Andrew McKeever - Military Cross (with Bar), the Distinguished Service Order and the Croix de Guerre. Born on 21 August 1895 in Listowel, Ontario, McKeever enlisted with the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada once war was declared in the summer of 1914. He subsequent served as a crack marksman on the Western Front. Towards the close of 1916 McKeever sought and received a transfer to the British Royal Flying Corps. Following the mandatory period of training he was attached to 11 Squadron in May 1917, remaining with them until the armistice. His task was to fly beyond enemy lines while his accompanying observer took photographs. Scoring all of his 31 victories with the Bristol Fighter, McKeever was the highest scoring ace to fly this aircraft during World War I. He was also the highest scoring ace to serve with 11 Squadron. His last aerial combat of the war occurred just before noon on 30 November 1917. On that day, he and his observer, L. A. Powell, engaged two enemy two-seaters protected by a flight of seven Albatros D.Vs. During the battle that followed, McKeever and Powell shot down four of the scouts. After the war, McKeever returned to Canada, then took a job in 1919 as the manager of an airfield in the United States - he died in hospital following an operation for injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Stratford, Ontario on 3 September 1919. He was 25 years of age.
Military Cross (MC) "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, particularly when on offensive patrol. He attacked eight enemy aircraft single-handed at close range, and by his splendid dash and determination destroyed one and drove five down completely out of control. He had previously shown exceptional fearlessness in attacking the enemy when in superior numbers, and in the space of three weeks he destroyed eight hostile machines, setting a fine example to his squadron." MC citation, London Gazette, September 17, 1917 Military Cross (DFC) Bar "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in aerial combats. He has recently destroyed five enemy aeroplanes and driven down six out of control. On one occasion he encountered five enemy scouts and drove down two out of control. Later, while leading a patrol, he engaged nine enemy scouts. He destroyed two, drove down one out of control, and dispersed the remainder. His dash and determination have been a fine example to his squadron." MC Bar citation, London Gazette, March 18, 1918 Distinguished Service Order (DSO) "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While on patrol by himself over the enemy's lines in very bad weather he encountered two enemy two-seater machines and seven scouts. By skilful maneuvering he engaged one and destroyed it. As he turned to get back to the lines five of the enemy dived on his tail and his observer engaged and destroyed two of them. After an indecisive combat with two others he attacked and destroyed one of the enemy which had overshot him. He continued the fight with the remainder until he was within twenty feet of the ground, when the enemy machines climbed and left him. He has recently destroyed ten enemy machines and has shown great courage and initiative." DSO citation, London Gazette, July 5, 1918 * With war's end, McKeever accepted a job managing an airfield at Mineola,New York. Before he could start work, he was involved in an auto accident in his home town of Listowel. He broke his leg, complications set in, and he died of cerebral thrombosis on Christmas Day, 1919 http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=7587
Maj Andrw McKeever is one of the men covered in Jon Guttman's Bristol F2 Aces of World War I, ISBN 13: 978 1 84603 201 1. An excellent and well illustrated book. Gareth
