VC's Transferred to RFC/RAF

[alan peacock]

Anyone have info. on RFC/RAF VC. holders who were awarded
the medal before being transferred to the flying services?
Also were there any VC holders transferred to the RNAS?

Alan.

[Graeme]

Alan

The following recipients of the Victoria Cross subsequently transferred into the flying services:


2nd Lieutenant Gabriel George COURY, 3rd Battalion, The Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment), London Gazette dated 26 October 1916;
2nd Lt John Mason CRAIG, 1st/4th Battalion, attached 1st/5th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, London Gazette dated 1 August 1917;
Corporal Frank Howard KIRBY, Royal Engineers, London Gazette dated 8 October 1900;
L-Sergeant Frederick William PALMER, London Gazette dated 3 April 1917.

Graeme

[Rick]

Graeme:

L-Sergeant?? Lance-Sergeant?? Just a Yank guessing! R.

[MattyBoy]

FWIW, although it isn't exactly the right subject, there are a few VC recipients who were pilots before the war, or VC recipients after leaving the RFC:

Augustus Agar, A. Moutray-Read, Lewis P. Evans, Arthur D. Borton.

All the best.

[alan peacock]

Graeme,
Well done Graeme ! reliable as ever.

Cheers,
Alan.

[alan peacock]

MattyBoy,
Many thanks for your reply,all info. is most welcome.

Cheers,
Alan.

[Graeme]

Rick

The citation in the London Gazette reads:

"His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to No. 731 L./Sjt. (now 2nd Lt.) Frederick William Palmer, R. Fus.

For most conspicuous bravery, control and determination.

During the progress of certain operations, all the Officers of his Company having been shot down, Sjt. Palmer assumed command, and, having cut his way under point blank machine gun fire, through the wire entanglements,
he rushed the enemy's trench with six of his men, dislodged the hostile machine gun which had been hampering our advance, and established a block.

He then collected men detached from other regiments, and held the barricade for nearly three hours against seven determined counter-attacks, under an incessant barrage of bombs and rifle grenades from his flank, and front.

During his temporary absence in search of more bombs an eighth counter-attack was delivered by the enemy, who succeeded in driving in his party, and threatened the defences of the whole flank. At this critical moment, although he had been blown off his feet by a bomb and was greatly exhausted, he rallied his men, drove back the enemy and maintained his position.

The very conspicuous bravery displayed by this Non-commissioned Officer cannot be overstated, and his splendid determination and devotion to duty undoubtedly averted what might have proved a serious disaster in this sector of the line."

I understand his rank as being Lance-Sergeant, but can't recall having come across this previously. Perhaps we have a "ranks buff" out there who can confirm or otherwise.

Graeme

[Graeme]

Not really on-topic, but indicative of the information available in the London Gazette:

Captain ANKETELL MOUTRAY READ, V.C., Deceased.

Pursuant to the Act of Parliament of the 22nd and 23rd Vic., cap. 35, intituled "An Act to further amend the Law of Property and to relieve Trustees."

NOTICE is hereby given, that all creditors and other persons having any claims or demands against the estate of Captain Anketell Moutray Read,
late of Castle Grove, Bampton, in the county of Devon (who died on the twenty-fifth day of September, 1915, being killed in action in France, and
letters of administration, with the will annexed, to whose estate were granted by the Probate Division of the High Court of Justice, at the Principal
Registry, on the thirty-first day of January, 1916, to me, the undersigned, Arthur Fisher, of Tiverton, in the county of Devon, Solicitor, the lawfully
appointed Attorney of Beresford Moutray Read, now residing at Tamale, Gold Coast Colony, Africa, the executor named in the said will), are hereby required to send the particulars, in writing, of their claims and demands to me, the undersigned, the Attorney of the said executor, on or before the fourth day of March, 1916, after which date I, the said Attorney, shall proceed to distribute the assets of the said deceased amongst the parties entitled thereto, having regard only to the claims and demands of which I
shall then have had notice; and will not be liable for the assets of the said deceased, or any part thereof, so distributed, to any person or persons of whose claims or demands I shall not then have had notice.

Dated this 4th day of February, 1916.

089 ARTHUR FISHER, Tiverton, Devon.

Graeme

[Frank_Olynyk]

One name that has not been mentioned in John Henry Stephen Dimmer. He received his VC in 1914 (VC (LG #28980, Nov 17, 1914/S4 of Nov 19, pg 9513; pre-air), MC). (I haven't been able to locate the Gazette citation for the MC yet). In 1917 he was serving with, or attached to, 47 Squadron, in Salonika. On Oct 6, 1916 Capt. Dimmer, with his pilot (2/Lt Leon Eugene Eemon), was credited with a scout biplane at 1040 hours, over Kilo 89 between Gengeli & Hudovo, in BE 2c 5428.

Unfortunately he left the RFC and returned to France, where he was KIA, March 21, 1918.

Frank.

[john_g]

Frank Howard KIRBY OBE, DCM

Kirby is possibly the first VC winner to serve with the RFC. He was the RFC QM at the CFS Upavon fron early 1912 and appears in many pre war course photographs. Below is taken from Air of Authority.

http://www.rafweb.org/

Frank Howard KIRBY OBE, DCM

"On the morning of the 2nd June, 1900, a party sent to try to cut the Delagoa Bay Railway were retiring, hotly pressed by very superior numbers. During one of the successive retirements of the rearguard, a man, whose horse had been shot, was seen running after his comrades. He was a long way behind the rest of his troop and was under a brisk fire. From among the retiring troop Corporal Kirby turned and rode back to the man's assistance. Although by the time he reached him they were under a heavy fire at close range, Corporal Kirby managed to get the dismounted man up behind him and to take him clear off over the next rise held by our rearguard. This is the third occasion on which Corporal Kirby has displayed gallantry in the face of the enemy."

(London Gazette - 5 October 1900)

Wg Cdr Kirby won his VC whilst serving in the Royal Engineers during the Boar Wat in South Africa as a Corporal. He later transferred to the RFC, being commissioned as an Equipment Officer and he remained in the RAF after WW1, eventually retiring as a Wg Cdr.


John-g