Code: 56246
A LOGBOOK PHOTO ALBUM AND DOCUMENT GROUP TO A DECORATED CANADIAN RFC/RAF FIGHTER PILOT AND RCAF GROUP CAPTAIN IN WW2. DURING WW1 HE HAD 2 OFFICIAL VICTORIES BUT CLAIMED MANY MORE.
PEACOCK, Lieutenant Ernest Frederick W. - Military Cross – awarded as per London Gazette dated 16 September 1918.
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while on fighting patrols. He showed great determination and courage in attacking superior numbers of enemy aircraft, and carried out fine work in engaging enemy troops and transport of the ground with machine-gun fire.’
Home in Montreal (engineer); formerly with 26th Battalion, CEF; taken on strength of RFC, 4 August 1917; to Expeditionary Force, No1 ASD, 14 November 1917; to No.3 Flying School, 29 August 1918; seriously injured in aeroplane accident, 5 September 1918; to unemployed list, 17th April 1919. Captain with effect from 23 MAY 1918. His two brothers served in WW1 and were both killed in 1917, one also a pilot in the RFC.
Photo album has 105 photographs, some of which are loose but could be fitted back in. The vast majority have been well annotated, giving a good deal of information about his war service, fellow pilots etc. The album begins with photographs of the Peacocks’ family & friends. The military related photographs begin with only a few related to his initial voyage after enlistment while in the 26th Battalion C.O.M.F Canadian nurses also travelling on the S.S Grampian to London and related photographs. The majority of the photographs in the album are of his flying career. They start with his arrival at Oxford School of Military Aeronautic and there are a good number of photos of cadets including one of future 40 Victory Ace Taffy Jones, more photos of nurses etc. Following are photographs of his time with No. 65 Squadron, including many of the officer pilots (most identified) he met as well as his and other’s Camels, visits to the front, his brothers grave, who was also a pilot A very interesting album.
There are two Log Books in the group, the first his WW1 and the second from WW2. His WW1 book has many entries with almost 3/4 of the book full and gives Peacock’s full WW1 flying service from training in July 1917, becoming a fighter pilot in 65 squadron in November 1917 until injured in august 1918. A huge number of flights; patrols, bombing raids, firing practice, engagements with the enemy aircraft (including an attack by eight German Albatross) shoot downs, forced landings, escorts, aerobatics formations and special missions. The event that gained Peacock the Military Cross is also noted in this Log Book.
The WW2 Royal Canadian Air Force issue logbook starts entries on December 16th 1941 flying Cranes moving onto Ansons and Harvards. He seems initially to have been taking refresher training before moving onto instructing himself. On 2nd august 1944 he was injured when his Harvard crashed, a large dated photo of this crash and telegraph to his wife is included. His last entry being 5th Jan 1945 when he retired. A letter to Group Captain Peacock from Air Marshall Leckie, thanks him for his valuable service during the War.
The rest of the archive includes:
Peacock’s 1917 Official Discharge document from the 26th Battalion by the Canadian discharge Depot in London.
Original RFC pilot graduation certificate from Oct 21st 1917
RFC history of Training, Training Brigade Transfer Card (booklet).
Several folded newspaper clippings relate to the New Brunswick Battalion C.
O.M.F circa 1917 (condition noted).
More newspaper clippings from WW2, pics and details of Peacock, all very interesting.
Two menus, one from Sept 1944, the May 1944. Both RCAF, RAAF and RAF with many signatures of attendees.
Two Canadian Military buttons that have been converted into pins, and a wings pin.
Finally, and hugely useful for research, are two typed diary summaries (3 pages) of the military history of Peacock, compiled by the soldier himself. The first takes the form of a diary with entries form July 1915 when he sailed to the UK, until October 1915 whilst in the Trenches in France. The next details his service from joining the RFC (after saying he spent 19 months in the trenches). It talks of his training and then on to 65 Squadron where he says he flew 189 sorties. ‘I know I shot down eleven enemy aircraft, two in flames in one day, although I am only allowed to claim two confirmed altogether by the Air Ministry. I was shot down twice, once right over our aerodrome’. He goes on to mention missed opportunities of downing Gothas, promotion to Flight Leader, his Military Cross and serving 9 months in France with 65 Squadron before taking a holiday, his nerves shot. He moves onto his post War career, organising the Montreal Light Aeroplane Club Organising the Curtis Reid Aircraft Company, becoming Vice President. In 1939 he joined the RCAF recruiting servicemen, adjutant of No1 wireless school in Montreal and Commanding Officer of various Flight Training schools, being discharged with the rank of Group Captain.
A superb group of early British/Canadian military air history
