On the 8th August 1916 ,a young 20 year old New Zealander, Arthur Douglas Baillie, from Ōtorohanga, signed on for the WW1 Expeditionary force at No 4 Recruiting Centre, Hamilton.
He left behind his Parent’s Thomas and Douglas and his elder sister Mabel. Soon shipped to UK .He joined the Royal Air Force at sometime after after his Demob in 1919 He survived the War and was a very experienced pilot with 17 Sqdn based at RAF Hawkinge.
On the 15th Sept 1924 he was staging through RAF Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, on his way back to RAF Hawkinge from RAF Duxford. Having landed safely before lunch his Sopwith Snipe aircraft (a type he had over 20 hrs flying time on,) was refuelled and checked for him prior to take off for return to his Sqdn at RAF Hawkinge. Taking off in a slight crosswind he flew straight and level for 100yrds before climbing in a steep right hand turn. Unfortunately he pushed the aircraft past its limit and it stalled at between 75 and 100 feet altitude. .With not enough height to recover the aircraft nosedived to the ground .The aircraft exploded in a ball of fire as the full fuel tank burst on impact. The inquiry and inquest held later decided he Died of a fractured skull not burnt to death. In modern times a verdict would have been Pilot Error but the Jury of the time unanimously recorded Accidental Death. He was buried with full Military Honours at Hawkinge.The inscription on his grave reads “ RAF. Arthur Douglas Baillie .Pilot Officer. RAF. Formerly of Otoro-Hanga, New Zealand, killed while flying at Eastchurch, 15 September 1924 age 26.” As he died in peacetime he is not recorded on any War Memorials.
Arthurs Father, Thomas Douglas Baillie of the Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F.3rd Bn,was killed on the 4th October 1917 in France and is remembered on the Tyne Cott Memorial and also on the Ōtorohanga War Memorial. . Arthurs mother Alice Died in 1924. Arthurs Sister Mabel Married Charles Snow in 1919 ,she died in 1985.
REST IN PEACE
PS:- His WW1 Expeditionary Force records are on this link.
I have not accessed his RAF Records.
https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/.../DeliveryManagerSer...
Photo Source ;- Courtesy of Jonathon Saunders.
