Flt Lt Robert Howell Craster Usher MC AFC was born in 1896 and was christened in East Lulworth, Dorset on 15 November 1896.
Military Service In 1914, he was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's Wiltshire Regiment, and was promoted to captain in 1915.
Usher applied to join the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 and was posted to 6 Reserve Squadron at Catterick for training on 22 March 1916.
[2] Usher sustained combat damage and was wounded in the leg and foot while bombing Marcoing, and force-landed at Moroeuil, on 30 July 1916,[2] but was recognized for this action soon afterwards.
Promoted to temporary captain and appointed an equipment officer 1st class on 22 August 1917, Usher returned to the United Kingdom for the role, but was involved in a flying accident at Radford Aerodrome, Coventry, on 1 October 1917 when the engine of his BE2e biplane failed and he force-landed the aircraft with no engine.