Alexander Stewart Allan
55th Squadron
Royal Flying Corps
Alexander Stewart Allan was my great, uncle. He was born in 1894. On 1st November 1912 he
joined the Army Service Corps. His
number was P/S4/236974.
In July 1916 he transferred into the Royal Flying Corps
where his number was 406711. His
job was a Trade Wireless Operator in 55 squadron, based at Lilbourne, near
Rugby.
On the 5th March 1917, the squadron was moved to
Fienvillers, Northern France. They
were only based here for two months before they were moved to Boisdinghem, on
31st May.
On 11th October 1917, the squadron moved again –
this time to Ochey, before finally moving to Tantonville on 7th
November 1917, where they remained for six months.
On the 7th February 1918 Alexander was promoted to Sergeant
(Observer). His job was to sit at
the back of the plane and take aerial photographs of the front line as well as
different enemy targets.
One of Alexander’s friends in 55 Squadron was Captain W E
Johns, who later went on to write the famous “Biggles” stories.
During the time the squadron was based in Tantonville,
Alexander took part in many raids over Germany. The following is taken from the squadron diaries telling of
a raid which took place on 24th March 1918.
12 De Havilland 4s
left 9.35am and bombed the BADISCHE-ANILINE and SODA-FABRICK at LUDWIGSHAFEN
(MANNHEIM). Bombs were dropped as
follows:- 24 x 1121b, 3 x 401b (phos) and 11 x 251b. Total 3,0831bs.
Bursts were observed
on and near the Badische-Aniline und Soda-Fabrick; 2 fires being caused near the factory, 1 on the railway and
one in what appeared to be oil tanks on the quay. One fire was an exceptionally large one, the flames rising
to 200 feet and the smoke to 5000 feet.
On this raid our
machines were attacked by a total of 32 enemy aircraft. Fighting ensued as a result of which 1
enemy aircraft was shot down in flames, 2 others were observed to crash (1 of
which fell in Mannheim), and 4 were driven down out of control.
During the fighting
one of our observers was killed. 2
of our machines failed to return.
Soon after this raid, Alexander was awarded the Military
Medal for bravery.
This photograph is one of the actual planes in which
Alexander flew.
The photograph below is of Alexander and his pilot (Captain
W A Heater). Alexander is on the
left.
On the 5th June 1918 the squadron was moved to
Azelot.
Two months later, on the 25th August, 12 aircraft
left on a raid over Morhange aerodrome.
The first formation of 6 planes dropped six 112lb bombs from 14000
feet. However, the second
formation lost contact with the first and proceeded to bomb the railways at
Luxembourg. They dropped one 230lb
bomb and ten 112lb bombs, from 13000 feet.
Several bursts were observed on the south end of the station
and on the west corner of the railway triangle. 18 photographic plates were exposed, but the camera was
damaged by gun-fire.
During this raid, Alexander was hit by machine gun fire and
received gun shot wounds to his back and left leg.
The following day he was admitted to field hospital
21/2H. At 2.30am on 27th
August 1918, Alexander died as a result of his wounds.
He is buried in Charmes Military Cemetery, Essegney, Vosges,
France.
This is the original headstone. In later years it was replaced by the more traditional Commonwealth War Graves headstone.
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