allan hugh RNAS July 1917

[Roser]

Hi

See the picture taken yesterday at Coxyde Military Cemetery. What caused the death of Allan?

Thanks

Roser

[Kirk R. Lowry]

Bonjour Roser!

Unfortunately I do not, yet, own a copy of The Sky Their Battlefield II which it is suspected would enable a specific answer to the question posed. I was able to determine though, that Hugh Allan, the son of Sir Montagu Allan (who was and is a rather famous fellow in Canada - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._Montagu_Allan ) was born in Montréal and attended McGill University. His mother and two sisters were travelling on the Lusitania when the liner was sunk and, though his mother was saved, both sisters died. Allan was in already in uniform serving as a machine gun instructor at the Canadian Military School. Appointed to naval service, he requested a transfer to the infantry but the request was denied. After joining the RNAS Allan served with 3 Naval Squadron and was to die in a accident when piloting Sopwith Pup N6181 which dove "into the ground near Furnes".

It is interesting to note that Lloyd Breadner flew N6181 as well and gained five victories in the aircraft before the machine was flown by Allan. That noted, there may, or may not be, some confusion about the specific aircraft as N6181 was, apparently, sent to Dover by May 10 and was noted as "completely wrecked" on July 10. Unfortunately I do not have a copy of The Sopwith Pup by Bruce and Page and Sturtivant to clear the clouds.

Most of the information detailed above in respect of Allan was found in Collishaw & Company by Snowie and in respect of N6181 was found in Sopwith Pup by Bruce.

Salut!
Kirk

[Graeme]

From Flight of 19 July 1917:

Flight Sub-Lieutenant HUGH ALLAN, R.N., killed on July 6th, aged 20, joined the 5th Royal Highlanders of Canada in September, 1915, and subsequently took the
machine-gun course at Hythe, becoming an Instructor. He transferred to the R.N.A.S. in June, 1916, and went to the front last May. Born at Montreal, Canada, he was the only son of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir H. Montague Allan, C.V.O., and Lady Allan, of Ravenscrag, Montreal, Canada, and was educated at Lennoxville Preparatory School, Eton (Eton member of Pop) and McGill College (McGill member Zeta Phtsi).

As per Royal Navy Aircraft Serials and Units 1911-1919, after being flown by Breadner, N6181 was sent to Dover for repair on 8 May 1917 and returned to 3 Naval Sqn on 4 June, then "dived in from 1000ft into wheat field nr Furnes, between Oost Dunkerque and Coxyde 6.7.17".

Graeme

There's a picture of Allan's sisters at

http://smartpei.typepad.com/robert_p...weblog/family/

[cukdul]

picture of him here

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/rememb...l/detail/89216

cukdul

[robpatrob]

Hi my name is Rob Paterson - I am Hugh Allan's cousin - I have some pictures of him in flying gear and in a trainer - I am working on a book about Montreal and WW1 here is a summary of the posts that I am using as guide

Thank you all so much for helping me - Until today I did not know the details of his death or which squadron he was in

I will get the urls set up for the pictures and add them soon

Rob

[robpatrob]

[robpatrob]

Can anyone identify the aeroplane? I am assuming it might be a Pup?

[robpatrob]

Here is Hugh in May 1915 with his sister Martha - they are waiting to hear news of their mother Marguerite, Lady Allan, and their two other sisters Gwen and Anna who had been on the Lusitania.

[robpatrob]

[robpatrob]

These are my notes for a chapter on Hugh

He was torn but had to chose the front