Robert L. Chidlaw-Roberts

Robert Leslie Chidlaw-Roberts
Born (1896-05-09)9 May 1896 Towyn, Merionethshire
Died 16 January 1989(1989-01-16) (aged 92)
Winchester, Hampshire, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Royal Air Force
Years of service 1915–1920
1942–1954
Rank Captain
Unit Hampshire Regiment
No. 2 Squadron RFC
No. 18 Squadron RFC
No. 40 Squadron RFC
No. 60 Squadron RFC/RAF
Awards Military Cross
Air Force Cross

Captain Robert Leslie Chidlaw-Roberts MC AFC (9 May 1896 – 1 June 1989) was a British World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories,[1] who also served in the RAF during and after World War II.

Biography

World War I

Chidlaw-Roberts attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and from there was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Hampshire Regiment on 16 June 1915.[2] He was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps on 21 October 1915,[3] as a flying officer (observer).[4] His first aerial duty was six months spent as an observer/gunner with No. 2 Squadron RFC.[5] He then underwent pilot training,[5] receiving the Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 2527 on 23 January 1916,[1] and on 21 April 1916 he was appointed a flying officer.[6] He served in No. 18 Squadron RFC from 18 May to 4 December 1916 as a Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b pilot,[5] also receiving promotion to the temporary rank of lieutenant on 1 September 1916.[7] He then served in No. 40 Squadron, and then No. 60 Squadron, where from September 1917 to September 1918, flying the S.E.5a, he accounted for nine enemy aircraft and one observation balloon.[1]

Chidlaw-Roberts was awarded the Military Cross on 1 February 1918.[8]

In January 1920 Flight Lieutenant Chidlaw-Roberts relinquished his temporary RAF commission and was restored to the establishment of the Hampshire Regiment with the rank of lieutenant,[9][10] but on 23 March 1920 Chidlaw-Roberts left the Hampshire Regiment, and was assigned to the General Reserve of Officers as a lieutenant with seniority from 3 July 1916.[11]

World War II

Chidlaw-Roberts returned to active duty on 12 May 1942 when he was commissioned as a pilot officer (emergency) in the General Duties Branch of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.[12] On 1 September 1944 Flight Lieutenant Chidlaw-Roberts was awarded the Air Force Cross.[13]

He remained in the RAF post-war, and on 1 November 1947 was granted the substantive rank of flying officer, with seniority from 12 May 1943.[14] He relinquished his war substantive rank of flight lieutenant on 1 January 1948,[15] and finally relinquished his commission on 10 February 1954.[16]

Honours and awards

Military Cross
Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Robert Leslie Chidlaw-Roberts, Hampshire Regiment and Royal Flying Corps.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He constantly attacked superior numbers of enemy aeroplanes. On one occasion he repeatedly attacked five enemy machines, driving among them and attacking each in turn at short ranges. On three other occasions he brought down enemy machines. He showed great skill and courage.[17]

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 "Robert Leslie Chidlaw-Roberts". theaerodrome.com. 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29193. p. 5760. 15 June 1915.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29463. p. 1366. 4 February 1916.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29563. p. 4329. 28 April 1916.
  5. 1 2 3 Guttman & Dempsey (2007), p.24.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29575. p. 4646. 9 May 1916.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29807. p. 10517. 27 October 1916.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30507. p. 1603. 1 February 1918.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31727. p. 489. 9 January 1920.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31755. p. 1100. 27 January 1920.
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31832. p. 3520. 19 March 1920.
  12. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 35628. p. 3045. 10 July 1942.
  13. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36682. p. 4075. 29 August 1944.
  14. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 38169. p. 145. 2 January 1948.
  15. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 38209. p. 1125. 13 February 1948.
  16. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 40198. p. 3411. 4 June 1954.
  17. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30780. p. 7900. 2 July 1918.
Bibliography
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