2nd Lt R V Walker, Bexhill's "knight of the air"

[Flakdodger]

At Bexhill Museum [East Sussex, UK] we are plodding on with our efforts to identify every Bexhillian who served in The Great war.

In a local newspaper we have discovered a local schoolmaster:

2nd Lt R V Walker, 6th Bn Connaught Rangers, who along with 2nd Lt Lord Doune are awarded the MC in May 1916 for shooting down a 'Fokker machine'

The article describes them as attacking the Fokker from 1,000 feet above.

"Lord Doune at once dived, and, when within sixty yards Lt Walker opened fire. Lord Doune then headed straight for the Fokker, which had to rise steeply to avoid a collision. Lieutenants Walker and Lord Doune then both opened fire and shot away one wing of the Fokker which fell behind the British lines."

Can anyone add any detail to this account? Date, unit types of aircraft etc?

Many thanks,

Dave

[mickdavis]

On a 25 Sqn FE2b

5209 25 Sqn dd ex 1 AD 16.1.16 and victs 29.4.16 (2Lt Lord Doune/2Lt RV Walker destroyed a Fokker E-type near La Bassée at 11.05hrs) and 16.5.16 (Lt HB Davey/Lt JA Mann shot down an Albatros near Lille at 09.45hrs) then LIA near Hulluch 22.6.16 (2Lt JLP Armstrong POW fatally WIA/Sgt G Topliffe POW – by Ltn M Ritt v Mulzer, KEK Nord, a/c had 119hrs 47mins flying time).

[Flakdodger]

Thank you Mick,

very much obliged. Right on target. The newspaper report seemed ambiguous as to whether the action involved a two seater or single seaters.

Cheers

Dave