Trafford

Born - 25th January 1899 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/184, the youngest
son of Thomas Roland & Annie Wollaston (nee Massey).

1901 Census - "Lundale", Grange Road, Bowdon.    Son - aged: 2 - born:
Bowdon.   Head of household - Thomas R. Wollaston - Married - aged: 34 -
occ: Consulting Mechanical Engineer - born: Stretford.   Also Annie
Wollaston - Wife - aged: 30 - born: Stretford.   Plus 2 elder brothers
(including his brother Keith Rowland Wollaston also killed during WW1) and
1 domestic servant.   

1911 Census - "Dirleton House", Priory Road, Sale.    Son - aged: 12 -
Scholar - born: Bowdon.   Head of household - Thomas Roland Wollaston -
Married - aged: 44 - occ: Consulting Mechanical Engineer - born: Stretford.
  Also Annie Wollaston - Wife - aged: 41 - born: Stretford.   Plus 3
siblings (including his brother Keith Rowland Wollaston also killed during
WW1) and 1 domestic servant.

Employed at his father's Mechanical Engineering Consultancy of T.
Wollaston, 26 Corporation Street, Manchester.  His father was also the
Organist at the Sale Congregational Church.

Air 76/557 - His "Special Qualifications" were listed as:-  Two years
theoretical and practical electrical engineering study.   Three years
experience as a draughtsman in varied mechanical consulting practice.  
Experience with motorcycles.   After joining the R.F.C., he had flown the
Maurice Farman Biplane and the Sopwith Camel.   There is also reference to
him having experience with the Gnome Monosoupape a/c engines.

Sent to Reading on the 23rd October 1917 for his initial training of
'square bashing' etc which also provided instruction into principles of
flight, air frames and engines, after which it was off to Flying School.

From Reading he moved to No. 5 School of Military Aeronautics at Denham
Golf Course, Denham, Buckinghamshire on the 3rd November 1917.   From
Denham, he joined 41 Training Squadron, Doncaster on the 1st January 1918
before moving on to 72 Training Squadron, Beverley on the 26th January
1918.  On passing out of 72 Training School he was promoted to 2nd
Lieutenant (on probation) on the 26th March 1918.

Killed While Flying a Camel B7340 at the 72nd Training Sqn Depot at
Beverley, Yorkshire.   The 6th April 1918 edition of the Yorkshire Post &
Leeds Intelligencer reported that he met his death at 01.30 hrs whilst
flying over rural Lincolnshire.  It was supposed that noticing a bank of
mist, he committed an error of judgement which resulted in a side slip and
he nose dived onto a railway line.   His CO stated that in one weeks time
he would have qualified as a service pilot for overseas..

Death locally reported in the 09/04/1918 edition of the Altrincham
Guardian.

RAF Records WW1.   Completed two years theoretical & practical electrical
engineering study)  Three years experience as draughtsman in varied
mechanical Constructing Practice.   Experience with motor cycles.   Since
joining the RFC has flown Farman MF.11 Shorthorn (twin & mono) Sopwith
Camel.  In civil life he was employed as a Mechanical Draughtsman for T.
Roland Wollaston of 26 Corporation Street, Manchester. (His father's
Company).

Long report of the vicar's speech

Commemorated on a memorial plaque in Bishop Burton Church, Yorkshire close
to where his aerodrome was that commemorates a number of RAF men that were
killed at Beverley Aerodrome.

Buried 06/04/1918 - Burial No. 15,589.

CWGC - Son of Thomas Roland & Annie Wollaston of Dirleton House, Priory 
Road, Sale.

His brother Keith Roland Wollaston was also killed during WW1 whilst
serving with the 20th Bn. Manchester Rgt.