Flight Lieutenant Alan Jerrard VC

liverpool annie · Nov 3, 2009

1918

March 30 - Alan Jerrard VC, British ace (7 victories) is shot down by Benno Fiala von Fernbrugg and taken captive but managed to escape several months later.

When the war ended, Jerrard remained in the Royal Air Force, served in North Russia, and retired as a Flight Lieutenant in 1933.

I found this on the Birmingham forum .... interesting ...

Flight Lieutenant Alan Jerrard born 3rd December 1897 died 14th May 1968 Born in Lewisham he moved in 1902 with his family to Sutton Coldfield where his father Mr H. Gerrand was from 1902 till 1926 headmaster of Bishop Vesey's Grammar School

Lt. Alan Jerrard, Royal Air Force (formerly of the South Staffordshire Regiment)

When on an offensive patrol with two other officers he attacked five enemy aeroplanes and shot one down in flames, following it down to within one hundred feet of the ground.
He then attacked an enemy aerodrome from a height of only fifty feet from the ground, and, engaging single-handed some nineteen machines, which were either landing or attempting to take off, succeeded in destroying one of them, which crashed on the aerodrome. A large number of machines then attacked him, and whilst thus fully occupied he observed that one of the pilots of his patrol was in difficulties. He went immediately to his assistance, regardless of his own personal safety, and destroyed a third enemy machine.
Fresh enemy aeroplanes continued to rise from the aerodrome, which he attacked one after another, and only retreated, still engaged with five enemy machines, when ordered to do so by his patrol leader. Although apparently wounded, this very gallant officer turned repeatedly, and attacked single-handed the pursuing machines, until he was eventually overwhelmed by numbers and driven to the ground.
Lt. Jerrard had greatly distinguished himself on four previous occasions, within a period of twenty-three days, in destroying enemy machines, displaying bravery and ability of the very highest order.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 1 May 1918

He was 20 years old, and a lieutenant in the 66 Squadron Royal Flying Corps during the First World War when the above deed took place for which he was awarded the VC .He later achieved the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum (Hendon, England)
Mr. Alan Jerrard died at Lyme Regis in 1968, aged 70 his ashes are interred at Hillingdon Uxbridge

Alan Jerrard was not the first former pupil of Sutton Coldfield's Bishop Vesey's Grammar School to win the V.C. in the Great War. Charles George Bonner was born in 1884 at Shuttington, Warwickshire and was at the School between 1893 and 1898.
Click to expand...

http://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7479

http://www.jerrard.ca/genealogy/PDFFiles/Files/AJerrardVC.pdf

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8111359

Log in or Sign up

Flight Lieutenant Alan Jerrard VC

liverpool annie New Member

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Flight Lieutenant Alan Jerrard VC

Thread Tools

liverpool annie New Member

Share This Page

Useful Searches