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Title Edward Grayson in RFC and RAF in 1918

Description Edward Grayson
Born: Lurgan, County Armagh, 1894
Died: Hemel Hempstead, 1973

Born in Lurgan, County Armagh in 1894, he came to England in 1912 or 1913, having taken civil service exams in Belfast and been posted to London. He was called up in 1917 and initially trained as an infantry officer with the Royal Artists Rifles, but was transferred to the RFC at his own request and served as a 2nd Lieutenant. Initially an Observer, he qualified as a pilot and it is believed by his family that flew mainly SE5As, but also Sopwith Camels. In days when bombs were in short supply, pilots resorted to dropping anything over German lines if it might cause damage. Bags or jars of nails were common makeshift weapons. On one occasion, an old sewing machine was heaved into Edward Grayson?s aeroplane. However, it fell through the base of plane onto the airfield during take off.

Note
Edward Grayson?s grandson, Richard Grayson, lost one of his two service medals in Hemel in the mid-1970s, and would be glad to hear from anybody who may have found it ? it will have ?2nd Lieut. E Grayson RAF? on the rim of the medal. Contact can be made via the website.

Keywords Flying Air

Collection The Western Front

Place Western Front

Year 1918

Conflict World War One

File type image

Record ID number 54

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Title	Edward Grayson in RFC and RAF in 1918
Description	Edward Grayson Born: Lurgan, County Armagh, 1894 Died: Hemel Hempstead, 1973 Born in Lurgan, County Armagh in 1894, he came to England in 1912 or 1913, having taken civil service exams in Belfast and been posted to London. He was called up in 1917 and initially trained as an infantry officer with the Royal Artists Rifles, but was transferred to the RFC at his own request and served as a 2nd Lieutenant. Initially an Observer, he qualified as a pilot and it is believed by his family that flew mainly SE5As, but also Sopwith Camels. In days when bombs were in short supply, pilots resorted to dropping anything over German lines if it might cause damage. Bags or jars of nails were common makeshift weapons. On one occasion, an old sewing machine was heaved into Edward Grayson?s aeroplane. However, it fell through the base of plane onto the airfield during take off. Note Edward Grayson?s grandson, Richard Grayson, lost one of his two service medals in Hemel in the mid-1970s, and would be glad to hear from anybody who may have found it ? it will have ?2nd Lieut. E Grayson RAF? on the rim of the medal. Contact can be made via the website.
Keywords	Flying Air
Collection	The Western Front
Place	Western Front
Year	1918
Conflict	World War One
File type	image
Record ID number	54