Edwin Benbow

[1] His father Joseph was the head gardener for the Ilchester Estate in Abbotsbury, having been born on 6 March 1864 in Ombersley, Worcestershire.

Joseph married German-born British subject Jane Caroline Brommer in 1886, in Nice, France, and their first child William was born in Cannes, in 1889.

Benbow joined the Royal Field Artillery in February 1915, and served for a year[2] being commissioned a second lieutenant on 27 May 1915.

While clearing his weapon, he evaded a head-on assault by the Red Baron, who went on to down Benbow's squadron comrade Lt. J. Hay for Jasta 11's first victory.

[7] On 6 March, Benbow and the Red Baron clashed again[8] when nine F.E.8s of 40 Squadron fought five Jasta 11 aircraft led by Richthofen.

He was appointed a Flight Commander with the concomitant rank of Temporary Captain on 31 March 1917,[10] and posted to Billy Bishop's No.