Transfers of Manchester Regiment Officers to RFC/RAF

[timberman]

Photo found at

http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/child2.php

Also there is a photo at

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42031312

where he's wearing Manchester badges
also photos of his grave.

Wiki also have a bit on him

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Martin_Child




Timberman

[PhilipG]

Mack and Timberman,

Thanks for the info. which raises another question upon which I am working!  Philip.

[PhilipG]

Lieutenant Sidney Collier MC, RFC,  No. 5 Squadron and 6th Bn. Manchester Regiment. KIA 28.3.18.

There can be no doubt that at this difficult time during the Great War, the support given by the RFC to the retreating British troops was magnificent and the high number of casualties suffered by the airmen on 28th March 1918 illustrates this fact.

A continuing problem was the lack of extensive British artillery activity, the movement of which was impeded by the scale of the enemy's attacks.   Thus, RFC Command ensured that at all times British aircraft were in action over the battlefields in substantial numbers and were carrying out offensives against targets which they would not normally have undertaken.   There are historians who would assert that the RFC and from a few days later (1st April) when it became the RAF, "saved the British Army".

It was against this background that a RE8 aircraft piloted by 2nd.Lt.P.W.Woodhouse with Lt. Collier as his Observer was airborne over the Arras battlefield at 9.40 a.m. on 28th March carrying out an artillery patrol.   Although in contrast to the fighting farther south, the Arras front gave an impression of some stability, No. 5 Squadron was nevertheless involved in combat and Lt. Collier's machine was shot down and both crew members killed.   The two men are buried in La Chaudiere Military Cemetery, Vimy.

I wonder if it is possible to ascertain with what unit Lt. Collier was serving when awarded the Military Cross?

PhilipG.

[PhilipG]

I am having difficulty tracing the Service careers of the following officers and wonder, please, if anyone has further info. than that given below:-

Lt. F.Leach Royal Air Force & 8th Manchesters.
Died 16.6.18
 Kirkee Memorial, India.


Captain and Flight Commander Robert Reeder Royal Flying Corps. & 10th Manchesters.
Died 6.1.18
Doullens Comm. Cem. Extn.No.1

PhilipG.

[Robert Bonner]

Philip.
I've come across these officers & NCOs who transferred and received awards:

15399 Sgt SB Percival MM, attached 27 Sqn RAF.
Major WR Freeman DSO, MC. French Legion of Honour. 2nd Bn & RFC.
Captain AG Moore. MC. 4th Bn & RFC.
Major VA Albrecht OBE. 2nd Bn & RFC.
Major JS Foulkes OBE.  18th Bn & RFC.
Lieut H Waddington OBE.  19th Bn & RFC.
 

[PhilipG]

Robert,

Thanks for this info.  I'll see if I can trace any of them.  Philip.

[PhilipG]

Lieutenant W.R.Freeman (Major W.R.Freeman: 2nd Manchesters & No. 2 Squadron RFC).

The Official dates for the Battle of the Aisne are 12th - 15th September 1914 with the British Army engaging with the enemy along the river.   Almost 100 years ago (12th September 1914), this officer, together with Lt. L.Dawes piloting the aircraft were in action in the Laon-Soissons sector, flying a BE2 aircraft No. 384 of No.2 Squadron Royal Flying Corps.

Their aircraft was hit by German machine gun fire from the ground and forced to land, but in doing so crashed into some woods, the aircraft being badly damaged.   Using the cover of darkness, both officers managed to escape to the British lines in the west, swimming the River Aisne to do so, subsequently re-joining their unit.

Lt.Freeman was again airborne, this time on the 3rd November 1914 flying one of No. 2 Squadron's aircraft, namely a Bleriot XI - No. B1807.  It is not clear upon what duties Lt. Freeman was involved, but his aircraft was damaged by shell fire and flown to St.Omer.

Lastly, it would be interesting to learn when Lt. Freeman qualified as a pilot.  PhilipG.

[themonsstar]

Hi Philip

Is this the chap  Wilfred Rhodes Freeman

[themonsstar]

Captain AG Moore. MC. 4th Bn & RFC.

[themonsstar]

Major VA Albrecht

[themonsstar]

Lt DA.Glen

[themonsstar]

Lt JNC Washington

[themonsstar]

Lt Leake. Eric Gilbert

[themonsstar]

Capt G.Chadwick

[themonsstar]

Lt John Rawsthorne. Tyrer