No. & Rank at the Time of Action - Sergeant Unit/Occupation - 6 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps Date and Place of Birth - 6th February 1888, Preston, part of Brighton in Sussex Family - Married Nellie Marion on 6th July 1912, home address - Sussex House, West Road, Eastbourne. Early Life - Trained as a motor mechanic and driver. Rhoades enlisted in the Army on 5th October 1914 for "Duration of War" as No.1744, Airman 2nd Class, Royal Flying Corps. He is recorded as being aged 26 years 5 months, 5'8" tall, with brown hair, blue eyes, and a fresh complexion. Date and Place of GC Action - 14th October 1916, France The London Gazette - 1st January 1918 Sgt William Ernest RHOADES MSM, RFC Died - 4 Mar 1972 Age when awarded - 29 London Gazette - 1 January 1918
The two men from No 6 Sqn RFC who killed in the accidental explosion at Abeele aerodrome on 14 October 1916 were AMII Vernon Lionel Brazier (15699), from Oxford, and AMII William Richard Wiltshire (17243) of Bethnal Green. Both men are buried at Lijssenthoek, Belgium. RIP Gareth
In Memory of Airman 2nd Class VERNON LIONEL BRAZIER 15699, 6th Sqdn., Royal Flying Corps who died age 22 on 14 October 1916 Son of Robert and Emily Jane Brazier, of Oxford. Remembered with honour LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY In Memory of Airman 2nd Class WILLIAM RICHARD WILTSHIRE 17243, 6th Sqdn., Royal Flying Corps who died age 23 on 14 October 1916 Son of William Richard Wiltshire, of 53, Corfield St., Bethnal Green, London, and the late Sarah Ann Wiltshire. Remembered with honour LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY Picture of the graves http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GScid=&GRid=10772108&
