Lieutenant (later Captain) A.N.Solly : Royal Flying Corps and 26th Bn. Manchester Regiment
After the Battle of Loos it was realised that the RFC must regain superiority in the air and to this end a quite remarkable build up ensued, with the RFC by June 1916 having 27 squadrons in France. Lt.Solly's squadron (No.23) arrived in France on the 16th March 1916 equipped with FE2b aircraft.
On the 30th April 1916,whilst on a photographic patrol over Ayette, the FE2b aircraft - No. 6345- and piloted by Lt. S.H.B. Harris with Lt. Solly as his Observer was damaged by enemy anti-aircraft fire. Despite being wounded, Lt. Harris was able to bring the aircraft back to base and landed safely.
Lt. Solly was in action again on 31st May, this time flying in the squadron's aircraft No. 5215 in the Cambrai- Adinfer Wood area, escorting a reconnaissance patrol. On this occasion, his pilot was Captain H.Wyllie. At 9.15 a.m. the patrol was set upon by 3 Fokker aircraft when operating at a height of between 6000 and 7000 feet. None of the RFC aircraft were lost and there were no RFC crew casualties, but an enemy 'plane was seen to go down. The report by the commander of this patrol attributed the success of the action to the ability of the patrol to keep a tight formation.
The results of the efforts of the RFC on the 1st July 1916 have been assessed as "mixed". Certainly the RFC had air supremecy, but contact with the artillery had been variable.
On the 1st July, Lt.Solly and his pilot, Captain Wyllie were again airborne, this time in squadron aircraft No. 5213. They were engaged in a reconnaissance patrol with two other squadron 'planes, when at an altitude of 7000 feet over Vaulx, at shortly after 5 o'clock in the evening, they were in combat with 5 enemy aircraft. One German machine was seen to go into a controlled nosedive. On their return to base, Solly's aircraft came under anti-aircraft fire and he was wounded, being hit in the thigh.
Clearly, Lt. Solly must have successfully recovered from his wounds, for he was in action again on the 13th May 1917, this time flying with No. 20 Squadron operating FE2d aircraft. I note that during his spell recovering from his wounds he must have undergone pilot training, for his Observer/Gunner was Air Mechanic Second Class C. Beminster. Flying squadron aircraft No. A6354 over Menin they engaged in combat at 11 a.m. with an enemy "two-seater" and shot it down, returning to base unscathed.
The CWGC record Solly's date of death as 11th August 1917 and give his rank as that of Captain. Mention is also made of his connection with the Manchester Regiment. One source gives the manner of his death as "killed whilst flying", which could indicate his death took place when engaged in non-operational flying. Research indicates that he was flying with Lt.D.Y.Hay, piloting a Bristol F2B aircraft No.A7108 which crashed and both were killed. I see that his squadron (No.20) was equipped with FE2d's around that time which may indicate that these officers were involved in some "air test" or training on a new type of 'plane at the time. With this theory, I gain support from the fact that on the 26th January 1917 Solly was seconded to the "Rolls Royce Works", returning to operations some three months later. As the Bristol F2B was designed to be fitted with a Rolls Royce engine, perhaps his flight in aircraft No. A7108 had some technical purpose?
Both officers are buried in Longuenesse (St.Omer) Souvenir Cemetery.
PhilipG.
