William Bottrill

William Eric Bottrill
Born (1892-09-26)26 September 1892
Burton on Trent, England
Died 6 October 1971(1971-10-06) (aged 79)
Dundas, Ontario, Canada
Allegiance Canada
United Kingdom
Service/branch Canadian Expeditionary Force
Royal Air Force
Rank Second Lieutenant
Unit
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross

Second Lieutenant William Eric Bottrill DFC was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.[1]

Bottrill was born in Burton on Trent, England, but was living in Hamilton, Ontario, working as a stockhelper (shipping clerk) on the outbreak of the First World War. He served in the 91st Regiment Canadian Highlanders, part of Canada's Non-Permanent Active Militia, until he enlisted into the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 20 April 1915,[2] and was posted to the 36th Battalion. When the battalion embarked aboard the SS Corsican at Montreal on 19 June 1915 to sail for Europe, he held the rank of sergeant.[3]

On 12 March 1918 Bottrill, now a member of the 1st Central Ontario Regiment, was seconded for duty with the Royal Air Force, with the rank of temporary lieutenant.[4] He served as an observer/gunner in No. 104 Squadron RAF flying the Airco DH.9, where between August and October 1918, with pilots Lieutenant D. P. Pogson and Captain E. J. Garland, he shot down five enemy aircraft.[1] On 12 January 1919 his secondment to the RAF ended,[5] and on 10 October 1919 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "William Eric Bottrill". theaerodrome.com. 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  2. ↑ "Attestation Paper: William Eric Bottrill". theaerodrome.com. 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  3. ↑ 36th Battalion Nominal Roll, June 1915. Department of Militia and Defence. 1915. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31001. p. 13269. 8 November 1918.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31159. p. 1754. 31 January 1919.
  6. ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette: no. 13513. p. 3410. 14 October 1919.
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