Robert Benedict Bourdillon

Robert Benedict Bourdillon CBE MC AFC DM (8 September 1889 – 3 March 1971) was a British World War I pilot and medical researcher.

Early life Born in Easebourne, Midhurst, Sussex, southern England, Robert Benedict Bourdillon was the younger son of the poet and translator Francis William Bourdillon. He attended the Hazelwood School in Surrey until 1901 and was then privately educated. He went on to the University of Oxford in 1908 where he studied at Balliol College.

At Oxford, he was a founder member of the Oxford University Mountaineering Club in 1909. He was also in the Oxford University Officers' Training Corps. In 1912, he graduated from Oxford University with a BA degree in Natural Science. He then went to St Mary's Hospital, London, for further study. After this, he returned to Oxford and became a tutor at University College.

World War I Robert Bourdillon left Oxford University on 2 August 1914. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Intelligence Corps on 6 August 1914.

In early 1917, Bourdillon trained further as a pilot and gained his "wings". On 11 April 1917, he joined 27 Squadron, which used Martinsyde Elephants. On 2 May 1917, he was hospitalised. On his return, he was promoted from Flying Officer to Flight Commander.

On 27 July 1917, Bourdillon led five aircraft from 27 Squadron to attack the German Zeppelin sheds located at Berchem-Sainte-Agathe. He left the squadron on 28 August 1917 and joined the RFC Home Establishment. On 26 September 1917, he was awarded the Military Cross. On 21 September 1917, he was promoted to Staff Officer, 2nd Grade. Then on 1 February 1918, he was appointed chief experimental officer. By the end of World War I, Bourdillon was a Captain and was awarded the Air Force Cross in the 1 January 1918 King's Birthday Honours List for his work on bombsight development.

Later career After World War I, Bourdillon returned to New College, Oxford, where he was awarded an MA degree in 1919.

Selected publications

Personal life Robert Bourdillon married Harriett Ada (née Barnes) on 18 July 1922 at St Mary's Church, Eastbourne in Sussex. They had two sons. One son, Tom Bourdillon, was a mountaineer. Robert and Tom Bourdillon, together with Griffith Pugh, developed the oxygen equipment used for the 1953 British Mount Everest expedition, of which Tom Bourdillon was a member.

On 13 June 1946, Robert Bourdillon was made a CBE in the King's Birthday Honours List. He died in 1971 at Ganges, British Columbia in Canada.