Trafford

Born during the June quarter 1892 in the Grantham R.D. - ref: 7a/501.

Lived with his grandparents for many years.

1911 Census - 3 Derby Street, Altrincham.     Grandson  - aged: 19 - occ:
Engineer and Tool Fitter Apprentice - born: Grantham, Lincolnshire. 

Employed by Messrs Kearns & Co, Broadheath.    Left their employment in
1912 to become a mechanic.   Finished his time at Farnborough and should
have been  going to the front on Friday 07/08/1914.

The Netheravon, Wiltshire (Naveravon in the local newspaper) inquest into
his death learned that the aircraft he was in was piloted by 2nd Lt. Robin
Skene. At around 150 feet, it went into a vertical dive and fell on its
back.  Verdict - accidental death.

"The Sky Their Battlefield" states - He and 2nd Lt. Skene were flying in a
Bleriot Tandem XI-2 No. 260 when they side slipped and crashed after take
off from Netheravon for mobilisation at Dover, and were THE VERY FIRST
R.F.C. CASUALTIES on active service in the 1st W.W.    Air Mechanic Barlow
was thrown out of the aircraft - air crews did not have parachutes until
much later on in the war.

Netheravon is a few miles north of Bulford on the A345 and there is a
Bulford Barracks - the RFC was, at that time, part of the Army.

Death reported in the 18/08/1914 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.

Keith on Cenotaph - R. Keith on St. George's Mem.

Not mentioned in any of the RFC Communiqués.