions (but probably more), Robert was involved in dog-fights when his squadron had engaged enemy formations that had included Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the legendary ‘Red Barron’ who was Germanys highest scoring fighter ace of the Great War. On 4 January 1917, Manfred von Richthofen scored number 16 of his 80 victories, it being a Sopwith Pup N5193 of the 8 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service which was flown by a 33 year old Canadian, Flight Lieutenant Allan Switzer Todd who was killed. Having witnessed the destruction of the Sopwith Pup, which was the last victory by Manfred von Richthofen whilst serving in Jasta 2 ‘Boelcke,’ and Robert later submitted a report on what he had seen. On 29 April 1917, aircraft of 1 and 8 (Naval) Squadrons, Royal Naval Air Service were attacked by enemy aircraft of Jasta 11, during the attack it was the six aircraft of 8 (Naval) Squadron that bore the brunt of the attack. Robert being one of the pilots on Sunday 29 April 1917, during the engagement 27 year old Canadian, Flight Sub-Lieutenant Albert Edward Cuzner was shot down by Manfred von Richthofen and was killed. Major (later Air Vice Marshal) Raymond R. Collishaw, who was Robert’s Commanding Officer in the 3rd (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service wrote of him thus: “Little had an outstanding character. Bold, aggressive and courageous yet he was gentle and kindly, his example was a tribute to the high standards of Australian manhood.” Robert had the unenviable reputation of being a clumsy flyer, and on a number of occasions he had crashed on landing, but was fearless and a crack shot in aerial combat. He would gain the element of surprise by attacking large enemy formations with a reckless courage, having more than once actually hit an enemy aircraft during his attempts to close for the kill. Robert is known to have frequently practiced with pistol and rifle firing at moving targets, thereby honing his skills as a marksman when he was not flying. Although Robert was much respected by his peers and was very well liked and also known and remembered for his good sense of humour, however, a number of post Great war commentators have referred to him as being something of a loner, and a dedicated predator of the skies, rather than for being a leader of men. Raymond Collishaw and Robert Little were the Royal Naval Air Service’s top scoring Sopwith Triplane pilots of the Great War with 34 and 24 ‘kills’ respectively from their totals of 60 and 47. ‘Bob’ Little’s Sopwith Pup (No. N5182) is on display at the Royal Air Force Museum, Grahame Park Way, Hendon, London, NW9 5LL.

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MANUEL, JOHN ‘Jack’ GERALD. D.S.C., D.F.C. Captain. 210 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Monday 10 June 1918. Aged 25. Born Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 29 March 1893. Enlisted Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 27 November 1914. Resided Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Son of George and Edith Manuel of 9635, 105th Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Buried Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois Grenier, Nord, France. Grave Ref: N. 7. Commemorated on page 591 of the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance. At the time of his army enlistment as Gunner 807 in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on Friday 27 November 1914, John stated that he was employed as a Civil Engineer, and that he had previous military service having served as a member of the 19th Alberta Dragoons. The Alberta Dragoons was a Canadian Militia cavalry regiment, with its headquarters at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and with squadrons at Edmonton and Vegreville. Initially John served in the 5th Canadian Howitzer Brigade at Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, and remained on its strength when a move was made from Canada to England. In England John was transferred to the 22nd Howitzer Battery, 6th Canadian Howitzer Brigade, and went to France with his battery in January. For his actions in the 2nd Canadian Division at St. Eloi during March and April 1916, John was Mentioned in Despatches. On Saturday 4 November 1916, at which time John was Bombadier fighting on the Somme, he was wounded in his back and arm which necessitated his evacuation back from France to England. It was whilst he was recovering from his wounds at the Norfolk War Hospital, Norwich; John was offered the chance to be commissioned in the artillery. Fully recovered from his Somme wounding, on Sunday 4 March 1917 John was transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service as a Flight Sub-Lieutenant (on probation), and after training was posted to 10 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service on Sunday 12 August 1917. John was wounded again on Wednesday 8 May 1918, when he fired a Very pistol which exploded in his hand, and which blew out the left side of his aircrafts cockpit. Upon recovering he was discharged to duty on Wednesday 29 May 1918, and later he shot down another 3 enemy aircraft, which increased his total

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number of victories to 13. The last couple of victories credited to John were two Pfalz DIII aircraft on Sunday 9 June 1918, whilst flying Sopwith Camel D3410. Both of the Pfalz DIII’s were shot down to the north of Ploegsteert Wood, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium, within the space of a quarter of an hour at 0820 and 0835 hours. Tragically John was killed the following day in a collision with another Sopwith Camel D9590, which was being flown by a new pilot, 22 year old Second Lieutenant Frederick Charles Dodd, from Barnet, Hertfordshire, who is at rest in the next grave to John at Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois Grenier. Supplement to the London Gazette dated Monday 19 December 1917, appertaing to the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to John reads:- “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in air fights and bombing raids, particularly on the 26th September, 1917, when he attacked alone the Abeele Aerodrome, dropping his bombs from about 1,500 feet with good results. A machine gun then opened fire on him, but he dived down low and silenced it by firing fifty rounds from his machine gun.” It would appear that John had been something of a ground attack specialist, as between 9 and 17 April 1918 he flew many such missions, dropped 32 bombs and firing 3,550 rounds of ammunition at a number of enemy ground targets. John’s brother Lawrence ‘Larry’ Manuel served in the Royal Flying Corps during the Great War.

McDONALD, RODERICK. Captain. 208 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Wednesday 8 May 1918. Aged 25. Born St. Joseph, Nova Scotia, Canada 31 October 1893. Son of Catherine McDonald of James River Station, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada, and the late Angus R. McDonald. Commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France, and on page 590 of the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance. Roderick served with 8 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service from June 1917, and the first of his eight victories were flying Sopwith Triplanes, the last five with Sopwith Camels. Reference was made at the brief tribute to Robert Little, of the engagement fought on Sunday 29 April 1917 by the aircraft of 1 and 8 (Naval) Squadrons, Royal Naval Air Service which were attacked by the enemy aircraft of Jasta 11, including that flown by the legendary Baron Manfred von Richthofen, and that during the engagement it had been the six aircraft of 8

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(Naval) Squadron that had borne the brunt of the attack, and Roderick was one of the pilots that had been engaged by the Jasta 11 aircraft on that occasion. Less than a month after surviving the concerted attack on Sunday 29 April 1917, Roderick scored his first and second credited victories when he shot down an Albatros D.III (DES) over Douai, Nord, France, at 0750 hours on Thursday 24 May 1917, and three quarters of an hour later shot down an Albatros D.V (OOC)

over Willerval, Pas de Calais, France. Both of the ‘kills’ were shared with other pilots, the first of which was with Charles Booker who is one of the casualties added at the roll of those commemorated at Walmer, and the second was shared with Robert Little who is also briefly commemorated on the Walmer airfield memorial. At 1230 hours on Wednesday 8 May 1918, Roderick’s Sopwith Camel D1852 was attacked and shot down over Provin, Nord, France by 27 year old Offizierstellvertreter (Warrant Officer) Julius Trotzky of Jasta 43. Roderick was the second and last of the victories of Offizierstellvertreter Trotzky who lost his life on 17 May 1918, when his Albatros DVa was shot down in flames by SE5’s of 40 Squadron, Royal Air Force over Carvin, Nord, France, it being not far from where Roderick had been shot down and killed just nine days earlier.

