2/Lt Philip McLellan HAARER, No 15 Sqn, RFC

[Dolphin]

2Lt Philip McLellan Haarer, aged 20 and from Wandsworth Common, London, was flying BE 2d 7172 of No 15 Sqn RFC, with his observer, Lt Andrew Clark Laird, aged 22 and formerly with the Glasgow Highlanders and the 5th Battalion, Black Watch, when killed on 22 November 1916. No 15 Sqn was based at Léalvillers (Clairfaye Farm) aerodrome at the time.

Both airmen from 7172 are buried at Varennes, France.

Airmen Died indicates that Lts Haarer and Laird were killed in action, but there’s no corresponding entry in The Sky Their Battlefield; perhaps they met their end in an accident.

Gareth

[Stebie9173]

London Gazette 12-10-1916

ROYAL FLYING CORPS.

Mil. Wing.—The undermentioned appts. are made: —

Flying Officers.—

17th Sept. 1916.

2nd Lt. (on prob.) P. McL. Haarer, Spec. Res. 19th Sept. 1916.

Steve.

[FredJCarss]

Laird is on the War Memorial at Kilmacolm.

ATTD. 15TH SQUADRON R.F.C., YST. S. OF JOHN LAIRD, OF 2BALMORAL PLACE, CROSSHILL, GLASGOW, WHOLESALE STATIONER, BY HIS WIFE, MARTHA, DAU. OF THE LATE JOHN BARR, OF KILMACOLM AND LARGS; B. KILMACOLM, CO. RENFREW, 27 MAY, 1894; EDUC.GLASGOW HIGH SCHOOL, AND ON LEAVING THERE ENTERED THE EMPLOYMENT OF MESSRS. JOHN LAIRD & SON LTD.,WHOLESALESTATIONERS, GLASGOW; JOINED THE GLASGOW HIGHLANDERS AS A PRIVATE IN SEPT.1914, AFTER THE OUTBREAK OF WAR; SERVED WITH

THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS FROM 22 JAN. 1915; REMAINED IN ENGLAND UNTIL 22 JAN.1916, WHEN HE RETURNED TO FRANCE WITH THE BLACK WATCH; WAS ATTACHED TO THE R.F.C

AS OBSERVER IN AUG., AND WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON THE SOMME 22 NOV. FOLLOWING, WHILE OUT PREPARING FOR ARTILLERY OBSERVATION.

BURIED IN THE BRITISH CEMETERY AT VARENNES.

MAJOR BROCK, R.F.C., WROTE: "YOUR SON HAD DONE VERY WELL SINCE

JOINING THE SQUADRON, AND HAD SHOWN A KEEN INTEREST IN HIS

WORK. I AM MORE THAN SORRY TO LOSE HIM, AS HE WAS TURNING

OUT TO BE A MOST USEFUL OBSERVER, "AND CAPT. HUDSON, R.F.C.:

"YOUR SON'S DEATH IS A GREAT LOSS TO THE SQUADRON. HE WAS A

VERY KEEN AND THOROUGHLY RELIABLE OBSERVER; QUICK TO SEE

THINGS AND PAINSTAKING IN VERIFYING HIS OBSERVATIONS. HE WAS

UP WITH ME ON MANY OCCASIONS, AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MOST

PLEASED WITH HIS WORK. EVEN WHEN QUITE NEW TO THE CONDITIONS

HE NEVER LOST HIS HEAD IN DIFFICULTIES, AND NOTABLY KEPT

COOL AND DID EXCELLENT WORK WHEN WE HAD SCRAPS WITH ENEMY

MACHINES."

Hope this is of some help.

Fred