Australians in the RNAS

[spidge]

Any information on causes of death or photos of headstones or memorials on the five listed below would be appreciated.

I have also tracked down:

Australians killed WW1

RAF (27)

RFC (43)

AFC (213)

Any additions known to these numbers?

Name: HAIG, JAMES DOUGLAS

Initials: J D

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Flight Sub-Lieutenant

Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Air Service

Unit Text: "Royal Ark" No. 2 Wing.

Age: 18

Date of Death: 20/05/1917

Additional information: Son of Harriek Mabel Isabel Haig, of "Mingoola," Sherwin St., Gladesville, Sydney, Australia, and the late William Robert Haig.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Memorial: HOLLYBROOK MEMORIAL, SOUTHAMPTON

Name: FRASER, PERCIVAL VICTOR

Initials: P V

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Warrant Officer

Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Air Service

Date of Death: 10/01/1916

Additional information: Son of William and Annie Fraser, of The Pines, Emu Park, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: D. 148.

Cemetery: EASTBOURNE (OCKLYNGE) CEMETERY

Name: HARRISON, DOUGLAS WILLIAM

Initials: D W

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Flight Sub-Lieutenant

Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Air Service

Unit Text: H.M.S. "Torrent."

Age: 25

Date of Death: 23/12/1917

Additional information: Only son of Jessie Margaret Harrison, of "Maisonnette," Woodend, Victoria, Australia, and the late Ernest Harrison. Born in Tasmania.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: 25.

Memorial: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL

Name: MANN, ALFRED THOMAS OSBORNE

Initials: A T O

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Flight Sub-Lieutenant

Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Air Service

Unit Text: No. 3 Wing,

Age: 26

Date of Death: 29/11/1916

Additional information: Son of Mr. T.E. Mann, of 163, Phillip St., Sydney, Australia. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 9.

Cemetery: LUXEUIL (or Luxeuil-les-Bains) COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Name: MOIR, CHARLES JARVIS

Initials: C J

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Flight Lieutenant

Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Air Service

Age: 21

Date of Death: 10/05/1917

Additional information: Croix de Guerre (France). Son of Alexander and Annie Moir, of "Myoora," Gordon Rd., Greenwich, Sydney, Australia.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: A. 1.

Cemetery: OOSTENDE NEW COMMUNAL CEMETERY

[spidge]

I noticed on a HMS Torrent search that there was a thread here on the same ship!

Would I assume that this flyer was killed on board?.................anybody?

Name: HARRISON, DOUGLAS WILLIAM

Initials: D W

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Flight Sub-Lieutenant

Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Air Service

Unit Text: H.M.S. "Torrent."

Age: 25

Date of Death: 23/12/1917

Additional information: Only son of Jessie Margaret Harrison, of "Maisonnette," Woodend, Victoria, Australia, and the late Ernest Harrison. Born in Tasmania.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: 25.

Memorial: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL

[horatio2]

FRASER - Short S.38 Ser.3148 crashed while low flying 10/1/1916 (Eastbourne Flying School). PFSL GE Duke and WO2 PV Fraser both killed.

MOIR - Sopwith Pup Ser N.6185, 4 Sqn. Shot down near Zeebrugge 10/5/1917 Temp FSL CJ Moir killed.

[spidge]

Thank you Horatio2. Much appreciated!

[per ardua per mare per terram]

I'm looking forward to reading pal Andrew Smith's book about the contribution of Aussies in the WWI air services.

[Dolphin]

Spidge

FSL J D Haig was killed in action while flying a Farman on the Macedonian Front with Sub Lt G Keightley on 20 May 1917. It looks like they were spotting for the guns of HMS Raglan while shelling Kavalla when Ltn Rudolph von Eschwege of Flieger Abteilung 30 appeared and shot them down into the sea near Thasos. It was the 9th of von Eschwege's eventual 20 victories.

FSL D W Harrison was killed when HMS Torrent was sunk due to a mine explosion in the North Sea on 23 December 1917.

FSL A T O Mann of No 3 Wing RNAS was killed in a flying accident in a Sopwith 1½ Strutter on 29 November 1916.

FSL C J Moir of No 4 Sqn RNAS was killed in action when flying Sopwith Pup N6185 (squadron identification 'A' and expanded to read Anzac) on 10 May 1917. He was escorting bombers when shot down near Zeebrugge. He was credited with victories over an Albatros D.V over Dixmude on 26 April, and another enemy aircraft south of Nieuport on 30 April while flying N6185.

I hope that this helps you.

Gareth

[Terry Denham]

Here is Fraser's grave in Eastbourne.

[spidge]

I'm looking forward to reading pal Andrew Smith's book about the contribution of Aussies in the WWI air services.