SANDS, LLOYD ALLISON. Flight Lieutenant. 3 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Friday 22 March 1918. Aged 23. Born Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada 19 May 1894. Son of H. T. and Elizabeth A. Sands of 41, Fleet Street, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. Commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France, and on page 593 of the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance. Lloyd is also commemorated in the Dover Patrol Book of Rememberance. Lloyd obtained his Royal Aero Club Flying Certificate on Monday 21 August 1916 at the Royal Naval Air Station, Low Car, Redcar, Yorkshire, flying a Blériot Monoplane, at which time he resided at the above address. Above St. Quentin on

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the second day of the German Spring Offensive 1918, the Sopwith F1 Camel tractor biplane scouts of Lloyd, flying aircraft B7216, and fellow Canadian pilot of 3 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, 22 year old Flight Sub-Lieutenant William Arthur Moyle, flying aircraft B7219 were involved in an engagement with enemy aircraft of Jasta 68, which had included Vizefeldwebel (Sergeant) Dettmering, and Unteroffizier (Corporal) Erwin Tresenreuter. As the two German pilots engaged the two 3 (Naval) Squadron Sopwith machines, their Sopwith’s collided killing both the pilots. William Moyle, the son of Joseph R. and Ellen Jane Moyle, of Paris, Ontario, Canada, is like Lloyd, also commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France, and is also commemorated on page 591 of the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance.

TONKS, ADRIAN JAMES BOSWELL. D.F.C. & Bar. Captain. 80 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Monday 14 July 1919. Aged 21. Born Solihull, Warwickshire 10 May 1898. Son of Arthur George Tonks and Alice Tonks of 31, Addison Mansions, Kensington, London. Buried Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. Grave Ref: B. 158. At the time of the 1901 census, the Tonks family resided at Lode Lane, Solihull, Warwickshire. Head of the house was 34 year old Knowle, Warwickshire native Arthur George Tonks, who was a Mechanical Engineer and employing staff. Adrian obtained his Royal Aero Club Flying Certificate on 28 December 1916 at the Royal Naval Air Station, Cranwell, Lincolnshire, flying a Maurice Farman Biplane. At the time of obtaining his certificate, Adrian resided at ‘Fairview,’ Rochester, Kent. He joined the 4 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service in August 1917, and remained in it until he was rested in October 1918. During the Great War Adrian had been credited with a total of 12 victories, including the German ‘ace’ Leutnant Diether Collin who had been wounded in action on 6 September 1917. As Staffelführer of Jasta 56, he died from wounds received in

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combat with Adrian and 20 year old Canadian, Lieutenant Harold W.M. Cumming, over Bailleul on 13 August 1918. At the time of the action which cost Diether Collin his life, Adrian and Harold were both serving as pilots in 204 Squadron, Royal Air Force. A native of Campbellford, Ontario, Canada, Lieutenant Harold William Mackarsie Cumming died on 5 September 1918, and is at rest at Dunkirk Town Cemetery, Nord, France. On of the things which set Adrian apart from the vast majority of his peers is the fact that he achieved his initial aerial victory whilst undertaking his first combat mission. Supplement to the London Gazette, dated 2 November 1918 appertaining to the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Adrian:- “Lieut. (T./Capt.) Adrian James Boswell Tonks (Sea Patrol). A brave and determined airman who has destroyed four enemy aeroplanes and driven down six out of control. In a recent engagement with twelve enemy scouts he destroyed one and drove off others who were attacking some pilots in his flight. In these combats he expended all his ammunition, but seeing three enemy machines attacking one of ours, he, with great gallantry, dived amongst them with a view to distracting their attention. In this he succeeded. A courageous and meritorious action.” Supplement to the London Gazette, dated 3 December 1918 appertaining to the Bar of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Adrian:- “Lieut. (A./Capt.) Adrian James Boswell Tonks, D.F.C. (Sea Patrol, Flanders) “Since 28th September this officer has led eleven low bombing raids, displaying conspicuous courage and skill, and inflicting serious damage on enemy from low altitudes. During bombing raids Capt. Tonks has destroyed two enemy machines, proving himself a bold and daring fighter.” VERNON, THEOPHILUS CHATER. Squadron Commander. Royal Naval Air Service. Died Saturday 15 September 1917. Aged 30. Born Hong Kong 5 September 1887. Son of John Yardley Vernon. Buried Malo-les-Bains Communal Cemetery, Nord, France. Grave Ref: I. A. 15. Theophilus was a former pupil of Beaumont College, Old Windsor, Berkshire, and was in residence at the school on the night of the 1901 census. He obtained his Royal Aero Club Flying Certificate on 15 April 1915 at the Central Flying School, Upavon, Wiltshire, flying a Maurice Farman Biplane, at which time his contact address was the Thatched House Club, St. James Street, London, SW. There appears to be some confusion as to how Theophilus actually lost his life. Some publications record his death as having occurred whilst flying a Sopwith F1 biplane scout, which crashed at Terhand-Becelaere, France. Other data which has been accessed states that he was killed by an enemy sniper during a salvage adventure which he was conducting in No-Man’s Land. At the time of his death; Theophilus’s home address was 6, Artillery Mansions, Westminster, Middlesex.

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WINTER, RUPERT RANDOLPH. Flight Commander. Royal Naval Air Service. Died Sunday 3 February 1918. Aged 21. Born Wallington, Surrey 24 September 1896. Son of Reuben John Winter and Frances Ellen Winter (née Blackmore) of 19, Birchin Lane, City of London. Buried Harlebeke New British Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave Ref: II. A. 8. At the time of the 1901 census, the Winter family resided at 12, Charlotte Road, Beddington, Croydon, Surrey. Head of the house was 45 year old Camberwell, London native Reuben John Winter, who was employed as a Stockbrokers Clerk. Rupert joined the Royal Naval Air Service on 25 April 1916, and obtained his Royal Aero Club Flying Certificate on 14 June 1916 at the Royal Naval Air Station, Chingford, Essex, flying a Maurice Farman Biplane. At the time of obtaining his certificate, Rupert resided at ‘Studland,’ Westbury Road, Westwood Park, Finchley, London N. Soon after he scored his fifth and final aerial victory on 3 February 1918, he was killed in action when his plane went down southwest of Roulers, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Although not conclusive, evidence gathered from a variety of different data sources would seem to indicate that Rupert may have been shot down by a Fokker DR.I which was being flown by Otto Fruhner of Jasta 26, who scored 27 ‘kills’ in the Great War. Unlike his opponents, Otto and his comrades were issued with parachutes, one of which he put to good use on 20 September 1918 after colliding with a Sopwith Camel of 203 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Otto Fruhner survived both world wars, and died at Villach, Austria, on 19 June 1965, aged 71.

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WRIGHT, DOUGLAS ROSS CAMERON. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. Royal Naval Air Service. Died Friday 23 December 1917. Aged 23. Grandson of Sir Matthew Crooks Cameron K.B., of Toronto, Canada. Son of Mrs. E. Corbould (formerly Wright) (née Crooks) of New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. Husband of Eva Margaret Wright (née Day) of "Millbrook," King's Road West, Swanage, Dorset. Buried Dunkirk Town Cemetery, Nord, France. Grave Ref: IV. A. 3. Commemorated on page 582 of the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance, and at St. Andrew's College, Aurora, Ontario, where Douglas had been a pupil from 1906 to 1909. Douglas joined the Royal Naval Air Service on 29 February 1916 as an Observer and, after attending the requisite schools, was posted to 3 Wing on 15 November 1916 as a member of the crew aboard a Handley-Page 1460 bomber. The next several months were relatively uneventful until 23 April when his aircraft “turned over while starting” which resulted in Douglas suffering a sprained ankle. Good news came the following month when his application for flight school was approved and he was sent to Cranwell, Lincolnshire, for pilot training, from where he successfully graduated on 26 September 1917, and was posted to Dunkirk, France. On 23 December 1917, Douglas’s flight was scheduled to conduct a low-altitude patrol. Shortly after take-off weather conditions forced the return of the flight. Upon reaching the aerodrome his Sopwith Camel went into a spin and crashed, killing Douglas. It would appear that the actual cause of the crash which resulted in Douglas’s death was never ascertained. Douglas’s late grandfather; Sir Matthew Crooks Cameron K.B. (1822-1887) had been a noted politician, and also the Chief Justice of Ontario, Canada.

