Roger Hay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roger Bolton Hay
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|---|---|
| Born | 1895 Garsdon, Wiltshire, England |
| Died | 17 July 1917 (aged 21–22) Vicinity of Nieuwpoort, Belgium |
| Buried |
Oostende New Communal Cemetery, Ostend, West Flanders, Belgium
(51°12′34″N 2°54′52″E / 51.20944°N 2.91444°E) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
British Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1917 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 48 Squadron RFC |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front |
| Awards | Military Cross |
| Relations | Hugh Hay (brother) |
Lieutenant Roger Bolton Hay MC (1895 – 17 July 1917) was a brave British pilot during World War I. He was known as a flying ace, which means he shot down five or more enemy aircraft.
Contents
About Roger Bolton Hay
His Early Life and Schooling
Roger Bolton Hay was the youngest of three sons. His father, Reynell Wreford Hay, was a church leader (a rector) in Wiltshire, England. Roger's uncle, William Delisle Hay, was a writer and also studied mushrooms!
Roger went to two schools: Dean Close School and Blundell's School. After finishing school, he was getting ready to go to University of Oxford. But then, World War I began, and his plans changed.
Serving in World War I
When the war started, Roger joined the army. On January 27, 1915, he became a second lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment. His two older brothers, Hugh and Guy, also joined the same regiment.
Roger was supposed to go to the front lines in July 1915. However, he had a motor-cycling accident that delayed him until February 1916. He served in the trenches, which were long ditches where soldiers fought, until August.
After that, he joined the Royal Flying Corps, which was the air force at the time. Roger went back to England to learn how to fly a plane. By March 28, 1917, he was officially a flying officer.
Becoming a Flying Ace
In April 1917, Roger returned to France and joined No. 48 Squadron. This squadron was the first to use the new Bristol F.2 Fighter plane. Roger quickly started to achieve victories in the air.
He helped shoot down an Albatros D.III plane on April 23. The next day, he helped with another victory over Cagnicourt. On April 27, he helped destroy a reconnaissance plane (a plane used for spying) over Vitry.
Roger also had two victories by himself. He destroyed another Albatros D.III on June 15. Then, on July 12, he forced a fourth enemy plane to go down out of control. In total, he destroyed two enemy aircraft and forced three others down.
His Final Days and Award
Roger Bolton Hay was reported missing on July 17, 1917. Later, it was confirmed that he had been captured by the Germans and died from his wounds that same day.
In June, Roger had been awarded the Military Cross for his bravery. This award was officially announced after his death on July 24. The award citation praised his "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty," meaning he was very brave and dedicated. It also mentioned his willingness to take on dangerous missions, which inspired other pilots.
Roger Hay is buried in the New Communal Cemetery in Ostend, Belgium.