He has some great information compiled.

I also look forward to the book!

[sadsac]

Spidge, here is a Recommendation for `your' MOIR. No award was forthcoming ;

MOIR Charles.Jarvis N/E Flt.S/Lt. RNAS 85T023 N/E

Vice Admiral Dover Patrol N/E N/E

R.N.A.S. Officers - Attacks on Enemy Aerodrome 23.04.16 & 04.05.16 N/E

He took part in Air Raids of 4th May, 1916, on Maiakerquel (?) Aerodrome.

Regards Sadsac

[Andrew Smith]

I'm looking forward to reading pal Andrew Smith's book about the contribution of Aussies in the WWI air services.

So am I if I can find a bloody publisher lol.

Okay I should make you wait until the book comes out, but we both may have gone west by then. Here are some names you don't have.

Basil Drummond Ash

Born: Southport Queenland

Rank: Flight Lieutenant

DOB: 16 May 1890

DOD: 30 Sept. 1914

Fate: KIA/KIFA? With Fl Lieut. Vernon in Short Seaplane Serial 77 over North Sea.

Buried: NKG named on CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL

Note. I believe Ash to be Australia's first Aviation Casulalty of the War.

Cecil Horace Brinsmead

Born: Sydney New South Wales

Rank: Flight Sub Lieut.

DOB: 10 July 1893

DOD: 11 January 1916

Fate: KIA flying Farman off Sedd El Bahr, off Helles Claim FAb6?

Burried: Lancashire landing Cemetery Turkey

Reginald Argyle Davey

Born: St Peters, South Australia

Rank: Lieut.

DOB: 9 October 1896

DOD: 8 September 1916

Fate: Drowns after cable of balloon snaps. In gondola with Flag Commander Oliver Schwann. Scarpa Flow.

Buried: NKG named on CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL

Note: Family state that he gave Commander Schwann his Gieve's lifebelt after Schwann's failed to inflate.

Alfred Basil Helbert

Born: Canowindra, New South Wales

Rank: Flight Sub Lieut.

DOB: 24 January 1895

DOD: 29 August 1917

Fate: DOI (As a result of immersion in the North Sea Oct 1916.)

Buried: Brookwood Military Cemetery.

Phillip Andrew Johnston

Born: Woolarha, New South Wales

Rank: Flight Commander

DOB: 27 February 1898

DOD: 17 August 1917

Fate: KIA Collided with FSL BA BENNETTS, both being claimed by Olt Hans Begthe of Jasta 30

Buried: NKG Named Arras Flying Services Memorial.

Keith Ross Munro

Born: Maranoa, Queensland

Rank: Flight Sub Lieut.

DOB: 28 July 1895

DOD: 9 August 1917

Fate: KIA - flying Tripe N6290 "Dixie" over Polygon Wood. Claim Ltn W Guttler Ja24

Burried: NKG Named Arras Flying Services Memorial.

Ernest Reginald Whyte

Born: St Kilda, Victoria

Rank: Air Mechanic 1st Class

DOB: 31 January 1890

DOD: 11 December 1917

Fate: KIA when C27 shot down by German Seaplanes.

Buried: NKG named on CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL

Reginald Hope Young

Born:Sydney New South Wales

Rank: Petty Officer

DOB: 30 November 1898

DOD: 27 January 1916

Fate: DOW. Wounded Dardenelles

Buried: Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery

So in total I have 13 Australian RNAS members who died during the war. I will not state that as a true figure as yet as i am still searching the RNAS "Lower Decks".

PM me if you have any further questions.

If anyone has photos of any of these men or their graves I would love to get a copy.

Regards,

Andrew

[melliget]

Spidge.

Re Sub-Lieut. James Douglas Haig, he had previously joined the A.I.F. (5th Btn.). His service record is available here on the NAA site. He enlisted 17.08.1914, embarked for active service 19.10.1914, admitted to hospital in Alexandria 03.07.1915, returned to Melbourne 01.10.1915, discharged (medically unfit) 29.02.1916.

In a letter to Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, regarding his personal effects 25.09.1917 (p.27), his grandmother, J. Macgillivray (his mother was in bad health) states that "on regaining his health he proceeded to England & joined the R.N.A. Squadron passed the exams & obtained a commission & was shot down and killed on the Bulgarian coast on the 20th May 1917."

