Lieutenant Robert Ronald DUNCAN
41st Training Depot Station, Royal Air Force

Date of birth: 17th October 1897
Date of death: 16th July 1918

Killed on active service aged 20
Buried at Knockando Cemetery Grave 233
1897 the second son of Andrew Duncan, a gardener, and Jane (nee Horne) Duncan of Pitchroy Cottage, Blacksboat.

He was educated at Aberlour Public High School and had passed the preliminary examinations for Aberdeen University. He was working as a gardener when he attested for military service on the 2nd of March 1916.

He applied for a commission in the Royal Flying Corps on the 25th of April 1917 in an application which was supported by Mr. Charles Watt MA JP of The School House, Knockando. He underwent a medical examination at Aberdeen on the 29th of April where it was recorded that he was five feet eight and a half inches tall and weighed 137lbs. It was also recorded that he was suffering from bad teeth and that it was recommended that he reduce his heavy smoking habit. He was called up and enlisted as Private 83409 in the Royal Flying Corps at South Farnborough on the 1st of June 1917, reporting to No. 6 School of Military Aeronautics at Winchester on the 4th of July 1917. He was posted to No. 2 School of Military Aeronautics at Oxford on the 24th of August 1917 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps on the 11st of October 1917. He was posted to 56 Training Squadron at London Colney Airfield near St Albans.

On the 12th of January 1918 he was flying a DH6 aircraft when it accidently crashed, knocking him unconscious for an hour. He was immediately taken to Hertford County Hospital for treatment and was released on the 26th of January. He had nineteen hours of dual and solo flying time at the time of the accident.

On the 20th of February 1918 the Officers Invaliding Board, Royal Flying Corps sat at 9 Arkwright Road, Hampstead. It was noted that he was still suffering from a slight frontal headache at times and that he was easily fatigued. They concluded that he could return to duty but that he was not allowed to fly for two months. They met again on the 20th of April where they decided that he was fit and that he could return to flying but only under the supervision of the unit's Medical Officer.

He was killed in a training accident at London Colney while flying Avro 504 D5854.
Pitcroy

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