barrypina Posted 16 November , 2008 Share Posted 16 November , 2008 Hi I am new to this forum and am researching my grandfather Lt Edwin Claude Bromley (some times mistakenly referred to as "Ernest C Bromley". His Attestation Paper from Canada on Sept 17, 1915 confirms his date of birth as August 18th 1888 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He apparently served in France as a sapper with the Canadian Engineers prior to joining the RFC (and later the RAF)in 1917. He was posted to 22 Squadron in 1917 or 1918 and was promoted to temp. 2nd Lieutenant (on probation) on May 17, 1917. In a letter to his future wife he said that he did his first solo flight on July 16, 1917. The book Above The Trenches states that on November 8, 1917 his Bristol F.2b B1123 (with A H Middleton as observer) was "shot up" and forced to land. (This episode was apparently related to my mother.) During the same year between May 6th and June 5th he scored 12 aerial victories, with John H Umney as observer for the first 10 and Charles G. Gass for the last 2. He flew Bristol F.2b's for all of his victories the Bristol having the following serial numbers; C4747, A7243, C 961. Lt. Bromley was reportedly awarded the Military Cross for his service. He returned to Canada after the war, married Elizabeth Ayling in Oct. of 1920 and returned to work for Simpson-Sears Ltd. He had one daughter Margaret Eleanor Bromley (my mother) born Sept. 5 1923 and I believe that he died in 1926, cause of death unknown but rumored to be suicide (survivors guilt??). I have a few old photos of him in uniform and a few artifacts, (flying goggles, and swagger stick). Hope some of you out there can add to my limited knowledge. Barry Bromley Pina barrypina@netscape.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borden Battery Posted 16 November , 2008 Share Posted 16 November , 2008 Hello Barry Try these websites as well. Borden Battery Cross & Cockade International Cross & Cockade International (CCI) is the First World War Aviation Historical Society with around 1,500 members in 25 countries all over the world. It publishes a quarterly, 72-page journal with an article index back to 1970. There is a detailed research databases on a wide range of items including aircraft and engine serial numbers. There is also a discussion group. [CEF Study Group - June 2005] http://www.crossandcockade.com/main.htm The Aerodrome This website is very extensive in its documentation of the air war including cross-indexing of aircraft, aces, serial numbers of aircraft and pilot victories. Emphasis is visual and with visual statistics. The discussion forum includes about 3100 members, over 195,000 postings with discussion threads tending to be on specific aircraft and airmen rather than historic discussion. Therefore, an excellent site for researching specific topics on Great War aerial combat. [Recommendation by Brett Payne / emma gee][CEF Study Group - Jan 2006 - Updated] http://www.theaerodrome.com/ The Story of World War I Aviation The history of World War One aviation is a rich and varied story. It was marked by a period of very rapid technological development. This site is quite comprehensive. [CEF Study Group] http://www.wwiaviation.com/toc.shtml First World War Honours & Awards to Canadians in the British Flying Services This database was prepared by H.A. Halliday and is drawn primarily from a card file now held by the Directorate of History and Heritage, Canadian Forces Headquarters. It includes some awards for services in Russia following the First World War. [CEF Study Group] http://www.airforce.ca/index2.php3?page=wwi Canadian Air Aces and Heroes The small website has some detailed and distilled information on Canadian Air Aces from the Great War to the Korean War. There are also a large number of additional website links to other air war sites. [CEF Study Group] http://www.constable.ca/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Roberts Posted 17 November , 2008 Share Posted 17 November , 2008 Hi Barry, welcome to the Forum. I can't add anything to your knowledge; you've already done copious research! But I had a look on theaerodrome.com, which I'm sure you already have. They say that his twelve victories were scored in May-June 1918; what you write above seems to imply 1917 - do you know which is correct? Theaerodrome.com gives no date of death, so straight away you know more than they do. I have an interest in psychiatry, which I also apply to my hobby - do you have any more details of his sad death (that you would be willing to share publicly); any reasons for thinking in terms of survivor's guilt? Charles Gass was the top-scoring observer ace of the war - the site doesn't give any details of his death either; does anyone else on this forum know when and how he died? Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liverpool annie Posted 17 November , 2008 Share Posted 17 November , 2008 Hi Barry ! I found some snippets that maybe of interest ... Lt Ernest C.BROMLEY 12 C.Shores et al. (with obs.)(5 kills+7 OoC) RAF 22Sq Bristol Fighter ace, 1918. http://jpgleize.club.fr/aces/ww1gbr.htm Bristol F2 Fighter Aces of World War 1 By Jon Guttman http://www.rootschat.com/links/04ue/ Heres a ships manifest - says he's headed to Vancouver BC and a Lieut. ( I can email it to you ! ) Name: Edwin Claude Bromley Gender: Male Age: 29 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1889 Birth Country: Canada Date of Arrival: 20 Jul 1918 Vessel: Scandinavian Port of Arrival: New York, New York Port of Departure: Liverpool, England Roll: T-4731 And he's buried here BROMLEY, Edwin Claude 1888 - 1928 Burnsland Cemetery Calgary Lot 31, Clock 4, Section H Date of Burial is May 7, 1928 He is buried alone Not much but I hope it helps ! Annie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liverpool annie Posted 17 November , 2008 Share Posted 17 November , 2008 And ....... ( column 1 on the left hand side ) http://www.ourfutureourpast.ca/newspapr/np...de=nhap0149.jpg Hope it helps you and your family ! RIP Edwin Annie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 17 November , 2008 Share Posted 17 November , 2008 Welcome to the forum Barry, Do you have his RAF officers’ service record from AIR 76? You can request copies from their shop online service, but this is more expensive than documents online or ask a pal for a look up. May he Rest in Peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrypina Posted 18 November , 2008 Author Share Posted 18 November , 2008 Welcome to the forum Barry, Do you have his RAF officers' service record from AIR 76? You can request copies from their shop online service, but this is more expensive than documents online or ask a pal for a look up. May he Rest in Peace. I have not seen his service record but would very much like to, how can I get a "look up"? (What is AIR 76?) Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrypina Posted 18 November , 2008 Author Share Posted 18 November , 2008 And ....... ( column 1 on the left hand side ) http://www.ourfutureourpast.ca/newspapr/np...de=nhap0149.jpg Hope it helps you and your family ! RIP Edwin Annie Wow! this is some great info. Thank you very much! How did you find these newspaper archives? Would like to dig further into this. Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrypina Posted 18 November , 2008 Author Share Posted 18 November , 2008 Hi Barry ! I found some snippets that maybe of interest ... Lt Ernest C.BROMLEY 12 C.Shores et al. (with obs.)(5 kills+7 OoC) RAF 22Sq Bristol Fighter ace, 1918. http://jpgleize.club.fr/aces/ww1gbr.htm Bristol F2 Fighter Aces of World War 1 By Jon Guttman http://www.rootschat.com/links/04ue/ Heres a ships manifest - says he's headed to Vancouver BC and a Lieut. ( I can email it to you ! ) Name: Edwin Claude Bromley Gender: Male Age: 29 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1889 Birth Country: Canada Date of Arrival: 20 Jul 1918 Vessel: Scandinavian Port of Arrival: New York, New York Port of Departure: Liverpool, England Roll: T-4731 And he's buried here BROMLEY, Edwin Claude 1888 - 1928 Burnsland Cemetery Calgary Lot 31, Clock 4, Section H Date of Burial is May 7, 1928 He is buried alone Not much but I hope it helps ! Annie These are great! I would like you to e-mail the manifest, barrypina@netscape.net He was buried alone because his widow and daughter moved to the US (Maine) to live with relitives. Regards, Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liverpool annie Posted 20 November , 2008 Share Posted 20 November , 2008 Hi Barry ... I wonder if an email to the Coroners office may be an idea ! you could try Calgary and Edmonton ...... not sure if they will be able to help but it's worth a shot ! http://www.justice.gov.ab.ca/ocme/ I was wondering also if Edwin might have shell shocked ... ( that maybe an avenue to pursue ! ) God Bless him it must have been an awful load to bear on his shoulders ! Annie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 29 November , 2008 Share Posted 29 November , 2008 Barry, sorry for not responding to your enquiry; AIR 76 is a class of documents at the UK National Archives, they are: Air Ministry: Department of the Master-General of Personnel: Officers' Service Records. If his record has been released it should be in AIR 76/56 (surnames Broach, A C E - Brooker, Percy). There is possible a match for his RFC records WO 374/9316 BROMLEY, 2/Lieut C E. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybou Posted 3 December , 2008 Share Posted 3 December , 2008 Hello I have him as having service with the PPCLI prior to the RAF. Source: Library and Archives Canada RG9-III-C-14 Volume 4609 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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