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Additional Roll of Honour of casualties who lost their lives whilst serving in either the 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, or later as members of 208th Squadron, Royal Air Force. In addition to which are men who had formerly served in at least one of the above squadrons. Probably some of the following officers and other ranks below had also served at Walmer, Kent prior to their deaths overseas

BENNETTS, ERNEST AUGUSTINE. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Friday 17 August 1917. Aged 21. Born St. Agnes, Cornwall 28 August 1895. Buried Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: XV. R. 22. Ernest obtained his Flying Certificate at the Royal Naval Air Service Station, Chingford, Essex, at which time his home address was “Portslade,” Bonaire Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa. Ernest was killed when his Sopwith Camel F1 biplane scout, collided with that of a fellow 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, Camel F1 biplane scout, which was flown by Flight Commander Philip A. Johnson, when they were in combat over Lens, France. Please also see the brief tribute commemorating Philip A. Johnson on page 33, for details appertaining to the loss of both pilots.

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BOOKER, CHARLES DAWSON. D.S.C. Major. 201st Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Tuesday 13 August 1918. Aged 21. Born Eltham, Kent 21 April 1897. Son of Joseph Dawson and Rachel C. Booker of "Burnt House," Speldhurst, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Buried Vignacourt British Cemetery, Somme, France. Grave Ref: V. C. 6. Commemorated on the Speldhurst, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent civic war memorial, and on a memorial plaque located in St. Andrew’s parish church, Bedford, Bedfordshire, and is one of the 454 former pupils who are commemorated in the chapel of Bedford School, that died in the Great War. Charles was educated at the Grammar School, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between February 1908 and December 1911, before returning to England to attend Bedford School, Burnaby Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire until May 1915. Having enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service on 8 September 1915 as a Flight Sub-Lieutenant, in some of the references to Charles he is shown as Charles Dawson-Booker. Following his training Charles served on the Belgium Coast from May to October 1916 and on the Somme, and on the Lens-Arras front from October 1916 to November 1917. After some months back in the United Kingdom he then served again on various fronts in France obtaining the rank of Major, and Squadron Commander of the 201st Squadron, Royal Air Force, following the amalgamation of the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps on 1 April 1918 and the forming of the Royal Air Force. Prior to his death Arthur became an ‘ace’ pilot, being credited with 29 victories although some of his ‘kills’ were shared with other pilots, Charles was the sixteenth highest scoring British pilot of the Great war. Most of his victories were achieved with a Sopwith Triplane (number 5482) which he called "Maud." It was noted whilst preparing this brief commemoration, that a number of Charles’s aerial victories had been over enemy ‘ace’ fliers, including Oberleutnant, Hans Waldhausen who was known as the "Eagle of Lens" (1892-1976), who was captured after being forced to land near Souchez between Armentières and Arras. On 11 August 1917,

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Charles scored his twenty first victory when he and William Jordan shot down an Albatros D.V. which was piloted by the German ‘ace’ Hauptmann, Adolf Ritter von Tutschek, just moments later; Charles was shot down by Viktor Schröbinger of Jasta 12, but landed safely behind the British lines. Flying "Maud" he shot down three Fokker D.VII aircraft on 13 August 1918, but sadly died from the mortal wounds received the same day when he was shot down by Ulrich Neckel of Jasta 12, to the west of Rosières. Charles was mentioned in dispatches in May 1917, and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and the (French) Croix de Guerre with Palm and Star. The following is a Supplement to the London Gazette, dated 22 June 1917, in respect of the award of the Distinguished Service Cross. Flt. Lieut, (act. Flt. Cdr.) Charles Dawson Booker. R.N.A.S. “For special gallantry in the field on numerous occasions, especially the following:- On 26th April, 1917, he went to the assistance of some of our photographic machines, which were about to be attacked by twelve Albatross scouts. One of these he fired on at close range, and brought it down out of control. On 24th May, I9l7, whilst on patrol, he went to the assistance of a formation-of our machines, which was being attacked by nine hostile scouts. He attacked one of the latter, which was driven down-in flames and crashed. Later in the same day he attacked and drove down out of control another hostile machine. On numerous other occasions he has attacked enemy machines and driven them down out of control.”

BRAY, FRANK. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Sunday 15 July 1917. Aged 18. Born Leeds, Yorkshire 22 October 1898. Son of Marion I. Bray of Hambleton House, Roundhay Park Lane, Moortown, Leeds, Yorkshire, and the late John William Bray. Commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais. France. Frank obtained his Flying Certificate on 16 April 1917 at the Royal Naval Air Service Station, Redcar, Yorkshire flying an Avro Biplane.

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CLARK, STANLEY. Second Lieutenant. 208th Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Thursday 17 October 1918. Aged 26. Born Hull, Yorkshire 20 January 1892. Youngest son of George and Anne Maria Clark of Kingston-on-Hull, Yorkshire. Buried Pernes British Cemetery, Pernes-en-Artois, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: VI. B. 37. Stanley lost his life as the result of an accident.

CORBETT, The Honourable ARTHUR CAMERON. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Friday 1 December 1916. Aged 18. Born London 6 March 1898. Son of the 1st Baron Rowallan of Rowallan, Ayrshire, Scotland, and the late Mrs. Mary Corbett (née Polson). Buried Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-l'Abbe, Somme, France. Grave Ref: VI. A. 3. Arthur is eroniously commemorated on the Fenwick, Ayrshire, Scotland civic war memorial as having been a member of the Royal Air Force. Arthur obtained his Flying Certificate on 15 July 1916, at the Royal Naval Air Service, Eastbourne, Sussex, flying a Maurice Farman Biplane. Archibald Cameron Corbett, M.P. (1856-1933), (the father of the above casualty) was a generous benefactor in Scotland, and was made the1st Baron Rowallan in 1911, having been the Liberal politician who had previously represented Glasgow, Tradeston in the House of Commons from 1885. Mrs. Mary Corbett died in 1902, and two years later her husband very generously presented to the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and City Council of Glasgow, “for the good of the citizens,” a large part of the picturesque estate of Thornliebank, along with the mansion-house, his own residence; and later he conferred upon the city of Glasgow the still more princely gift of Ardgoil estate on Loch Long.

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CUZNER, ALBERT ‘Eddy’ EDWARD. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Monday 30 April 1917. Aged 26. (Please see below re date). Born Ottawa, Canada 31 August 1890. Son of the late John Cuzner of Ottawa, Canada. Brother of Willard Cuzner of 523, Sussex Street, Ottawa, Canada. Commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais. France, and on page 576 of the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance. Albert was a member of Phi Delta Theta, and had been a former pupil of Ottawa Modern School and of the Canadian Institute where he studied Applied Science 1909-1910. Between 1910 and 1915 Albert was a student at University College, Toronto, Canada where he obtained his Batchelor of Arts degree. A keen sportsman whilst at university Albert was awarded Second and First Rugby Colours, and Second Hockey Colours. After his university studies and until his enlistment in the Royal Naval Air Service in May 1916, Albert was student of Forestry. Albert obtained his Flying Certificate on 3 September 1916 at the Curtiss School, Toronto, Canada, flying a Curtiss Biplane. At the time of obtaining his Flying Certificate, Albert had two addresses in Canada which were 256, First Avenue, Ottawa, Canada which was probably his home address, and 143, Bloor West, Toronto, Canada. On 13 September 1916 Albert left Canada sailing for England onboard the Allan Line of Liverpool 7,333 ton ship the SS Corinthian, which was in use as a Canadian Expeditionary Force troopship. Following his arrival in England, Albert received additional flying instruction and training at the Royal Naval Air Service Station, Redcar, Yorkshire, prior to his posting to 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Date of death is as shown on Albert’s CWGC commemoration which is probably that as was accepted for official purposes, but it should be noted that he was reported as missing when flying over the lines at Vimy Ridge, at which time his aircraft was seen to fall from the sky in flames by allied troops on the ground. Without a doubt the most important documentation re Albert’s death, was that submitted by the German pilot of Jasta 2, who was credited with shooting him down, he being Baron Manfred von Richthofen “The Red Barron.” Part of Rittmeister von Richthofen’ s

