Robert Ewing Douglas, GC

Died: 10th August 1959, Hackney

Born: 7th April 1906 in Falkirk, Scotland. d. 10/08/1959 Hackney, London.

DATE AND PLACE OF GC ACTION: 13/06/1930 Kohat, India.

Robert Ewing Douglas (1906-1959) was born on 7th April 1906 in Stirlingshire, Scotland, son of James and Euphemia Douglas, though little else is known about his childhood and schooling. He decided to enlist in the RAF at the age of 17 in 1923 and by 1930 had risen to the rank of Leading Aircraftman and was serving in India.

On 13th June 1930 in Kohat, India, an aircraft loaded with bombs crashed shortly after take-off, bursting into flames. Douglas was first on the scene and found the gunner lying near the wreckage with his clothes burning. Using an extinguisher, Douglas put out the fire and, after disentangling part of the gun equipment from the injured man, dragged him clear. With the assistance of another airman who had arrived on the scene, and after subduing a renewed burst of fire from the man's clothes, they got him in an ambulance. Then Douglas turned his attention to the pilot in the burning machine; he had approached to within 12 yards of the wreckage when the first of the bombs exploded. Now realising that there was no hope of the pilot still being alive, he started to get clear and was 30 yards away when a second bomb exploded.

Douglas was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal of the Military Division on 27th March 1941. He served in the Second World War and was commissioned on 20th December 1940 as a Flying Officer. He was also then entitled to the exchange of the newly created George Cross for his EGM. Robert retired from the RAF in December 1945.

Robert retired to, and settled in North London, where he passed in Hackney on 10th August 1959, aged just 53. His burial place is currently unknown. His GC, India General Service Medal 1908-35 with Mentioned in Despatches oakleaf, Defence Medal 1939-45, War Medal 1939-45 and 1953 Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal are held by the National War Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle.



BURIAL PLACE: UNKNOWN.

Awarded the Empire Gallantry medal whilst serving on 60(B)Sqn at Kohat. He was the first apprentice to be awarded the EGM.

An aeroplane proceeding on patrol with a crew of two and a load of live bombs stalled shortly after leaving the ground and crashed on the edge of the aerodrome, immediately bursting into flames. Leading Aircraftman Douglas, who witnessed the crash, was the first to arrive on the scene of the accident and found the air gunner lying two yards from the wreckage, his clothes burning badly. These flames Douglas quenched with a hand extinguisher, and, after disentangling part of the gun equipment from the injured man's person, dragged him clear of the machine with the assistance of another airman who had arrived on the scene, and, after subduing a renewed burst of flames in his clothing, got him on board the ambulance. He then turned his attention to the pilot in the burning machine and had approached to within twelve yards of the wreckage when the first of the bombs exploded. Realising then that there was no hope of the pilot being still alive, he started to get clear and was some thirty yards away when a second bomb exploded. In advancing so close to the flames this airman took a grave risk as he was fully aware that the aircraft contained live bombs of a powerful type. (For this actionward of the Medal of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire which later became the George Cross)

No. 362370, Leading Aircraftsman,  60 Squadron, Royal Air Force; enlisted 1923.


On 13th June 1930 at Kohat on the North West Frontier of India an aeroplane, on patrol with a crew of two and a load of live bombs, stalled shortly after takeoff, crashed and burst into flames. LAC Douglas was the first to arrive at the scene of the crash and found the air gunner lying two yards from the wreckage, his clothes burning fiercely. 
 

LAC Douglas put out the flames with an extinguisher, disentangled part of the gun equipment from the injured man and with the help of another airman, dragged him clear of the aeroplane and got him into an ambulance. He then turned his attention to the pilot who was still inside the burning plane, being fully aware that the aircraft contained live bombs which were likely to explode at any second. 

He had approached to within 12 yards of the wreckage when the first one went off.

RE Douglas served in Second World War. His commission was announced in the London Gazette on 20th December 1940, p.7118: "362379 F/Sergt Robert Ewing Douglas to be Flying Officer (44949) 22.11.40 with seniority 7.11.40."

In the London Gazette on 10th July 1942, p.3041, "R E Douglas (44949) confirmed war.subs. Flying Officer, RAF. 22.11.41."

Final Rank: Flying Officer.  He retired from the RAF in December 1945.

Other Decorations/Medals: R E Douglas was awarded the IGS Medal with clasp "NW Frontier 1930/31" and was mentioned in despatches.

He then turned his attention to the pilot in the burning machine and had approached to within twelve yards of the wreckage when the first of the bombs exploded. Realising then that there was no hope of the pilot being still alive, he started to get clear and was some thirty yards away when a second bomb exploded.

In advancing so close to the flames this airman took a grave risk as he was fully aware that the aircraft contained live bombs of a powerful type."

(London Gazette - 27 March 1931)

Note:
His George Cross is displayed in the National War Museum (presumably of Scotland)

See also:
• http://www.vconline.org.uk/robert-e-douglas-egm/4589115245

Further details on
Flying Officer Robert Ewing Douglas
would be very welcome