CONTACT US

Regimental Museum (Brecon)

British Library

History

LINKS

SOCIAL

SUPPORTED BY

WORLD WAR ONE

The Men Who Died

WORLD WAR ONE

119 120

Second Lieutenant (21st Lancers) on September 17th 1913. At the outbreak of war, he served in the North West Frontier province until during fighting at Shrabkadr on September 15th, 1915 he was wounded.

Apparently bored during his rehabilitation and unable to sit on a horse he became involved in observing for a unit of the Royal Flying Corps who were based nearby. He later travelled to Egypt and trained as a pilot obtaining his Wings on May 26th, 1917; then posted to France with 56 Squadron alongside aces James McCudden, Arthur Rhys Davies and Keith Muspratt.

Lieutenant Richard Aveline Maybery

Royal Flying Corps, 56th Squadron. Military Cross and Bar

Killed in Action, Alexandria, December 19th, 1917, aged 22

Buried at Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery, Nord, France

He served in France and Flanders from July 5th, 1917 and quickly proved to be one of the best pilots in the squadron, scoring six victories in July, including one on his first patrol.

He was awarded the Military Cross and later a bar for the two incidents related in the following extracts:

Lt. Richard Aveline Maybery, Lrs. and RFC

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. After attacking two aerodromes in succession at very low altitudes, and inflicting considerable damage, he attacked and dispersed a number of mounted men and then attacked a goods train. He next attacked and shot down a hostile machine at 500 feet, and before returning attacked a passenger train. On numerous occasions he has attacked, single handed, large hostile formations and set a fine example by his gallantry and determination.’

Supplement to the London Gazette, 9 January 1918 (30466/627)

‘Lt. Richard Aveline Maybery, M.C., Lrs. and R.F.C. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as leader of offensive patrols for three months, during which he personally destroyed nine enemy aeroplanes and drove down three out of control. On one occasion, having lost his patrol, he attacked a formation of eight enemy aeroplanes. One was seen to crash and two others went down, out of control, the formation being completely broken up.’

Richard Aveline Maybery was born in Brecon in January 1895, the only son of Henry Oxenford Aveline Maybery, a solicitor, and his wife Lucy (nee Cobb); they lived at The Priory, Brecon. The family were actively involved in public life in Breconshire for some time, and had connections with the Wilkins, Lloyd, Best and de Winton families.

Richard was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire, before going to Military College at Sandhurst. Afterwards he was Gazetted as