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report appertaing to the destruction of Albert’s aircraft, (a Sopwith Triplane No. N5463 named ‘Doris’), is also probably best English translated account as follows:- “Soon after having shot down a BE near Rouex, we were attacked by a strong enemy one-seater force of Nieuports, Spads and Triplanes. The plane I had singled out caught fire after a short time, burned in the air and fell north of Hénin-Liétard.” The destruction of Albert’s aircraft at 1940 hours on Sunday 29 April 1917 was the number 52 of the total of 80 victories over Allied aircraft between September 1916 and April 1918 by the legendary Baron Manfred von Richthofen, who had earlier the same day shot down a BE2e of 13 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, and a Spad of 19 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. To add to the confusion re the date of Albert’s death, some data shows it as 10 January 1918. Without a doubt, for no other reason than who was the enemy pilot who had shot down his aircraft, Albert’s life and death has been one of the easiest and quickest to research for inclusion here, or on any of the other war memorials or rolls of honour etcetera which are now on the www.kentfallen.com website.

DAY, HAROLD. D.S.C. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Tuesday 5 February 1918. Aged 20. Born Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, South Wales 17 April 1897. Son of William John Day and Elizabeth Day of Wernddu, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, South Wales. Buried St Mary's A.D.S. Cemetery, Haisnes, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: XIV. E. 15. Harold joined the Royal Naval Air Service on Sunday 28 January 1917. Following his training Harold served with the 10th (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service from Wednesday 25 July 1917 flying Sopwith Camels, until he was taken ill on Wednesday 12 September 1917. During his time spent serving as a pilot in the 10th (Naval) Squadron, R.N.A.S. he had his first ‘kill’ at 1130 hours on Sunday 12 August, when he shot down an enemy Albatros D.V (OOC) over Wervicq, France, whilst flying a Sopwith Triplane (N5437). Having recovered from his illness, Harold was transferred to the 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service on Wednesday 3 October 1917. Between Thursday 6 December 1917

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and the day of his death, Harold had another ten aerial victories, which had included those shared with other pilots in his squadron. On the day of his death he shared a victory with Flight Lieutenant Roderick McDonald, when at 1245 hours they shot down an enemy Albatros D.V (DES) to the south of Pont-à-Vendin in the Pas de Calais, France. Later the same day, Harold was seen to dive at high speed to attack another German Albatros D.V. near Harnes, about four miles to the northeast of Lens. Other pilots later reported that Harold’s aircraft Sopwith Camel (N6379) was seen to break up and Harold was killed in the resultant inevitable crash. Leutnant Günther Schuster of Jasta 29 was subsequently credited with shooting down Harold’s Sopwith Camel.

DENNETT, PRUETT MULLENS. Lieutenant. 208th Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Sunday 2 June 1918. Aged 19. Born Edmonton London 21 January 1899. Son of Mrs. Ethel Lavinia Sandy (formerly Dennett), (née Gilburd) of 71, Preston Road, Brighton, Sussex, and of the late Mr. Ralph Mullens Dennett. Commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France, and on the Brighton, Sussex civic war memorial. Pruett was residing at Southsea, Hampshire when he joined the Royal Naval Air Service on 25 March 1917, and obtained his Flying Certificate on 21 May 1917 at the Royal Naval Air Station, Redcar, Yorkshire, flying an Avro Biplane. At the time of obtaining his certificate Pruett’s address was 71, Preston Road, Brighton, Sussex. Following his commission on 27 August 1917 he was posted as a pilot to the 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Pruett was shot down and killed near Estaires, Nord, France, whilst flying Sopwith Camel D1854, by Oberflugmeister Kurt Schönfelder of Jasta 7. Aged 23 at the time of his death on 26 June 1918, Kurt Schönfelder flying his black Fokker D.VII, which was distinctively marked with a gold star on the fuselage, was shot down and killed by a pilot or pilots of 210 Squadron, Royal Air Force over Bousbecque, which is a commune of the Nord département of northern France, north-west of Tourcoing.

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DIXON, ALBERT JAMES. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Friday 4 January 1918. Aged 22. Born Ottawa, Canada 29 September 1895. Son of Mr. and Mrs. James R. Dixon of 400, McLeod Street, Ottawa, Canada. Buried Flers-en-Escrebieux, Communal Cemetery, Nord, France. Commemorated on page 586 of the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance. Albert is the sole Commonwealth casualty at rest in the above cemetery. For a photograph of his grave, please see the superb website www.inmemories.com which is the hard work of Pierre Vandervelden (Belgium). He obtained his American Aero Certificate at the Atlantic Coast Aeronautic School, Newport News, Virginia, U.S.A. Flying a Curtiss Biplane. His father was the General Manager of Dixon’s Motors of Ottawa, Canada. HISCOX, ALFRED HENRY. Lieutenant. 208th Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Saturday 28 September 1918. Born 19 January 1893. Buried Queant Road Cemetery, Buissy, Pas-de-Calais, France. Grave Ref: VII. G. 13. Formerly Sergeant, 3128, and 240855, Worcestershire Regiment. Alfred was posted to France on 1 April 1915. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps on 28 August 1917. At the time of his death, Alfred’s home address was at Bengeworth Fields, Evesham, Worcestershire.

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HOPE, WILLIAM HAYHURST. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. No. 1 Wing, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Friday 24 November 1916. Aged 23. Born Estancia Las Magnolias, Rosario-Tala, Entre Rios, Argentine Republic on 10 July 1893. Youngest son of Captain John Hayhurst Hope R.N., and of Harriett Hope (née Kennard) of Cauldwell Cottage, Bedford, Bedfordshire. Buried Porte-de-Paris Cemetery, Cambrai, Nord, France. Grave Ref: II. B. 25. Commemorated at Bedford Grammar School, Bedfordshire. William was educated at Fritham Preparatory School, New Forest, Hampshire, and from 1906 to September 1912, he continued his education at Bedford Grammar School, Bedford, Bedfordshire, where he was a member of the Officers Training Corps. In February 1914, William went to the Transvaal, South Africa with a Mr. Dodd, to take over and fence a large tract of land. Immediately that the Great War commenced, William quickly returned to England and enlisted as a Private in the Hampshire Carabineers, as he had heard that they were soon going to the front. William stated that he preferred to “work his way up,” as opposed to enlisting as an officer. In late 1915, William’s brother Lieutenant R.H.K. Hope R.N., returned from the China Station, and obtained him a commission in the Royal Naval Air Service. William obtained his Flying Certificate on 29 January 1916, at Royal Naval Air Service, Chingford, Essex, flying a Grahame-White Biplane. In company with other machines from his squadron, William took off from Dunkirk, France on Thursday 23 November 1916, and was seen to dive in an attempt to ascertain the nationality of some aircraft which hade been sighted, but was never seen alive again by his comrades. His death was due to wounds which he suffered whilst William was a prisoner of the Germans, the day after he left Dunkirk. William was amongst the two thousand three hundred and fifty former members of the school who served in the Great War. Sadly he is numbered amongst the four hundred and fifty four Old Boys of Bedford Grammar School who died in, or resultant of the Great war that are commemorated at their former school.

