Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


Home Page

Main Menu

Quick Menu

Members' Area

What New?

About this site

Reunions

Help Needed?

Glossary

Bibliography

Sign Guest Book

View Guest Book

Link to Amazon

Online Store

Contact Me


Air Commodore E L Gerrard


E L Gerrard  - 1911Eugene Louis                b: 14 Jul 1881                  r: 15 Nov 1929                        d: 7 Feb 1963

CMG - 1 Jan 1919, DSO - 22 Jun 1916, Leo,C -22 Feb 1918

For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here

(RM/RNAS): - 2 Lt:  1 Sep 1900, Lt: 1 Jul 1901, Capt: 1 Sep 1911, (T) Maj: 1 Apr 1912, (B) Maj: 3 Jan 1914, Sqn Cdr: 1 Jul 1914, Wg Cdr: 31 Dec 1914, Wg Capt: 30 Jun 1916, (T) Lt Col: 6 Jun 1917.

(RAF): - (T) Brig-Gen [Lt Col]: 1 Apr 1918, Col: 1 Apr 1918, Act  Brig-Gen: 1 May 1919, Gp Capt: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918], A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1923 [1 Aug 1918].

1 Sep 1900:              Appointed to a Commission in the RMLI.

xx xxx xxxx:            Marine Officer, HMS Hermione

23 Jan 1904:            Officer, HMS Defiance

xx xxx xxxx:            Officer, HMS Spartiate

 6 Feb 1905:             Officer, HMS Dido

xx xxx xxxx:            Officer, HMS Prince of Wales. (1908)

 5 Apr 1910:             Officer, HMS Vindictive.

28 Sep 1910:            Officer, HMS Hermione

 7 Mar 1911:            Officer, HMS Wildfire

xx xxx 1911:               U/T Pilot

21 Sep 1911:              Attached to HMS Actaeon for special service

 1 Apr 1912:               Squadron Commander, RFC.

15 May 1912:             Flight Commander, 'C' Flight, Central Flying School.

20 Nov 1912:             Absorbed into the Establishment of RMLI

31 Aug 1914:              Officer Commanding, Naval Flying School, Eastchurch.

xx Jun 1916:               Officer Commanding, Eastbourne Air Station

xx xxx xxxx:                Officer Commanding, Chingford Air Station.

30 Jan 1917:               Officer Commanding, ?, Coudekerque

 3 Apr 1917:               Officer Commanding, South-West Group RNAS, Plymouth.

 1 Apr 1918:                GOC, No 9 Group.

 1 Aug 1919:               Commission in the RMLI terminated.

 1 Aug 1919:               Awarded Permanent Commission as a Colonel.

 2 Jun 1920:                Officer Commanding, Mediterranean Group.

21 Aug 1921:              Attended RN Staff College, Greenwich.

 27 Feb 1922:             Officer Commanding, No 1 Group.

29 Feb 1924:              AOC, Palestine Command.

 1 Oct 1926:               AOC, HQ RAF Transjordan and Palestine

 8 Feb 1927:               Placed on half pay list, Scale A.

 9 Aug 1927:               AOC, No 1 Air Defence Group.

xx xxx 1938:              Commandant, Leicester District, RAFVR.

1939                           Commandant, No 7 E & RFTS.

In 1911 he was one of the first four officers selected by the Admiralty to undertake flying lessons and having obtained his RAeC Certificate (No 76 on 2 May 1911), he soon became involved in the early developments in the use of aviation for military and naval purposes.  Posted to the newly opened Central Flying School, he almost immediately attempted to set a new altitude record, for carrying a passenger, in the prototype RE7 with none other than Major Hugh Trenchard as his passenger.  On this attempt he set a record of 10,000ft and on a subsequent attempt set a record of 8,400ft whilst carrying two passengers.   

On 1 September 1914, he carried out an attack against the Dusseldorf Airship Sheds in BE2a, '50'.  Retired at his own request.

Citation for the award of the DSO: -

"Captain and Brevet Major Eugene Louis Gerrard (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel), R.M. (Wing Commander, R.N.A.S.).

In recognition of his services in command of a Wing of the R.N.A.S. in the Eastern Mediterranean.  The present efficiency of this Wing is due very largely to Wing Commander Gerrard, whose personal example and the manner in which he has encouraged the younger officers under his command are all that can be desired."

(London Gazette - 22 Jun 1916)  

This page was last updated on 15/09/19 using FrontPage 2003©

Back to R A George R A George                                              [Top of Page]                           R T Gething  Forward to R T Gething