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Rees, Lionel Wilmot Brabazon

Date of birth:
July 31st, 1884 (Caernarfon, Carnarvonshire, Wales)
Date of death:
September 28th, 1955 (Nassau, Bahamas)
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Cemetery Nassau
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Captain
Unit:
No. 11 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
Awarded on:
October 29th, 1915
On 21st September, 1915, when flying a machine with one machine gun, accompanied by Flight-Serjeant Hargreaves, he sighted a large German biplane with two machine guns 2,000 feet below him. He spiralled down and dived at the enemy, who, having the faster machine, manoeuvred to get him broadside on and then opened heavy fire. Despite this, Captain Rees pressed his attack and apparently succeeded in hitting the enemy's engine, for the machine made a quick turn, glided some distance and finally fell just inside the German lines near Herbecourt.

On 28 July he attacked and drove down a hostile monoplane despite the main spar of his machine having been shot through and the rear spar shattered. On 31 August, accompanied by Flight-Sergeant Hargreaves, he fought a German machine more powerful than his own for three-quarters of an hour, then returned for more ammunition and went out to the attack again, finally bringing the enemy's machine down apparently wrecked.
Military Cross (MC)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
No. 32 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
Awarded on:
August 4th, 1916
Victoria Cross (VC)
Citation:
" For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.
Whilst on flying duties, Major Rees sighted what he thought to be a bombing party of our own machines returning home. He went up to escort them, but on getting nearer discovered they were a party of enemy machines, about ten in all.
Major Rees was immediately attacked by one of the machines, and after a short encounter it disappeared behind the enemy lines, damaged.    Five others then attacked him at long range, but these he dispersed on coming to close quarters, after seriously damaging two of the machines. Seeing two others going westwards, he gave chase to them, but on coming nearer he was wounded in the thigh, causing him to lose temporary control of his machine. He soon righted it, and immediately closed with the enemy, firing at a close-contact range of only a few yards, until all his ammunition was used up.    He then returned home, landing his machine safely in our lines. "
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Lieutenant-Colonel
Unit:
No. 1 School of Aerial Flying
Awarded on:
November 2nd, 1918
Air Force Cross (AFC)
For duties as a flying instructor
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Lieutenant-Colonel
Awarded on:
June 3rd, 1919
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)

With "5th Aug-22nd Nov 1914" clasp
1914 Star
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Lieutenant-Colonel

With oakleaf
Victory Medal 1914-1918
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Group Captain
Unit:
RAF Depot Uxbridge
1939-1945 Star
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
G/Capt
Africa Star

Sources