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JOHNS, REGINALD LEACH. Lieutenant. 208th Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Tuesday 11 June 1918. Aged 23. Born Willesden, London 13 November 1894. Son of John Johns and Hannah Maria Johns of 77, Chevening Road, Brondesbury Park, Willesden, London. Buried Aire Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: III. C. 10. At the time of the 1901 census, the Johns family resided at 332, Kilburn Lane, Paddington, London. Head of the house was 45 year old Torrington, Devon, native John Johns, who was employed as an Oilman’s Manager. By the time that he was killed in a flying accident, Reginald had achieved nine victories in aerial combat, some were shared with other members of his squadron between Thursday 24 January 1918 and Monday 2 June 1918, two of which were Albatros D.V machines that he destroyed on the latter date, having previously shot down another Albatros D.V (OOC) on Sunday 1 June 1918. His first four victories had been shared, but the last five were all credited to him. All of Reginald’s successes were achieved whilst flying Sopwith Camels. Reginald joined the Royal Naval Air Service in June 1917, and after his training was posted to 8th Squadron, R.N.A.S. in December 1917, he served all of his time with the same squadron which became the 208th Squadron, Royal Air Force when the R.A.F. was formed on Monday 1 April 1918. In March 2010, Reginald’s ‘Pilots Flying Log Book’ covering the period from 20 July 1917 to 7 June 1918 came up for sale, at Wellington Auctions, PO Box 5665, London, W1A 5EJ, in their medals and Militaria postal auction, along with HIS memorial plaque (Deadman’s Penny). The last page entry in Reginald’s Log Book had been entered by another person, post Reginald’s death, and it simply reads “Acc. Killed 11.6.18.”

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JOHNSTON, PHILIP ANDREW. Flight Commander 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Friday 17 August 1917. Aged 19. Born Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 27 February 1898. Commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France. Philip obtained his Flying Certificate at the Beatty School, Hendon, Middlesex on 4 June 1915 flying a Caudron Biplane. At the time of obtaining the certificate, Harold’s contact address was c/o Bank of New South Wales, Threadneedle Street, London EC. Philip was killed when his Sopwith Camel F1 biplane scout (B3757), collided whilst in aerial combat over Lens, France, with another 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, Camel F1 biplane scout (B3877), which was being flown by 21 year old Flight Sub Lieutenant Ernest Bennetts. At the time of the collision, the pilots of 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service were engaged in combat with German aircraft of Jasta 30, and Oberleutnant Hans Bethge was credited with the destruction of the two aircraft, as victories number 12 and 13 of his eventual total of 20. Following the deaths of Ernest Bennetts and Philip Johnson, Hans Bethge was reported to have said “I have my 12th and 13th shot down. The aircraft crashed together and both were gone. I do not want to hurt anyone. But I fly with an iron will and deepest sense of duty.” A native of Berlin, Germany, Hans Bethge was 27 years old when he was lost his life on 17 March 1918, which was a week after his final victory. While serving as Staffelführer of Jasta 30, he once again led the pilots he commanded into combat. When he was still approximately 150 yards from the British formation they were attacking, his Pfalz D.IIIa was seen to curve sharply downwards and out of sight. His body was found at Passchendaele, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, and laid out in the church nearest the airfield in use by his Jasta. Hans Bethge's funeral procession took place a few days later; and both Air Force General Ernst von Hoeppner and Rittmeister Manfred von Richthofen (The Red Baron) attended the march to the railway station. His body was sent home to Berlin, Germany for burial, and he was laid to rest in Jerusalem Church Cemetery, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg Borough, near the Halle Gate. KIMPTON, ERNEST F. Serjeant (Mechanic), 103104. 208th Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 2 September 1918. Buried Dunkirk Town Cemetery, Nord, France. Grave Ref: IV. C. 14. Formerly Corporal, F/523, Kings Royal Rifle Corps. Ernest was posted to France on 13 August 1915, at which time he was serving in the Royal Flying Corps. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to add additional family details etcetera appertaining to Ernest at the time of posting on www.kentfallen.com The frustration of not being able to add any additional details, was compounded by the fact that a photograph of Ernest’s grave at Dunkirk, was amongst several hundred that were accidentally erased from the transcribers computer a few years ago!

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MACKENZIE, COLIN ROY. D.S.O. Flight Commander (Pilot). 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Wednesday 24 January 1917. Aged 24. Born Romford, Essex 3 May 1892. Son of Dr. Alexander Linton Mackenzie and Mrs. Marion Patrick Mackenzie of 6, The Circus, Bath, Somerset. Buried Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: 3. Colin was educated at Fonthill, East Grinstead, Sussex, Winchester College, and Trinity College, Cambridge. When war was declared in August 1914, Colin enlisted in the Royal Navy as an Assistant Surgeon. Initially Colin served onboard the Acasta class torpedo destroyer H.M.S. Spitfire, before transferring to the Royal Naval Air Service in July 1915. On 2 August 1915 Colin obtained his Flying Certificate at the Royal Naval Flying School, Royal Naval Air Service, Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, flying a Caudron Biplane, In addition to having been awarded the Distinguished Service Order, Colin was also twice Mentioned in Despatches, and was a recipient of the Croix de Guerre (France). McALLISTER, JOHN NORQUAY. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Saturday 23 June 1917. Son of John Edgar McAllister and Caroline Ellen Norquay McAllister of St. Andrew's, Manitoba, Canada. Buried La Targette British Cemetery, Neuville-St. Vaast, Pas de Calais. France. Grave Ref: II. C. 15. Commemorated on page 578 of the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance. John lost his life when his Sopwith Triplane suffered wing failure, at which time he was attached to the 10th Wing, Royal Flying Corps. In view of John’s unusual second Christian name, it would seem likely that as his mother also had the

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same name, it was probably resultant of their families deference to John Norquay, (1841–1889) who was the Premier of Manitoba from 1878 to 1887. He was born near St. Andrews in what was then the Red River Colony, making him the first Premier of Manitoba to have been born in the region. McGUIRE, T.F. Second Lieutenant. 208th Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Saturday 21 December 1918. Buried Charleroi Communal Cemetery, Hainaut, Belgium. Grave Ref: Q. 19. Charleroi was the scene of fighting between Friday 21 and Monday 24 August 1914, and for the rest of the Great War it was a German military and administrative centre. The 270 Commonwealth servicemen of the Great War who are at rest in Charleroi Communal Cemetery, either died as prisoners of war or after the Armistice. MOLLISON, JOHN JACK. Lieutenant. 208th Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Tuesday 27 August 1918. Aged 20. Born 19 July 1898. Younger son of John Mollison and Margaret Mollison of 6, Kelvin Drive, Kelvinside, Glasgow, Scotland. Buried Sun Quarry Cemetery, Cherisy, Pas de Calais. France. Grave Ref: Plot: C. 11.Correspondence appertaining to John’s parents application to be sent his medals was dealt with c/o the family solicitors at 19, Blythswood Square, Glasgow. William Edward George Mann D.F.C. (later Air Commodore) who was an ace in John’s squadron, scored 13 victories with 208 Squadron in 1918, the first of which was an Albatros D.V, shot down over Proven, Belgium, which was a joint ‘kill’ that he shared with John on 8 May 1918. John’s eldest brother; 22 year old Lieutenant William Allen Morrison, was an officer in the 2nd/6th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), but was attached to the 52nd Company, Machine Gun Corps, when he fell on 1 October 1918. William was educated at Hillhead High School, the Royal Technical College, and the School of Art. While at school he was an active member of the Officers Training Corps. In 1914 he enlisted in the Glasgow Highlanders. In June 1915, he was transferred to a Cadet Battalion and after a period of training was posted to the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment). In September of the same year he volunteered for service with the British Expeditionary Force, and was several months in the trenches near Ypres where he contracted rheumatic fever, and was invalided home. After a term of light duty he returned to France in May 1916, and later took part in the early stages of the Battle of the Somme, during which time he was appointed the battalion Adjutant. Winter conditions caused a recurrence of his old trouble, and he was again invalided home. On his recovery he was advised to transfer to the Machine Gun Corps in order to keep out of the trenches, and in this new branch he proved himself so efficient that he was retained for four months as an instructor. In January 1918, William went to Palestine, but in March returned to