I searched NAA's RecordSearch for the other 4 but no luck (I may have missed them). For WW1 (and WW2) service records, searching on someone's full name is normally sufficient.

regards,

Martin

[melliget]

Keith Ross Munro

This man also previously served in the A.I.F., with the 5th Light Horse, at Gallipoli (wounded in action in the Dardanelles). His service record on the NAA site.

regards,

Martin

[Andrew Smith]

This man also previously served in the A.I.F., with the 5th Light Horse, at Gallipoli (wounded in action in the Dardanelles). His service record on the NAA site.

regards,

Martin

Martin,

Munro's LH career has been described in depth on a previous thread;

Munro Thread

Regards,

Andrew

[spidge]

Andrew & Martin,

Thanks very much for the additional information.

[melliget]

Munro's LH career has been described in depth on a previous thread

Thanks, Andrew. Hadn't realised. I had the NAA site open after looking for something else and just plugged the names in to see what came up.

regards,

Martin

[Peter Bennett]

Would this man be one of the most decorated.

Name: LITTLE, ROBERT ALEXANDER

Initials: R A

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Flight Commander

Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force

Unit Text: 203rd Sqdn.

Secondary Regiment: Royal Naval Air Service

Secondary Unit Text: formerly

Age: 22

Date of Death: 27/05/1918

Awards: D S O and Bar, D S C and Bar

Additional information: Croix de Guerre with star (France). Son of James Little, of Collins St., Melbourne; husband of Vera Little, of "Centreway", 263, Collins St., Melbourne, Australia.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: D. 7.

Cemetery: WAVANS BRITISH CEMETERY

Headstone & Plaque near ancestral home, Eskdalemuir, Scotland.

[sadsac]

Spidge / Peter, here is the DSO Award to LITTLE ;

LITTLE Robert A N/E Flt.Lt. RNAS 85T084

No. 8 Squadron 10 Army Wing R.F.C

C-in-C France 11.08.17 Gazetted

R.N.A.S. Officers - France 09.05.17 & 26.06.17 DSO

For gallantry in action, and for exceptional skill and daring in ariel combats.

Since the 9th May, 1917, besides having damaged no fewer than six hostile machines, and driven off numerous artillery aeroplanes, he has destroyed six others.

On the 26th June, 1917, an Airiatik being seen from the aerodrome, he went up to attack it, and damaged it East of St.Eloy. He fired a burst at close range, and the enemy machine stalled and went down in flames. One of the occupants jumped out, and the other was seen to fall off the machine before it reached the ground.

In all, this officer has destroyed 21 enemy aeroplanes.

Regards Sadsac

[Andrew Smith]

Would this man be one of the most decorated.

He certainly was, Stan Dallas was up there so were Norman Stewart-Dawson and a few others. In fact it was Little and Dallas that got me really interested in WW1 aviation.

It was always a hobby of mine as my great Uncle's served with the AFC but one day I received the book "Above the Trenches" as a gift. I couldn't believe that here was a bloke that was credited with so many victories and was unknown.

Then I read about Stan Dallas and that lead me to some great characters such as "Kanga" De La Rue, and Harry Watson.

There are a few cads and bounders amongst them, some that left their wives and children others that had links with the black market during WW2. The most scandalous however is the chap that met an engaged woman on an ocean liner talked her into breaking off the engagement and then he had his way with her and dumped her. It lead to a court case which escalated into international disagreement with Australia and Sweden.

I have 190 plus men in my book and each one has a great story to tell, I hope to share them all one day.

Regards,

Andrew

[Killratio]

Andrew,

Long time no hear.

How is the family?

If you need any CitARs just yell out. Good luck with finding a publisher, Stan just about had to become a suicide bomber to get one!! Hopefully he has paved the way a bit.

D

[Andrew Smith]

Andrew,

Long time no hear.

How is the family?

If you need any CitARs just yell out. Good luck with finding a publisher, Stan just about had to become a suicide bomber to get one!! Hopefully he has paved the way a bit.

D

G'day Mate,

It certainly has been a while. Thanks for the offer regarding citars, I will take you up on that. Can you PM me your email address.

Family are all fine Donna says hello. Jacqiue is nearly 15, has her first boyfriend. I was ready to do the father of a daughter thing on him, but he is a really lovely boy, he has great manners, opens and closes doors for her etc., plus the fact that he wants to join the RAAF and become a pilot after year 12.

How is everyone on t'other side?

Andrew

[Peter Bennett]

Does anyone have a photo of Robert Little, he has long been one of my heroes.

[Andrew Smith]

Does anyone have a photo of Robert Little, he has long been one of my heroes.

[Peter Bennett]

Thanks Andrew. Wonder what happened to his little son "Blymp" who is named on his epitaph.

[Andrew Smith]

Thanks Andrew. Wonder what happened to his little son "Blymp" who is named on his epitaph.

Son passed away late 1960's

Regards,

Andrew

[per ardua per mare per terram]

I echo the hope that you find a publisher soon.

I'm surprised that Little didn't get a VC, just as i am that Collishaw didn't.