Donald Kirby Edmund Gee

A Second Lieutenant with 93 Squadron, Donald died on 31st of January 1918 at the age of 23. 

Donald was born at Lowestoft on 16 December 1894, a son of Alfred James Edmund and Amy Ellen Gee. He was baptised at Saint John’s Church, Lowestoft, on 13 September 1895, and his family lived at 4 Surrey Street. The 1901 Census shows Donald with his grandparents, John and Charlotte Gee, at 61 Albert Street. By 1911 his parents were living at 5 Regent Road and later they lived at 22 Marine Parade. 

Donald was a rancher when, on 13 January 1915, he attested for the Canadian Army at Calgary. He joined the 12th Canadian Mounted Rifles, service number 12299, and was part of the 1st Reinforcements and sailed for Engand on 10 June 1915. He joined the Canadian Cavalry Depot at Canterbury on 3 August 1915. Donald was promoted to Corporal on 25 November 1915.

Donald transferred to the 3rd Canadian Signal Company, service number 117019, and arrived in France on 14 January 1916. On 31 July 1917 Donald went to England to join the Royal Flying Corps Depot, South Farnborough, pending transfer to the Royal Flying Corps Training Wing. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on the General List (and Royal Flying Corps) on 4 November 1917 (London Gazette 13 November 1917) and joined the 24 Training Squadron, Reading, on 21 November 1917. He was posted to 93 Squadron on 9 December 1917.  

Donald was flying an Avro 504J from Chatteris Hill aerodrome when an accident occurred, and the aircraft crashed, killing Donald. An account of the inquest into Donald’s death appeared in the East Suffolk Gazette, 12 February 1918, page 5. Donald had been at Chatteris Hill for three weeks undergoing flying training, part of which included learning to loop the loop. On the day of his death Donald was practicing the manoeuvre when his aeroplane turning on its back and fell. Donald was badly injured, the propellor having penetrated his chest. Donald had died by the time an ambulance had arrived. He was given a funeral with full military honours. 

Killed in a flying accident in Avro 504J, C4369 CREDIT:Malcolm Barrass