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France with the 52nd Division. There he experienced some of the hardest fighting of the war, and was continuously in action for weeks on end. On 13 September 1918, when just about to come out of action, he was severely wounded in several places by a shell. Septic poisoning set in, and he succumbed to his wounds in hospital at Wimereux on the 1 October 1918. William is at rest in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Boulogne, Pas de Calais, France. MUNRO, KEITH ROSS. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Thursday 9 August 1917. Aged 22. Born Maranoa, Queensland, Australia 28 July 1895. Son of William Ross Munro of Boombah, St. George, Queensland, Australia. Commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France, and on the 1914-1918 Roll of Honour in St. Albans Chapel, The Southport School, Winchester Street, Southport, Queensland, Australia. Formerly Trooper, 182, C Squadron, 5th Australian Light Horse Regiment. Whilst it is inevitable that many 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service/208th Squadron, Royal Air Force casualties have not been located for inclusion on this list of brief commemorations, Keith has been included amongst their number, although it appears that he might have possibly been eroniously commemorated by the then IWGC with the wrong squadron number. Depending on what data and books etcetera are checked, results in Keith as having been serving in the 8th or 10th Squadrons, Royal Naval Air Service at the time of his death. Keith was educated at The Southport School, Winchester Street, Southport, Queensland, Australia. He enlisted in the A.I.F. on Sunday 4 October 1914, at which time he stated that he was a Grazier, aged 20, and that he resided with his father, William Ross Munro of Boombah, St. George, Queensland, Australia, and was attested to the 9th Battalion A.I.F. which was among the first infantry units raised for the A.I.F. during the Great War and initially it was comprised of recruits from Queensland. On Tuesday 8 December 1914 Keith joined C Squadron, 5th Australian Light Horse Regiment, and on Monday 21 December 1914 was with his squadron when it embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board the 12,042 ton H.M.A.T. Persic (A34) on Monday 21 December 1914, which was an Admiralty requisitioned vessel of the Oceanic Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. of Liverpool, which was in service as an Australian troopship until Thursday 8 November 1917. Keith’s regiment disembarked in Egypt on Monday 1 February 1915.The light horse were considered unsuitable for the initial operations at Gallipoli, but were subsequently deployed without their horses to reinforce the infantry. The 5th Light Horse played a defensive role for most of the campaign but was involved in a number of minor attacks. During an attack on the Turkish held Balkan Gun Pits at Anzac, on Monday 28 June 1915, Keith’s regiment moved along Harris Ridge as far as the Balkan Gun Pits, where it was subjected to heavy machine gun and rifle fire from the Echelon trenches, and also from Gaba Tepe. They were also subjected to ‘friendly shell fire’ from one of the destroyers, the commander of which had not been informed that the 5th Australian Light

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Horse Regiment was operating outside its own lines. The Regiments casualties during the afternoon were heavy, amounting to 23 killed in action, and 5 officers and 74 other ranks wounded, amongst the latter was Keith who fortunately was wounded slightly and not hospitalized. His regiment eventually left the Gallipoli Peninsula on Wednesday 20 December 1915, but by that time Keith had been admitted to hospital in October 1915 having been being diagnosed with measles, and was evacuated to Malta on Wednesday 27 October 1915. Following his treatment on Malta, Keith embarked for England on 3 November 1915. Upon his arrival in England he was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth. Keith was eventually officially discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on Thursday 3 February 1916, and became a Probationary Flight Sub-Lieutenant with the Royal Naval Air Service the day after his A.I.F. discharge. Following his ‘eventful’ flying training at the Royal Naval Air Station, Eastbourne, Sussex, Keith then served with the 10th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. During his time spent training at Eastbourne, Keith had a number of mishaps; on Monday 12 March 1916 he made a forced landing at Eastbourne, whilst at the controls of a Maurice Farman `Longhorn' Type S-7 Biplane (serial No.3002). Keith also had problems whilst flying a Curtiss JN.3 (serial No.3417), as on Wednesday 26 April 1916 the aircraft suffered a damaged undercarriage at Eastbourne, and following its repair Keith was with the same machine when it was taxied into by another Curtiss JN.3 (serial No.3426), again at Eastbourne on Friday 19 May 1916. Unfortunately on Sunday 30 July 1916, Keith crash landed a B.E.2c (serial No.1192) at Hendon, Middlesex. Having gone to serve on the Western Front, Keith appears to have put his crash landing experiences to good use when he made a forced landing on Saturday 4 August 1917, near Proven, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, in his Sopwith Triplane (serial No. N6290) named ‘Dixie.’ It was whilst flying the same machine that Keith was shot down and killed over Polygon Wood near Ypres, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, at 0910 hours on Thursday 9 August 1917 by 24 year old Leutnant Wolfgang Guttler of Jasta 24. Keith was Wolfgang Guttler’s fourth victory, he claimed another four before he was killed on Wednesday 20 February 1918, when he collided with Viezfeldwebel Paul Hiob of the same Jasta, by which time he had moved to Jasta 13 and was its Staffelfuhrer. Purely speculation on the part of transcriber of these brief transcriptions, but it is possible that the confusion regarding the actual squadron that Keith was serving in at the time of his death is due to his aircraft, as his Sopwith Triplane (serial No. N6290) had at one time been on the strength of 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, and Keith had flown the aircraft whilst serving in 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, and that was possibly some of the same information/date which the Imperial War Graves Commission had based his commemoration details on.

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PAILTHORPE, HAROLD ANDERSON. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. ‘A’ Flight, 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Wednesday 23 May 1917. Aged 26. Born New Southgate, London 25 July 1890. Son of Henry Noel Pailthorpe and Caroline Georgina Louisa Pailthorpe (née Anderson) of “Downs Cottage,” Hillborough, Herne Bay, Kent. Buried Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: XV. G. 24. Commemorated on the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, London Division Roll of Honour, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, London Division Headquarters, St. Katherines Way, Wapping, London, E1 9UQ. At the time of the 1901 census, the Pailthorpe family resided at Hornchurch, Essex. Head of the house was 49 year old Islington, London native Henry Noel Pailthorpe, who was a Draughtsman employing staff. Harold obtained his Flying Certificate on 11 May 1916 at the Royal Naval Air Service Station, Chingford, Essex, at which time his home address was “Fairmead,” Hornchurch, Essex. Prior to his death it appears that Harold had achieved an aerial combat victory, as some of the data accessed shows that he shot down an enemy LVG which he last saw going into a spin near Gavrelle, Pas de Calais, France on 7 May 1917. On 23 May 1917 ‘A’ Flight, 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service commenced an offensive patrol at 1915 hours to Lens. During the patrol Harold, flying Sopwith Triplane N5481 was shot down and killed near Lens-Douai during a dogfight with 23 year old Leutnant Hans Hinsch of Jasta 11, who was flying an Albatros DIII. The shooting down of Harold was the last of the three victories which were credited to Hans Hinsch, prior to his own death on Thursday 24 May 1917, it being the day after he had shot down Harold’s Sopwith Triplane. At the time of Harold’s death, his parents still resided at “Fairmead,” Hornchurch, Essex, which is where they also resided when Harold’s father; Henry Noel Pailthorpe died on 15 November 1920.

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PRICE, GUY WILLIAM. D.S.C. and Bar. Flight Commander. 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Monday 18 February 1918. Aged 22. Born Rostrevor, County Down, Ireland 6 September 1895. Son of Mrs. Francesca D'Orange Plowman (formerly Price) of Dunbeg, Glenageary, County Dublin, Ireland, and the late F. W. Price. Commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France. Guy obtained his Flying Certificate on 9 December 1914 at the Grahame-White School, Hendon, Middlesex flying a Grahame-White Biplane. Due to his naval beard, Guy had the nickname ‘Captain Kettle.’ The popular and jovial Irishman was credited with twelve victories. Whilst strafing enemy positions Guy was shot down and killed, after being surprised and attacked from above by Leutnant der Reserve Theodor Rumpel of Jasta 23, and was the last of Theodor Rumpel’s five victories. Following his death, letters of Administration etcetera record Guy’s former address as being at 23, Clarinda Park West, Kingstown, Dublin, Ireland.

