Info on Gndfather Edwin C Bromley Canadian Ace

[barrypina]

Greetings,

My Grandfather, Edwin Calaude Bromley is listed as an Ace with 12 victories on this web site. I have very little additional info abut him but would like any that is known. I do have a few war photos and one letter home to his future wife.

Thank you, Barry Bromley Pina barrypina@netscape.net

[Kirk R. Lowry]

Bonjour Barry

Ernest C. Bromley is one of the many Great War aces about whom relatively little is common knowledge.

Bromley was born on the 18th of August 1888 in Winnipeg, Manitoba and served in France as a sapper with Canadian Engineers prior to joining the R.F.C.

Above The Trenches by Shores, Franks, Guest indicates that Bromley joined 22 Squadron in the spring of 1918, but, The Sky Their Battlefield by Henshaw notes that on November 8, 1917 Bristol F.2b B1123 flown by "2Lt EC Bromley [and] 2Lt AH Middleton" was "shot up" and forced to land so, obviously, service with the squadron must have begun prior that date.

As was the case with several pilots, experience gained was suddenly manifest and Bromley went on a rampage of sorts claiming 12 aerial victories between the 6th of May and the 5th of June totaling 5 destroyed and 7 out of control. Victories 1 through 10 were obtained with John H. Umney as observer and 11 through 12 were claimed with Charles G. Gass as observer. Both Umney and Gass were accomplished observers, the former credited with 13 victories and the latter with 39 victories which was the most of any observer during the war. Bromley was awarded the Military Cross for service rendered.

Sorry Barry, but, that is about all the information I can provide at the moment ...

Salut!
Kirk

[barrypina]

Kirk,

Thank you for your reply any and all info is greatly appreciated. You named "Ernist C Bromley" did you mean Edwin C Bromley? Also what is kown about the sapper engineers, I suppose that this is the group that would "engineer" attacks fortifications and trenches yes? Barry

[Kirk R. Lowry]

Barry

Yes, I did refer to Ernest as that was the given name listed in a couple of sources; Above The Trenches by Shores, Franks, Guest and Bristol F 2 Fighter Aces of World War 1 by Guttman. Are those references incorrect: is Edwin the correct given name (as indicated in the Aces section of The Aerodrome)?

As for the assumption about sappers and engineers you are essentially correct: the construction and destruction of trenches and fortifications would be an element of the work undertaken.

Kirk

[barrypina]

Bonjour Kirk,

In addition to the previous information the letter E.C. B wrote home indicates that Lt Bromley was in solo flight training " flying a faster and better machine" on July 17, 1917 and that he had already been to France. There is also a story that had been passed down by my mother to me that one time he had returned from a mission with his plane shot full of holes. I was also told that he returned home to Canada, went back to work for Simpson/Sears, (I have his gold watch), married and had one daughter born in 1923 and he died in about 1926 when Margaret E. Bromley (my mother) was 3. It was rumored that he may have committed suicide.

Barry

[barrypina]

Kirk,

To answer your question, yes the correct name is Edwin. Barry

[barrypina]

Kirk,

I think that I have a photo of E. C. B. during his Sapper days, he is seated on a one lung, belt driven motorcycle, wearing a greatcoat, boots or shoes with spats, and a cap (like an old time police cap with a brim). It looks like the coat has several stripes on the right shoulder. Barry

[Kirk R. Lowry]

Right then, I will make a note of the correct name: Edwin.

I would assume that "shot full of holes" incident was the combat of November 8.

I will keep a look out for further details ...

Salut!
Kirk