December 2018 FLYPAST 57Great War pilot Lionel Rees was awarded
the VC after he single-handedly drove off
a German bomber formation. Graham
Pitchfork refl ects on his courageous actionsVICTORIA CROSS LIONEL REES
him. He continued to press home
his attack on the second machine,
successfully hitting the engine.
Rees then spotted a force of five
enemy bombers and positioned to
attack. As he closed in, he was hit
from behind and severely wounded
in the leg.
Although he was unable to
operate the rudder of his aircraft he
continued to pursue the bombers
and struck them repeatedly. With
an empty drum on his Lewis gun, he
closed to within a few yards of one
machine and drew his pistol in a bid
to finish it off. As he manoeuvred
his aircraft, he dropped the pistol so
instead placed another drum on the
Lewis gun. He continued to chase
after the bomber formation’s leader
and fired a long burst. By now Rees
was in great pain and had lost a lot
of blood – he managed to return
safely to his airfield and was taken
to hospital.
The engagement had been
witnessed by a British artillery
unit who confirmed that Rees
had single-handedly broken up
and driven off an enemy bomber
force. The Welshman recovered
after a few weeks but was left
with a pronounced limp for the
rest of his life. On August 6, 1916 it
was announced that he had been
awarded the Victoria Cross. He later
commanded No.1 School of Aerial
Fighting, and was awarded the Air
Force Cross. He was subsequently
made an OBE.
Lionel Rees remained in the RAF
until retiring as a group captain in- He sailed solo to the Bahamas
in 1934 and, after a brief period of
war service in 1941-42, he returned
to the islands where he died in
November 1955.
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B
orn in 1884, Welshman
Lionel Rees followed a family
tradition by joining the
British Army and was commissioned
into the Royal Garrison Artillery.
After spending two years serving
with the West African Fro ntier
Force he paid for flying lessons
and obtained his Royal Aero Club
Certificate in January 1913. He
transferred to the recently formed
Royal Flying Corps in August 1914.
After a brief spell as an instructor
he was assigned to the newly
formed No.11 Squadron to fly the
Vickers FB.5 Gunbus and moved to
France in July 1915. His aggressive
flying soon brought success and he
and his observer/gunner, Flt Sgt J M
Hargreaves, accounted for at least
six enemy aircraft. He was awarded
the Military Cross and Hargreaves
received the Distinguished
Conduct Medal.
Having been promoted to
major he took command of No.32
Squadron, equipped with the Airco
DH.2. The unit left for Auchel in
France in June 1916, and Rees
was in action the following day.
Unlike many leaders who saw
their role as one of command and
administration, Rees regularly flew
alongside his men.
At 0600hrs on July 1, 1916, he
took off on a patrol and soon
encountered a formation of
German LFG Roland C.II two-
seaters. Once they were in
range Rees opened fire.
He damaged one that
he saw diving away,
and he immediately
engaged a second,
which he hit just as
three other enemy
aircraft dived onVickers FB.5 Gunbus and moved to
France in July 1915. His aggressive
flying soon brought success and he
and his observer/gunner, Flt Sgt J M
Hargreaves, accounted for at least
six enemy aircraft. He was awarded
the Military Cross and Hargreaves
received the Distinguished
Conduct Medal.
Having been promoted to
major he took command of No.32
Squadron, equipped with the Airco
DH.2. The unit left for Auchel in
France in June 1916, and Rees
was in action the following day.
Unlike many leaders who saw
their role as one of command and
administration, Rees regularly flew
alongside his men.
At 0600hrs on July 1, 1916, he
took off on a patrol and soon
encountered a formation of
German LFG Roland C.II two-
seaters. Once they were in
range Rees opened fire.
He damaged one that
he saw diving away,
and he immediately
engaged a second,
which he hit just as
three other enemy
aircraft dived on