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2nd Lt. Arthur Haley
Royal Flying Corps 55 Squadron
from:East Ham, Essex
(d.1st Jun 1918)
Arthur Haley, born September 1895 and a telegraphist in civilian life, enlisted in the Royal Engineers on 10th of November 1914 to be attached to the 34th Signals Company. He joined the British Expeditionary Force in France on 26th of June 1915 as a signaller. On 16th September of that year he was admitted to hospital after being burned by a shell, and he returned to England for a short spell, but he rejoined his unit in France on 15th of October 1915.
He returned to England on Christmas Day 1916 for a commission. On 29th of May 1917 he was discharged from the Royal Engineers to take up his commission in the 3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment, firstly in Felixstowe before being sent to France as an observer in 55 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps, later to become the Royal Air Force in April 1918. He flew in a DH4 with his pilot, 2nd Lt Lennok de Graaf Godet. It is known that 55 Squadron undertook bombing raids over German-held territory in addition to their reconnaissance duties.
On 1st of June 1918 their aircraft was shot down over Antilly, near Metz in France, in German held territory at the time, killing them both instantly. According to a local French newspaper report, their Airco DH4 no. 7422 was shot down at 6.50am, the kill being claimed by Ltn G Weiner of K4. However, an alternative account of events has been found in the RAF Archives, "On 1st of June 1918, the D.H.4's of No.55 Squadron were detailed for the railway station at Karthaus. 12 machines in charge of Captain W.B. Farrington ascended between 4.20 a.m. and 4.25 a.m. The lines were crossed at 14,500 feet near Nomeny whence the formation proceeded up east of Metz and Thionville to Karthaus which was reached at 6.55 a.m. by eleven of the D.H.4's one having been forced to return with engine trouble. Captain Farrington reported that owing to the high wind which was blowing obliquely across the target the shooting was not very good. Seven enemy machines in all were observed at various places on the route. Near Metz one of the D.H.4's Second Lieutenants L. de G.Godet (pilot) and A.Haley (observer) - fell to pieces in the air. Some of the observers were of the opinion that Haley might have wrecked his own tail while aiming at an enemy machine firing from very long range." (Might this be classed as Friendly Fire?)
Both men were buried by local civilians who also erected a memorial at the site. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission later re-buried them at Chambieres Antilly (Moselle), near Metz in France.
