Thomas Gerrard

Major Thomas Francis Netterville Gerrard (13 August 1897 – 14 July 1923) was a British World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories. He died following a post-war equestrian accident.

Early life and background Gerrard was born in Malaysia, where his father Percy Netterville Gerrard (1870–1915) was a medical doctor of Anglo-Irish descent. His mother Alice Gerrard died while he was still young. By 1901 Thomas was living in his father's home city of Dublin with his grandmother, while his father married Clare Hoffman in May 1905. His father later served as a captain in the Malay States Volunteer Rifles, and was killed in action during the Singapore Mutiny. His uncle Eugene Louis Gerrard also served in the RNAS and RAF during World War I, rising to the rank of Air Commodore before retiring in 1929. He was awarded Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 1180 at RNAS Hendon on 11 April 1915, and was stationed at RNAS Redcar, where on 4 July he ran his Caudron G.3 through a fence on landing, sustaining minor damage. He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 January 1916.

Gerrard first flew a FBA flying boat from the port of Dover. He was then transferred to "A" Squadron of the RNAS. While flying a Nieuport fighter aircraft, he scored his first victory on 8 July 1916. and this was confirmed on 31 December. After transferring to No. 1 Naval Squadron, Gerrard was assigned to fly Sopwith Triplanes; he would score eight victories with them

During a brief posting with No. 208 Squadron, he used a Sopwith Camel to down his tenth and final victim on 6 April 1918. and was served as commander of No. 209 Squadron. +List of aerial victories On 1 August 1919 he was granted a permanent commission as a lieutenant in the RAF. On 1 January 1921, he was promoted to flight lieutenant.

On 5 March 1921, he hosted a reunion dinner for 209 Squadron, with 47 attendees. Gerrard also participated in the Hendon Air Show in 1921, flying a Sopwith Snipe.

On 21 October 1922, he was transferred from the Central Flying School (Inland Area) to the No. 5 Flying Training School (Inland Area), and from there was transferred to No. 1 Squadron RAF in Iraq on 23 February 1923.

On 14 July 1923 Gerrard died from a cerebral haemorrhage in the Station Sick Quarters (SSQ) at Mosul after a fall from his polo pony, and was buried at the Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery (renamed Ma'asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery in 1961) in the Zafaraniyah district of Baghdad.

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