Acting Sergeant Major Ernest Fowles; 80 R.A.F.
He enlisted 25 August 1909 (probably in the Royal Engineers) and served in the “Air Battalion”, Royal Engineers (formed 1 April 1911). Transferred to Royal Flying Corps after its formation on 13 May 1912. Acting Sergeant Major (Disciplinarian) 1 January 1916. Medal Index Card (E Fowles) exists confirming he was no.80 in the Royal Flying Corps, and awarded the MSM in the London Gazette of 1 January 1917 as Sergeant (Acting Sergeant-Major) “for valuable services with the Army in the field” in France. Transferred to the new RAF on 1 April 1918 as no. 80 Sergeant Major 1st Class (Disciplinarian).
His Flintshire Record of Service states that he served from August 1914 until March 1919. During 1914/5 he was in charge of workshops at Central Flying School, Upavon. In 1916/7/8/9 on various parts of the Western Front.
Ernest was born about 1892 in Wingfield, Berkshire, to parents Charles & Caroline. The family moved to Hanmer because his father became Head Coachman on the Gredington Estate. By 1911, Ernest was in London with the Grenadier Guards, working as a chef.
Various Ancestry trees have his death as 1915, in the Upton upon Severn district.
Hanmer WW1 