thedawnpatrol Posted 14 November , 2023 Share Posted 14 November , 2023 Still going through many Medal groups that I inherited a couple of years ago, i think i have found a very interesting story……… that of Major Colin Defries, the note that accompanied them simply stated ‘ Technical Officer’ but on a brief internet search tonight i was amazed to find out who he was……..he undertook the First Powered Flight in Australia in December 1909……so he would have been 30 in 1914 so was probably too old to fly ? So understandable the Sept 1918 RAF list, lists him as Technical Officer any further information about his early RFC service would be appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 14 November , 2023 Share Posted 14 November , 2023 RafMuseum have his Casualty Forms Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 14 November , 2023 Share Posted 14 November , 2023 The first page of his RAF service record on FindmyPast. There are three more. He has an Army service record, not digitised, at Nat Archives under WO 339/36354 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tawhiri Posted 15 November , 2023 Share Posted 15 November , 2023 Looks like he was initially commissioned on 15 June 1915 with the RFC, and then appointed Assistant Equipment Officer a week later on 22 June 1915. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29205/supplement/6156 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29290/page/8989 By 1 August 1916 he was a Captain, holding the rank of temporary Major. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29727/page/8504 And then on 15 May 1918 he became a temporary Lieutenant-Colonel while formally a Major. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30846/page/9581 He resigned his commission on 15 March 1919, due to ill-health contracted while on active service, as per his AIR 76 record posted above. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31230/page/3486 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedawnpatrol Posted 18 November , 2023 Author Share Posted 18 November , 2023 Thank you both for your information, it certainly fills a few gaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now