ROACH, EDMUND DANIEL. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Tuesday 1 May 1917. Aged 26. Born Toronto, Ontario, Canada 12 January 1892. Only son of Patrick Joseph Roach of 86, St. Patrick Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and of the late Ann Roach (née O'Leary). Buried Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: VIII. J. 25. Commemorated on page 580 of the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance, and on a Memorial Tablet St. Paul's Basilica, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which was founded in 1822 as the first Roman Catholic parish in York (now Toronto). The present church was designed by Joseph Connelly in 1889 and was renamed St. Paul's Basilica in 1999. The Great War Memorial plaque is located outside the front entrance of the church. The Basilica is located in downtown Toronto on the corner of Power and Queen Street. Edmund, who was a Knight of Columbus, had been educated at the Harbour Street Collegiate,

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Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Prior to his enlistment for military service, Edmund was employed by R. G. Dun & Co Mercantile Agency, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Edmund obtained his American Aero Certificate on 29 June 1916 at the Atlantic Coast Aeronautic School, Newport News, Virginia, U.S.A. Flying a Curtiss Biplane. In July 1916 Edmund travelled to the United Kingdom to enroll for military service and enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service as a Flight Sub-Lieutenant. Additional flying training was then undertaken at the Royal Naval Air Station, Redcar, Yorkshire, and at Cranwell, Lincolnshire, where Edmund lost one months seniority “For causing a disturbance with other officers at night in the Duty Officers cabin.” Following the satisfactory completion of his training, Edmund was posted to Dover, Kent, on Monday 12 February 1917, but having contacted a social disease he was hospitalized at Chatham, Kent, only ten days after his Dover posting. Following treatment for his ‘ailment’ Edmund was discharged from the hospital at Chatham on Saturday 10 March 1917. On Sunday 1 April 1917 by which time he had managed to accrue 47 flying hours, he was considered by his superiors to be combat ready and was sent to serve in the 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service at Auchel (Lozinghem), Pas de Calais. France. On Tuesday 1 May 1917 Edmund was flying his Sopwith Triplane (N5474) named Gwen, which was one of his squadrons Six Sopwith Triplanes which had taken off at 0840 hours, to provide escorts for other aircraft that were engaged on a photo-reconnaissance patrol. The 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service escorts were led by Flight Commander Charles Booker of Speldhurst, Kent, who is one of the casualties briefly commemorated on this roll. When the patrol was approximately equidistant of Douai and Lens, they engaged five enemy Albatros Scouts at long range. It was during this time that the other pilots in the patrol lost sight of Edmund. As the dog fights continued more German aircraft joined in the mêlée. During the fighting, Edmund’s machine was shot down by 22 year old Oberleutnant Kurt Wolff of Jasta 11, it being the twenty eighth Allied aircraft shot down by him. The son of an Architect, Kurt Wolff was born on 6 February 1895 in Greifswald, Gützkow, Pomerania, and after being orphaned as a child he was raised by relatives in Memel. At age 17 Kurt Wolff entered the German military in 1912 as a Cadet with Eisenbahn Railway Regiment Number 4 at Schoesberg where he served as an Unteroffizer in the field. He transferred to the German Air Force in July 1915. On his very first flight he survived a crash that dislocated his shoulder and killed the pilot of the aircraft. On Sunday 5 November 1916, Wolff was posted to Jasta 11 but failed to score any victories until Baron Manfred von Richthofen ‘The Red Baron’ assumed command of the unit in January 1917. He was given the nickname "Zarte Blümlein" (delicate flower) by his fellow squadron members, but his youthful looks and frail physical stature masked his deadly skills as a combat pilot. Scoring his ninth victory on 11 April 1917, Oberleutnant Wolff downed a Bristol Fighter flown by Irish ace David Tidmarsh. On Friday 4 May 1917, Oberleutnant Kurt Wolff was decorated with the Pour le Mérite (Blue Max) in recognition of his leadership and achieving twenty nine victories, it being the highest decoration the Kaiser could award him, and two days later he was given command of Jasta 29. With this unit, he scored two more victories before returning to command Jasta

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11 on Monday 2 July 1917. Wounded nine days later, his left hand was injured in a dogfight with 10 Naval Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. When he returned to duty on Tuesday 11 September 1917, he began flying one of the new Fokker Triplanes. Four days later, in another encounter with 10 Naval Squadron, R.N.A.S. he was shot down and killed near Moorslede by a Sopwith Camel flown by Norman McGregor. Kurt Wolff’s Dreidecker, the first of its kind to be lost in aerial combat, went into a spin and crashed. Whilst not unique, Kurt Wolff’s record of victories is unusual, as he frequently had multiple ‘kills’ a day, all of his thirty three victories were between Tuesday 6 March 1917 and Saturday 7 July 1917. SCUDAMORE, WILLIAM SAMUEL KEMP. Lieutenant. 208th Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Thursday 18 July 1918. Aged 19. Born 14 July 1899. Son of Charles Edward Scudamore and Evelina Scudamore of Montpelier, Jamaica, British West Indies. Commemorated at Anzac Cemetery, Sailly-sur-la-Lys, Pas de Calais. France. Special Memorial 1. Anzac Cemetery contains 320 Commonwealth burials of the Great War. 62 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to seven casualties known or believed to be buried among them, one of whom is William. SMITH, GEOFFREY SELBY. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Friday 23 November 1917. Aged 18. Son of George William Smith and Alice Emily Smith of Hatherwood, Caversham, Reading, Berkshire. Buried Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: XI. B. 10. At the time of the 1901 census, the Smith family resided at 48, College Road, Reading, Berkshire. Head of the house was 31 year old Reading, Berkshire native George William Smith, who was employed as a Bank Clerk. Geoffrey died in an accident, at which time his squadron was based at Mont St. Éloi, Pas de Calais, France.

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SMITH, HAROLD LESLIE. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Thursday 24 May 1917. Aged 19. Born Bradford, Yorkshire 22 March 1898. Buried Brebieres British Cemetery, Pas de Calais France. Grave Ref: G. 5. Harold obtained his Flying Certificate at the Beatty School, Hendon, Middlesex on 20 May 1916 flying a Beatty-Wright Biplane. At the time of obtaining the certificate, Harold’s home address was Parkfield, Bingley, Yorkshire. Depending on what data is checked, results in slightly different details being generated appertaining to Harold’s demise. The most consistently repeated details indicate that Harold was flying a Sopwith Triplane No. N5450, when he was shot down and killed at Flers, by Leutnant Otto Maashoff of Jasta 11. It would seem likely that Harold actually crashed into water after being shot down, as some data records him as having drowned. Harold’s Sopwith Triplane was the last of the three aircraft destroyed by Otto Maashoff who survived the Great War. During the Nazi era, Otto Maashoff was Chief-Engineer of Luftwaffe-Command 1 from 1 April 1938 to 31 January 1939, and Chief-Engineer of Air-Fleet-Command 1 from 1 February 1939 until his death on 26 October 1941, aged 46. SNEATH, WILFRED HARRY. Lieutenant. 208th Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died Saturday 6 April 1918. Aged 19. Born Hornsey, Middlesex 19 March 1899. Son of Harry G. T. Sneath and Mrs. Amelia E Sneath. Commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France. While serving with 1 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, Wilfred was injured in a crash on 11 October 1917. Posted to ‘C’ Flight, 8 Naval Squadron in 1917, he scored 5 victories flying Sopwith Camel machines. Wilfred was killed in

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action when his Sopwith Camel (B7187) was shot down in flames near Lens by 24 year old Leutnant Karl Hertz of Jasta 59, who was killed on 9 May 1918. At the time of the 1901 census the Sneath family resided at 115, Crouch Hill, Hornsey, Middlesex. Head of the house was 33 year old Hackney native Harry G. T. Sneath, who was the Managing Director and Proprietor of a Hotel and Restaurant.

