8th Training Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
Robert Alexander Dunn was born at Ballarat, Victoria on 3 February 1894, the son of Alexander and Margaret Dunn, of Numurkah, Victoria, Australia.
He was educated at University College, Armadale (an inner suburb of Melbourne) and at the time of enlistment his occupation was a ‘managing clerk’.
Before enlisting he had spent four years with the Australian Forces, at commissioned rank, latterly with 57th Infantry.
He enlisted on 29 March 1917, at the age of 23 years and one month and his initial posting was as a Private (later Gunner) in the 31st Reinforcements, with the number 38034.
On 25 January 1918 he was appointed Second Lieutenant in the newly formed Australian Flying Corps (AFC) and on 28 February embarked from Melbourne on the HMAT Nestor, as part of Special Draft No 3, landing in Liverpool on 20 April 1918.
As with most personnel arriving in the UK, his first posting was to their Depot at Halton Camp, Wendover and on 6 May 1918 he started a course at No 1 School of Aeronautics, Reading. Upon completion, on 24 June 1918, he was sent to 8th Training Squadron at Leighterton, Gloucestershire, to complete his pilot training.
It would appear that he was involved in an accident on 1 July 1918, when the aircraft in which he was flying suffered an engine failure. However, his injuries were confined to bruising and slight concussion, which a few days rest put right.
On 13 August he was not so fortunate. Once again flying as a pupil passenger, in an Avro 504 (serial D7788), he suffered a fractured skull and humerus, when the aircraft crashed, again due to engine failure. He was aged 24.
On this occasion the pilot, Captain Robert William Mackenzie MM survived, suffering shot abrasions and a broken left leg. He did not fly again and after an extended stay in Tetbury Cottage and Cobham Hall Hospitals he returned to Australia in March 1919.
Robert Dunn was buried in Leighterton Church Cemetery, on 17 August 1918, with military honours and a CWGC headstone now marks his grave.
Researched by Graham Adams 24 January 2018