TODD, ALLAN SWITZER. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Attached to the 20th Wing, Royal Flying Corps. Died Monday 1 January 1917. Aged 31. Born Georgetown, Ontario, Canada 18 April 1886. Son of Dr. James Allan Todd and Louisa J. Todd of 476, Brunswick Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France, and on page 581 of the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance. Also commemorated at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto. Ontario. Allan is also commemorated in the Dover Patrol Memorial Book, in the parish church of St. Margaret of Antioch, St. Margarets-at-Cliffe, Dover, Kent. Allan obtained his American Aero Certificate on 4 September 1915, flying a Curtiss Biplane, at the Curtiss Flying School, Long Branch, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Following Allan’s death his Commanding Officer, Geoffrey Bromet, wrote a lengthy letter to Allan’s parents who were then residing at 165, College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in which he told them that their son had been in a formation that had engaged seven German aircraft, and that it was almost certain that it Allan hat been shot down during the engagement.

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TRAPP, STANLEY VALENTINE. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Attached to the 22nd Wing, Royal Flying Corps. Died Sunday 10 December 1916. Aged 26. Born New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada 14 February 1890. Son of Thomas John and Nellie Kathleen Trapp of 407, Agnes Street, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. Buried Beauval Communal Cemetery, Somme, France. Grave Ref: A. 19. Commemorated on page 574 of the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance, and on the Trapp family memorial grave, pictured above at the Fraser City Cemetery, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. Also commemorated on the memorial grave are Stanley’s brothers, Flight Lieutenant George Leonard Trapp, 10th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, and Lieutenant Donovan Joseph Trapp, 85th Squadron, Royal Air Force. Stanley obtained his Flying Certificate on 12 February 1916 at the Royal Naval Air Service Station, Chingford, Essex, flying a Maurice Farman Biplane. He was accidentally killed when his Sopwith Pup (N5192) suffered a major structural failure at 150 feet and the aircrafts wings of broke up during target practice at Vert Galand aerodrome near Amiens, France, where his squadron was based at the time. Of the three Trapp brothers, ‘ace’ George was the most successful pilot, scoring six victories before he was shot down and killed at 1655 hours on 13 November 1917 over Boesinghe, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium by Oberleutnant Bruno Justinius of Jasta 35. Another brother, Major Thomas Trapp served overseas with the Canadian Expeditionary Force and fortunately survived the carnage of the Great War, having been sent back to Canada following the deaths of his three brothers. Mrs. Neita Collishaw (née Trapp) was one of their two sisters, and was the wife of Raymond Collishaw (1893-1976) who served in the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force between 1915 and 1943. Air Vice Marshal Raymond Collishaw

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C.B., D.S.O., & Bar O.B.E., D.S.C., D.F.C. was the highest scoring Royal Naval Air Service pilot during the Great War with 60 credited victories, and was the second highest scoring Canadian pilot after William "Billy" Avery Bishop (1894-1956) V.C., C.B., D.S.O. & Bar M.C., D.F.C., E.D. who was officially credited with 72 victories, and rose to the rank of Air Marshal.

TRAYNOR, WALTER EDWARD. Flight Lieutenant. 3rd Squadron, R.N. Wing, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Friday 2 February 1917. Aged 23. Born Wandsworth, London 31 January 1894. Son of Peter and Sarah Ann Traynor of 10, Winthorpe Road, Putney, London. Buried Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais. France. Grave Ref: II. M. 7. Walter was baptised at the parish church of All Saints, Wandsworth, London on April 1894. At the time of the 1901 census, the Traynor family resided at 15 Southfields Street, Wandsworth, London. Head of the house was 38 year old Gateshead, County Durham native Peter Traynor, who was employed as a Police Constable. Walter formerly served as Private, TP/3/65, 13th (County of London) Princess Louise’s Kensington Battalion, London Regiment. On 4 November 1914, Walter sailed from Southampton onboard the SS Matharan whilst serving in his battalion which was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel F.G. Lewis. Walter obtained his Flying Certificate on 17 March 1916, at the Royal Naval Air Service Station, Redcar, Yorkshire, flying a Caudron Biplane, at which time he was a Flight Sub-Lieutenant, and his home address was 15 Southfields Way, West Hill, Wandsworth, London SW. Walter’s date of death as shown above, is as shown on his CWGC commemoration, which is also the same date as recorded on his medal index card entry, but on some of the data which has been accessed by the transcriber of these brief commemorations, the date is recorded as 11 July 1917.

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WALTER, ERIC BLOUNT JACKSON. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Tuesday 24 April 1917. Aged 19. Born Brixton, London 31 October 1897. Son of Walter Jackson Walter and Florence Mary Walter. Commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais. France, and in the Dover Patrol Book of Rememberance which is located at the parish church of St. Margaret of Antioch, St. Margarets Bay, Dover, Kent. Eric obtained his Flying Certificate on 4 October 1916, at the Royal Naval Air Service Station, Redcar, Yorkshire, flying a Avro Biplane, at which time his home address was 21 Kings Terrace, Southsea, Hampshire. WALLWORTH, CLEMENT ROBERT CARMICHAEL. Flight Sub-Lieutenant. 8th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Died Monday 18 February 1918. Aged 19. Born Formby, Lancashire 1899. Son of Clement Arthur Wallworth and Adelaide Marian Wallworth (née Atty) of West Kirby, Cheshire. Buried Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont St. Éloi, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: V. K. 19. Clement and Flight Commander Guy W. Price of the same squadron, were both flying Sopwith Camel F1 tractor biplane Scouts, (Nos. B7188 and B6379 respectively) when they were both shot down whilst strafing enemy trenches. Guy Price was shot down over Bailleul by Vizefeldwebel (Sergeant Major) Heinrich Küllmer of Jasta 23. Clement Walworth was shot down over Givenchy by Leutnant Theodor Rumpel of Jasta 23. A native of Bahrenfeld, Hamburg, Germany, Theodor Rumpel was credited with shooting down five aircraft during the Great War.

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Reflected in the photograph on the memorial plaque above, is the stretch of

the English Channel and strip of land, which would have been so familiar to

the airman stationed at Walmer Aerodrome during both world wars. For

some of those commemorated on the memorial plaque, it would have been the

last piece of England they ever saw, prior to losing their lives in combat.

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The plaque on the reverse of the memorial bears the following inscriptions:-

MAY WE MEET OUR BELOVED DEAD IN THE MOUNT OF GOD, HERE

THE UNDERSTANDING IS RICH, THE WILL IS SATISFIED, THE

AFFECTIONS ARE ALL LOVE AND JOY, AND OUR WEAKNESS AND

DISHONOURS SHALL BE CHANGED TO THE STRENGTH AND

BEAUTIES OF THE SONS OF GOD.

O LORD, OUR SAVIOUR, WHO DOST FEED THY FAITHFUL PEOPLE IN

GREEN PASTURES AND LEADEST THEM TO THE WATERS OF

COMFORT TURN NOT AWAY THY SERVANTS FROM THAT PLEASANT

LAND OF REST: WHERE WITH THE FATHER AND THE SON, THOU

LIVEST AND REIGNEST EVER ONE GOD, WORLD WITHOUT END,

AMEN.

O ETERNAL LORD GOD, WHO BEHOLDEST ALL SOULS IN LIFE WE

BESEECH THEE TO SHED FORTH UPON THY WHOLE CHURCH IN

PARADISE AND EARTH, THE BRIGHT BEAMS OF THY LIGHT AND

HEAVENLY COMFORT: AND GRANT THAT WE, FOLLOWING THE

GOOD EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED THEE HERE AND

ARE AT REST, MAY, WITH THEM, AT LENGTH ENTER INTO THINE

UNENDING JOY, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.